27 November 2015

UNDP, UNODC, and the Kingdom of Morocco supported the Arab Anti-Corruption and Integrity Network (ACINET) in organising a special event that focused on the Arab region on the sidelines of the 6th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), held in St. Petersburg, Russia, on 2-6 November 2015.

The special event, “The UNCAC and the ACAC: Synergies and Implications for Anti-Corruption Legislations in the Arab Region”, was held on 4 November. Over 60 representatives from delegations including ministers, representatives from national authorities and civil society organizations attended the event, which included as panelists Ashaf Rifi, Chair of ACINET and Minister of Justice of Lebanon, Mohamed Moubdi, Minister in charge of Public Service and Modernization of the Administration in Morocco, Jason Reichelt, representing UNODC, and Arkan El Seblani representing UNDP.

This event presented a comparative analysis of the UNCAC and the Arab Convention against Corruption (ACAC), along with an update on the status of related laws in Arab countries and the linkages between the two Conventions and the 2030 Development Agenda, namely Goal 16.

Discussions focused on related challenges and needs for Arab countries, and reiterated the commitment to deepen regional collaboration on common priorities in the framework of ACINET. Participants also stressed the need to deepen UNCAC implementation efforts, namely in relation to corruption prevention and international cooperation, while also supporting the implementation of the ACAC based on a process or mechanism to monitor its implementation.

Read more

JORDAN has completed the national review of its implementation of Chapter II of the UN Convention against Corruption dealing with preventive measures. This includes related policies and practices; establishment of specialized bodies; reforming of the civil service; adoption of codes of conduct for public officials; integrity in the judiciary and prosecution; integrity in public procurement and public financial management; public reporting and access to information; transparency in the private sector; the participation of society and prevention of money laundering.

Under the leadership of the Jordanian Anti-Corruption Commission (JACC), Jordan adopted a participatory approach in conducting the review, where a national team was formed consisting of officials from concerned ministries and agencies as well as representatives of the private sector and civil society. The national team was divided into four groups based on their expertise. Each group reviewed a selection of the aforementioned preventive measures, while rapporteurs from JACC were assigned to facilitate the process and support each group, with technical assistance provided by UNDP’s regional project on Anti-Corruption and Integrity in the Arab Countries (ACIAC).

The participatory process was launched on September 2013 following a training organized by ACIAC in partnership with JACC. The training provided participants with knowledge and skills necessary to conduct a comprehensive and effective review of the selected measures.

The final report was finalized and launched in a ceremony on 22 November in the presence of key Jordanian officials and representatives of national stakeholders and UNDP.

The report may be accessed at: http://www.jacc.gov.jo/Portals/0/JordanNationalReviewofCorruptionPrevention.pdf

Read more

HELEN Clark, UNDP Administrator, and H.E. Mr. Nasser Judeh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, officially inaugurated UNDP’s Regional Hub for the Arab States in Amman, on 8 November 2015.

This is the latest regional Hub to be established by UNDP following the ones in Panama, Istanbul, Bangkok, and Addis Ababa. The Amman Hub aims to provide relevant, responsive and timely support to country offices across the Arab region and includes projects related to climate change, energy and disaster risk reduction, gender equality, anti-corruption and elections, among others.

“Amman is an ideal location for the Hub,” said Ms. Clark in her speech at the inauguration. “Its central location in the region, along with its wealth of local talent, are of enormous benefit to UNDP’s work across the Arab States.”

The Hub also has a sub-office for various regional projects located in Beirut, and also another sub-office in Cairo tasked primarily with liaison with the league of Arab states. With more than 90 staff, the Hub will seek to advance sustainable human development in the region in light of the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and support inclusiveness and resilience in the region in the face of crises and other development challenges.

Also present at the inauguration were Sima Bahous the assistant secretary-general, assistant administrator and regional director of the regional bureau for Arab States, and Khaled Abdel Shafi the newly appointed director of the Hub.

Read more