THE NATIONAL INTEGRITY SYSTEM: BUILDING AND SUSTAINING ETHICAL AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT Jeremy Pope Co-Director, TIRI (the governance-access-learning network)

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THE NATIONAL INTEGRITY SYSTEM BUILDING AND
SUSTAINING ETHICAL AND EFFECTIVE
GOVERNMENTJeremy PopeCo-Director, TIRI (the
governance-access-learning network)

• TIRI
• the governance-access-learning network

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Introducing the National Integrity System

• Every society has one - whatever its condition...
• The precise pillars may vary...
• If power is concentrated, abuse will follow
• Inter-relationships crucial -can be mapped
• Concept facilitates coherent and monitored
  reforms
• But what does the NIS look like..?

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The Concept of a National Integrity System
N A T I O N A L I N T E G R I T Y
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Pillars and Corresponding rules/practices - 1

• Executive Conflict of interest rules
• Legislature/Parliament Fair elections
• Public Accounts Committee (of legislature)
  Power to question senior officials
• Auditor General Public reporting
• Public service Public service ethics

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Pillars and Corresponding rules/practices - 2

• Judiciary Independence
• Media Access to information
• Civil society Freedom of speech and
  assembly
• Ombudsman Records management
• Anti-corruption / watchdog agencies Enforceable
  and enforced laws

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Pillar and Corresponding rules/practices - 3

• Private sector Competition policy,
  including open public procurement rules
• International community Effective mutual
  legal/judicial assistance Inter-relationships

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Horizontal Accountability

• Each must have sufficient strength and capacity
• Each relates to others
• Each is accountable to others
• Each has elements of independence
• If pillars fail to bear their load they increase
  the pressure on others.
• And then.?

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The Concept of a National Integrity System
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Ethics the missing element

• The human element overlooked
• Donors focussed on laws, institutions
• If men were angels
• Realisation that reform processes must be
  ethically-led
• NIS coupled to an Ethics Regime

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Institutional Integrity Systems

• Exist within the NIS
• The NIS cannot do it all
• Holistic approach imperative
• Need to draw an institutional integrity system
  map
• How might one look?

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Possible System pillars and practices - 1

• Management (leading and listening)
• Integrity and risk strategies
• Internal inspection/audit
• Codes of conduct and enforcement
• Record management
• Internal complaints mechanisms
• Clear conflict of interest rules
• Procurement procedures
• External complaints
• Monitoring of stakeholder perceptions

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Possible System pillars and practices - 2

• Staffing - merit selection/promotion
• Assets handling and disposal
• External Inspection (public audit)
• Transparent functioning
• Ethics training
• National Integrity system itself
• Horizontal accountability present through
  complaints mechanisms available to staff and to
  external stakeholders