Why Fighting Corruption Matters in a Pandemic

  

Jon Vrushi and Roberto Martinez B. Kukutschka wrote about the above topic in www.transparency.org after reviewing Transparency International Corruption Index. According to them, corruption and emergencies feed off each other, creating a vicious cycle of mismanagement and deeper crisis. The large sums of money required to deal with emergencies, the need for urgency in disbursing aid or economic stimulus packages and the risk of undue influence over policy responses form a perfect storm for corruption. As increased opportunities occur, integrity takes a hit.

With the release of the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2020, the authors reviewed and highlighted the following from their analysis:

·       Corruption diverts funds from essential services such as healthcare, leaving countries around the world vulnerable and under-prepared to deal with public health crises;

·       A lack of transparency in the allocation of resources;

·       Countries that perform poorly in controlling corruption tend to breach human rights and democratic norms in their management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

https://moneycompass.com.my

Their suggestion that in an increasingly uncertain world, where emergencies abound, fighting corruption is key to ensuring better preparedness for crises responses. There are many strategies that governments can rely on to prevent corruption in the face of a crisis, but keeping corruption under control is much more difficult where robust anticorruption mechanisms are not already in place. In such cases, corruption is likely to cripple the effectiveness of emergency responses.

Where corruption is systematic, funds are often diverted from essential public services such as healthcare or education. COVID-19 has reminded us of the consequences of corruption on public service delivery and the harmful impact on people’s lives. A recent study from Transparency International’s Health Initiative brought together worldwide evidence of corruption at the point of service delivery during the pandemic, highlighting how it led to lower accessibility and quality of healthcare services. This has been particularly harmful for women both as patients and providers, and through gendered forms of corruption such as sextortion.

Many governments were unable to provide the necessary care to COVID-19 patients due to the long-term underfunding of the health system in their countries. Their research also shows that even when accounting for a country’s level of economic development, where corruption is systematic, governments tend to spend less on healthcare.

Previous research from Transparency International's Health Initiative shows that efforts to achieve universal health coverage are significantly undermined by widespread corruption in frontline health-care service delivery.

A lack of transparency in the allocation of resources, a practice highly associated with corruption, weakens the efficiency of crisis responses.

COVID-19 also confirmed the importance of transparency in public procurement processes and that no country is immune to corruption, particularly when dealing with emergencies. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately 10-25 per cent of all money spent on procurement globally is lost to corruption. In the EU, 28 per cent of  health-related corruption cases are related specifically to procurement of medical equipment.

Countries that perform poorly on the CPI appear to be more likely to violate human rights and democratic norms as part of their emergency responses.

COVID-19 showcased how corruption hinders the work of emergency responders and their efforts to help those who need it the most. It also highlighted the following:

 

1.         Mainstream anti-corruption policies:

Transparency, accountability, integrity, and multi-stakeholder participation need to be integrated into all Covid-19 related programmes, plans and policies.  

2.         Increase transparency in public contracting:

This includes timely publication of contracting data in open format and their publication in centralised platforms, designing explicit rules and protocols for emergencies and ensuring they are enforced. It is also crucial to adequately document public contracting procedures during the crisis.

3.         Strengthen audit and oversight institutions:

Supreme audit institutions and anti-corruption agencies, wherever available, need to be independent and properly resourced to be able to perform their duties.

4.         Protect civic space:

Civil society organisations and journalists can be an additional check on corruption. Particularly during emergencies these groups can help monitor how funds are disbursed and whether aid reaches its intended beneficiaries.

5.         Enforce checks and balances:

A robust system of checks and balances is a key systemic measure against corruption and any emergency powers assumed by the executive should follow best practice and due process, be  proportional and respect time limits as well as fundamental human rights.

Controlling corruption is essential to ensuring a fair and efficient response to emergencies. As shown again by the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing corruption can be a matter of life or death.

 

Reference:

Why fighting corruption matters in times of Covid-19, Transparency International, 28 January 2021