Anti-corruption and integrity

Corruption: A Global Scourge

Corruption is a global scourge that imposes costs far beyond the money lost to bribery, embezzlement, or fraud. Serious harm results when public officials take bribes, for example, when awarding contracts to foreign businesses in critical areas such as infrastructure. In addition to the human suffering caused by inferior products and services, corruption derails markets and development, and erodes trust in governments and businesses. Similarly, countries that do not effectively manage conflicts of interest, lobbying, and political financing are particularly vulnerable to the risks of covert foreign interference and its destabilizing effect on democracy.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The fight against corruption aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. The SDGs aim to eradicate poverty, promote sustainable development, and ensure peace and prosperity for all. Corruption undermines these goals by diverting resources away from their intended purposes and perpetuating inequality. By addressing corruption, countries can make significant progress towards achieving the SDGs.

Constant Adaptation and Risk Management

Corruption is a moving target that requires constant adaptation, as global shifts like the race for natural resources, technological advancements, and crises create new opportunities for corruption. In such a context, governments and businesses need to consistently manage risks and step up the fight to halt corrupt practices.

Key Strategies for Combating Corruption

1. Transparency and Accountability: Governments and businesses should promote transparency and accountability in their operations. This includes disclosing financial information, implementing anti-corruption measures, and holding individuals and organizations accountable for corrupt practices.
2. Strengthening Legal Frameworks: Countries should enact and enforce strong anti-corruption laws that provide clear guidelines and penalties for corrupt behavior. This includes measures to prevent bribery, embezzlement, and fraud.
3. International Cooperation: Collaboration between countries is crucial in the fight against corruption. By sharing information, best practices, and resources, countries can enhance their ability to detect and prevent corrupt activities.
4. Education and Awareness: Promoting education and awareness about the negative impacts of corruption can help change societal attitudes and behaviors. This includes educating individuals about their rights and responsibilities and fostering a culture of integrity.

Conclusion

Corruption poses a significant threat to sustainable development and the achievement of the SDGs. By implementing effective strategies and promoting transparency, accountability, and international cooperation, countries can work towards eradicating corruption and creating a more just and equitable world.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms
   • Indicator 16.5.1: Proportion of persons who had at least one contact with a public official and who paid a bribe to a public official, or were asked for a bribe by those public officials, during the previous 12 months

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure
   • Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road

The article addresses the issue of corruption and its impact on various aspects of society. The main SDG connected to this issue is SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Target 16.5 specifically focuses on reducing corruption and bribery in all their forms. The article highlights the harm caused by corruption, such as inferior products and services, derailing of markets and development, and erosion of trust in governments and businesses. These align with the target of reducing corruption.

Additionally, the article mentions the importance of managing conflicts of interest, lobbying, and political financing to prevent covert foreign interference and its destabilizing effect on democracy. While not explicitly mentioned in the article, this aligns with SDG 16 as well, particularly with regards to promoting accountable and inclusive institutions.

The article also briefly mentions the need for governments and businesses to consistently manage risks and fight against corrupt practices. This aligns with SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. Target 9.1 focuses on developing quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure. While the article does not provide specific examples of infrastructure projects affected by corruption, the mention of governments awarding contracts to foreign businesses in critical areas such as infrastructure highlights the relevance of this target.

The article does not explicitly mention indicators for measuring progress towards the identified targets. However, based on the content, we can infer some potential indicators. For Target 16.5, an indicator could be the proportion of persons who had contact with a public official and either paid a bribe or were asked for a bribe during the previous 12 months (Indicator 16.5.1). This would provide insights into the prevalence of bribery and corruption in society.

For Target 9.1, an indicator could be the proportion of the rural population living within 2 km of an all-season road (Indicator 9.1.1). This indicator would measure the accessibility of infrastructure for rural communities, which can be affected by corruption in the awarding of contracts and implementation of projects.

Source: oecd.org