Fighting Corruption and Promoting Integrity and Transparency at the Local Level in Africa: Time to Act is Now!
As part of the organization of the 2018 United Nations Public Service Forum that will take place in Marrakech, in the Kingdom of Morocco from June 21- 23, 2018, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Specialized Technical Committee on Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development and Decentralization (STC-8) of the African Union, in partnership and with the support of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the Ministry in Charge of Administration Reform and the Civil Service of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) and its African Local Governments Academy (ALGA), will organize a side event on: “Fighting Corruption and Promoting Integrity and Transparency at the Local Level in Africa: Time to Act is Now!” that will take place on Friday, June 22, 2018, at the Palmeraie Golf Palace, Room Arganier from 9h00 to 13h30.
The forum, which marks the celebration of the 10th edition of the International Public Service Day, commemorated on June 23rd of each year, will have the theme: “Transforming governance to realize the Sustainable Development Goals”. The meeting will enable ministers and other key decision makers to discuss how governments, institutions and public administrations can organize and work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The forum will also look at how governments and public institutions can be more effective, inclusive and accountable in line with the commitment of the international community, including the Sustainable Development Goal 16, «Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels».
As part of their contribution to the forum, STC N° 8 and UCLG Africa have chosen to focus on target 5 of SDG 16: «Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all its forms». Corruption is a phenomenon that affects all levels of governance (international, national, regional and local), as well as all actors involved in the dynamics of development and progress, whether States, governments, communities, private sector or the different components of the civil society. At the level of African regional and territorial governments, corruption erodes the ability of local governments and traditional institutions to deliver services effectively and discourages local economic development. Member States of the African Union (AU) have dedicated the Year 2018 to «the fight against corruption» under the theme, «Winning the Fight against Corruption: A sustainable path for Africa’s Transformation».
The side event on: «Fighting Corruption and Promoting Integrity and Transparency at the Local Level in Africa: Time to Act is Now!” will have as its main objective the definition of concrete modalities of implementation at local level in Africa of the various instruments adopted and commitments made, both globally and at African level, concerning the prevention and fight against corruption as well as the promotion of transparency and integrity in the governance of the territories. These include the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), known as the Merida Convention, the Sustainable Development Agenda, the Climate Agenda, the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the African Agenda 2063, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, the African Charter on Public Service and finally the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralization, Local Governance and Local Development, adopted in Malabo in 2014, which is inspired by a series of core values, including integrity, transparency and accountability.
The specific objectives of the side event are:
- To discuss the issue of corruption, transparency and integrity at the local level and its link with the implementation of the SDGs;
- To sensitize local elected officials and territorial managers on the impact and harmful effects of corruption on sustainable development;
- To exchange experiences and practices implemented in different regions of the world to prevent and cope with corruption and to anchor integrity and transparency in public institutions, especially at the local level;
- To identify concrete actions and relevant and sustainable tools to be put in place at the local level to combat corruption and anchor transparency and integrity in the process of decentralization and civil service in Africa;
- To inscribe and anchor the CTS N° 8 action in the new dynamics initiated by the African Union in its fight against corruption.
During the forum, UCLG Africa and its African Local Governments Academy (ALGA) will also participate in the Workshop of the UN DESA on «Governance to Localize the Sustainable Development Goals». This workshop will focus on SDG 11: «Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable». It should be remembered that the role of local and regional governments is essential and crucial to implement and achieve the SDGs, of which 65% of their implementation is at the local level, given their proximity and understanding of the challenges facing their communities and populations. Local governments are in a unique position to engage all the actors and all stakeholders in the design of development policies and strategies. They are also well positioned to identify urgent needs, priorities and gaps to improve the delivery of public services. The most visible and concrete actions will have to be taken at the local level or never!
For more information, please contact:
Gaëlle Yomi: Tel: + 212 610 56 71 45
email: gyomi@uclga.org