Click on picture for a larger version. Source: Transparency International
Fragile states pose different challenges for addressing corruption than in a normal development context. However difficult, neglecting the corruption problems is a dangerous strategy, as this would jeopardise the whole state-building project with respect to Afghanistan. The high level of corruption generates a climate of public frustration that undermines the trust in state institutions, fuels social conflict, and provides a fertile ground for the recruitment to more violent anti-governmental groups.
According to international indexes the level of corruption in Afghanistan is high and rapidly increasing. The corruption in Afghanistan has deep-rooted causes. A legacy of past administrations that appointed poorly qualified persons to the Civil Service and fostered a corrupt and anachronistic public administration culture has resulted in an ever increasing practise of corruption. This combined with ineffective control systems and weakness of the judiciary and legal enforcement has led to a system of impunity.
Fragile states attract a wide variety of actors, both national and international. Interface between the different actors is complex and a huge challenge when dealing with corruption. Actors who contribute to the fragile security situation in Afghanistan and who have a high impact on “governance”are the warlords/ commanders who also benefit from illegal taxes. In addition the major challenge is the drug-related corruption, which is a dominant cause of corruption in the country. The level of economic corruption has also increased by the massive influx of donor funds which give opportunities for grand corruption. Citizens and investors are therefore faced with a high degree of unpredictability when accessing state services.
The Government has initiated some anti-corruption activites. However, there is a need of a more comprehensive approach to the problems, including a plan to prioritise areas where corruption is most damaging. Addressing corruption must be seen as a long term effort both in order to prevent and control the problem. In order to understand the nature of the problem of corruption in Afghanistan there is a need to conduct diagnostic reviews to identify weaknesses and to establish comprehensive action plans to strengthen capacity and embedding these in national strategies. The international community is assisting the Government of Afghanistan in its effort of fighting corruption.
In February 2007 the international community presented the first unified approach incorporated in the document: “Fighting corruption in Afghanistan - A Roadmap for Strategy and Action”. The Roadmap was a joint effort by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), UK Department for International Development (DFID), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the World Bank (WB). The Roadmap highlights the background for corruption in Afghanistan and lessons learned from international experience and some key policy issues. It lays out a suggested roadmap for action by the Government of Afghanistan and proposes a program for future work and cooperation.
Several programs will start in 2007. One is the government’s effort in creating a national anti-corruption strategy (NACS), which will be developed with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Others will be programs in selected sectors such as finance, justice, transport, custom among others.
Click on picture for a larger version. Source: World Bank
Norwegian support:
Norway has since July 2006 been supporting an Afghan civil society organisation – Afghanistan Integrity Watch (IWA). The purpose is to build up and support IWA’s work on research, analysis and advocacy on corruption in Afghanistan. IWA is also cooperation with organisation such as TIRI and other international and national institutions dealing with anti-corruption. The publications and other information from IWA are available on their web-page
Norway has since June 2007 supported a UNDP anti-corruption program Accountability and Transparency (ACT). The purpose of the program is to create an institutional, legal and policy environment to support implementation of anti-corruption policies and programmes. ACT is seen as a first phase and will start a series of pilot initiatives in a priority sector such as the justice sector, including he Supreme Court, the Attorney General Office and the Ministry of Justice. This will be part of the ongoing reform of the judicial sector. In addition financial procedures will be addressed both at central level and if feasible at the local level such as the Municipal Administration and Provincial Councils. The aim of the project will also be to increase awareness-raising and understanding of corruption in Afghanistan including civil society organisations and advocacy groups.
Other relevante documents:
Norwegian Embassy