Mainstreaming Anti-Corruption for Equity Program
Duration
March 2007 - March 2010
Donors
USAID
Overview
The Mainstreaming Anti-Corruption for Equity
Program builds on the achievements of Pact's previous
Anti-Corruption Coordinated Action
Program.
Corruption has been widely recognized as the one
of the largest problems currently hindering Cambodia’s development.
According to a 2004 USAID Corruption Assessment Report, it is
estimated that “annual diversions from government coffers range
between $300 and $500 million.” In 2006 a report by the Economic
Institute of Cambodia,
"Assessment of Corruption in Cambodia’s Private Sector",
indicated that due to corruption, the Royal Government of Cambodia
only collects a relatively small percent of tax revenue owed which
results in a loss of revenue of hundreds of millions of dollars per
year.
In 2005, Cambodia was ranked for the first time
on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index as 130th
out of 158 countries. The same
TI index in 2007 saw Cambodia rank 162 of 179 countries that
were evaluated, or thirteenth from the bottom of the list.
The impact of corruption within Cambodia permeates
all aspects of daily life for all citizens. High levels of collusion
between the state and the private sector result in a fundamental
distortion of the basic legal and regulatory framework and allow:
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Local NGO member taking signed
copies of the Clean Hand Treaty to the National Assembly |
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Collection of limited legal revenues,
as large sums are lost to bribes and other illegal
practices;
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Redistribution of revenues within a small circle of elites;
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Sanction of citizens and
institutions that threaten structures enabling collusion; and
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Diversion of pressures to address the systematic pandemic of
corruption.
The recent discovery of significant commercial
deposits of oil off the coast of Cambodia and bauxite deposits in
the northeast are new factors which have the potential to exacerbate
corruption in Cambodia. By 2010, Cambodia’s extractive industries --
oil, gas, and various types of mining -- could more than triple the
annual revenue received by the Royal Government of Cambodia. There
is significant concern in Cambodia that this new wealth, unless
managed effectively and transparently, could actually be a curse, as
typified by countries like Nigeria and Chad.
Despite concerted efforts of international
experts, civil society and donor community, the government’s verbal
and written commitments to fight corruption far outpace practical
measures to reduce corruption.
In the absence of practical measures to
implement an anti-corruption strategy, the government’s commitment
to anti-corruption remains primarily political rhetoric rather than
a demonstration of real political will.
Goal
Increase political will to develop and implement
effective solutions to the problem of corruption in Cambodia.
Objectives
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Increase
the involvement of Cambodia’s private sector in fighting corruption.
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Continue
training and equipping journalists to do investigative reporting,
expanding the quantity and quality of media reports on corruption in
Cambodia.
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Assist the government in drafting international standard
anti-corruption and freedom of information legislations.
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Work with
Pact’s Local Administration and Reform Program
to increase sustainable mechanisms for monitoring accountability,
transparency and good governance at the commune level.
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Build on
the success of the "Clean Hand" campaign in building the awareness
and resolve of Cambodians to take a stance against corrupt
practices.
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Develop
transparency and watchdog mechanisms around expected resource
inflows from the extractive industry sector.
Publications
Please see the
Publications page.
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