A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Transparency International (TI) coinciding with the 17th International Anti-Corruption Conference that took place in Panama from 1-4 December.
Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development promotes peace, justice and strong institutions. Some key commitments include substantially reducing corruption and illicit financial flows, developing effective, accountable and transparent institutions, and strengthening access to information and participation in public decision-making.
Signing the Memorandum on behalf of UNDP, UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, Magdy Martinez Soliman said, “The global discourse spurred by the Panama Papers reaffirms that fighting corruption is a shared commitment, and fighting it effectively, requires our coordinated and collective action. Thus, it is of paramount importance to involve all stakeholders such as civil society, private sector, communities, youth and women’s networks in the implementation and monitoring processes of the Sustainable Development Goals.” He further added, “The signing of this MOU today contributes to this vision by formalising our renewed shared commitment to broaden our collaboration and partnership between UNDP and TI.”
The new MoU is expected to raise global advocacy and awareness on anti-corruption— to promote it as a major development issue, and enhance effective participation of civil society and multi-stakeholders in anti-corruption conventions at global, regional and country level. Moreover, the MoU will support civil society and community based organizations, in monitoring initiatives to implement country-driven social accountability initiatives which will help towards reducing corruption risks in service delivery, responding to threats to civil society space and protecting physical integrity of anti-corruption activists.
“Transparency International’s and UNDP’s missions are complementary. You cannot wipe out poverty without fighting corruption. Poor governance is not only ruinous for democracy, it is an obstacle to equality and corrodes opportunities for the poorest who often shoulder a disproportionate share of the corruption burden,” said Mr. Jose Carlos Ugaz Sanchez Moreno, Chair of Transparency International. He further added, “Transparency International and UNDP have collaborated successfully on many occasions in the past and we are looking forward to this collaboration becoming deeper and more systemic as well as exploring new avenues of engagement.“
UNDP and TI have signed a first Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 1998. Since then, collaboration between the two organizations has advanced and spanned across broader areas of anti-corruption. This partnership is also expected to make significant contribution to the monitoring and implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
