The initial version of a Toolkit for parliamentarians to monitor their own performance in preventing corruption will be tested this month in Accra, Ghana, with a group of African parliamentarians who are members of the African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (APNAC). Using Chapter 2 of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) as a framework, the Toolkit poses specific questions about the role played by MPs in preventing corruption.

The initial version of a Toolkit for parliamentarians to monitor their own performance in preventing corruption (see GAP Newsletter issue nb.1) will be tested this month in Accra, Ghana, with a group of African parliamentarians who are members of the African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (APNAC). Using Chapter 2 (‘Preventive Measures’) of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) as a framework, the Toolkit poses specific questions about the role played by MPs in preventing corruption, notably through exercising financial oversight, or through implementing internal accountability mechanisms and codes of conduct. The idea for such a Toolkit came from a realization by members of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) that the important role of MPs in preventing corruption was underappreciated, and that parliamentary involvement in the formal (Executive-led) UNCAC review mechanism needed to be strengthened. The Toolkit may also be used to identify gaps where parliamentary strengthening may be needed, and to help identify areas where new coalitions of parliamentarians, government officials, CSOs and international agencies can lead to positive actions in the prevention of corruption.

 

Developed by UNDP and GOPAC, in close coordination with UNODC (Secretariat to the UNCAC), the Toolkit comes in two versions, the ‘Summary Toolkit’ and the ‘Main Toolkit’, both available in English and French. Meanwhile, some suggested ‘assessment criteria’ are being formulated for each question, to allow for the assessment to be based on evidence to the extent possible. It is also hoped that such objective assessment criteria will ease the process of tracking progress over time in a given country, by using the same criteria when repeating the assessment periodically. Your feedback on this draft version of the Toolkit will be highly appreciated! For more information, please contact marie.laberge@undp.org.