COVID-19: Promoting accountability and transparency during the pandemic

by Aneta Wierzynska (Global Fund); David Clarke (WHO); Mark DiBiase & Anga Timilsina (UNDP)

Countries cannot ignore corruption during the COVID-19 response. Even in ordinary times, research has shown that corruption in the health sector causes losses of $455 billion per year and, according to OECD estimates, up to US$2 trillion of procurement costs could be lost to corruption.

How do we consider this reality during a global pandemic, when there are increased opportunities for corruption to take place, while at the same time not compromising an effective public health response?

While no one-size fits all solution exists, certain principles are critical.

First, experience has shown that applying a  risk-based prioritization framework is a crucial first step. Tailored to each context, the framework should determine which governance, transparency and accountability mechanisms must be integrated into all COVID 19 public health response planning and design. This framework should prioritize deterring those forms of corruption that stand to most severely undermine both the quality and speed of the public health response. Indeed, there may be times when risks and mitigating measures identified during ordinary times are deprioritized during an emergency response.  

Second, the adoption of a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral oversight body - involving governments, civil society, academia, and anti-corruption, audit and oversight institutions - will help to raise awareness, and to bridge the health and anti-corruption communities, promoting dialogue and cooperation to mitigate corruption risks and make the most of available resources.

Third, implementation of community-led monitoring mechanisms which place greater reliance on bottom-up social accountability from the public itself are central to a robust response.  Measures to increase transparency of data and decision making, as well as channels for citizens to safely report instances of potential corrupt acts are paramount.  For example, use of digital technology to report falsified medical products, shortages in supplies, and other irregularities related to procurement or assets, should be encouraged. 

Here are a few examples of smart anti-corruption practices that are being used by countries during the pandemic response.

In Ukraine, anti-corruption reforms oblige all emergency contracts to be published in full, shared as open data, including terms of payment and delivery, and value. Civil society has developed a business intelligence tool to monitor COVID-19 related medical procurement and emergency spending, and includes information such as the name of items, the price per item, terms, and supplier. Colombia uses an e-procurement platform which complies with the Open Contracting Data Standard, even as emergency procedures have been announced. Colombia’s National Health Institute  discloses not only tender data and information but all the technical comments received from potential suppliers. 

The COVID-19 response also reminds us that effective institutions are an essential part of pandemic preparedness. Building institutional capacity and ensuring measures and systems are in place to prevent corruption and institutionalize transparency and accountability will help to deliver better health outcomes that would benefit the whole of society post the pandemic.

Given the enormous burden expected on countries to plan, respond and recover from the current pandemic, corruption must be considered as a significant barrier to a successful response. It is vital to focus on addressing those corruption risks which may most seriously harm the COVID-19 response both in the short-term crisis response and in recovery phase.

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What are your experiences using ACTA measures during COVID-19?  We would welcome your ideas and experiences, keeping in mind the questions below. Please email acta@who.int  to share.

In what circumstances can fraud and corruption undermine the pandemic response?  What measures do you think may be best suited to mitigate fraud and corruption risk in the context of pandemics?

What criteria would you suggest health and anti-corruption professionals use to determine when to insist on anti-corruption measures, or to lighten them in the context of a pandemic?  Are there alternative mechanisms that can be leveraged to mitigate fraud and corruption risk while permitting efficient and effective delivery of the health response?

Additional Resources:

WHO page: Reducing health system corruption 

Editorial in the Lancet: 2020–30: the decade of anti-corruption?

UNDP Blog: Preventing corruption, a priority during COVID-19

Advisory note: COVID-19 and Corruption in the Pacific

U4 brief: Corruption in the time of COVID-19: A double-threat for low income countries

Contact:

David Clarke, Team Leader UHC and Health Systems Law, System’s Governance and Policy, WHO: clarked@who.int

Aneta Wierzynska, Senior Specialist in Anti-Corruption and Impact, Ethics Office, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: aneta.wierzynska@theglobalfund.org

Mark DiBiase, Policy Specialist, HIV, Health and Development Team, UNDP: mark.dibiase@undp.org

Anga Timilsina, Global Programme Advisor on Anti-Corruption, UNDP: anga.timilsina@undp.org

Global Network on Anti-corruption, Transparency and Accountability (GNACTA)

The Global Network on Anti-Corruption, Transparency and Accountability  (GNACTA) is a dynamic platform led by UNDP, WHO and the Global Fund to bring together a multiplicity of partners (e.g. health, development and humanitarian agencies, governments, civil society, private sector, academia and citizens) to tackle corruption in the health sector.  GNACTA aims to build the evidence base on how to tackle corruption, enhance collaboration and coordination among stakeholders, foster partnerships across and between countries and support countries to mobilize resources for anti-corruption efforts, hence reducing countries’ vulnerability to corruption. GNACTA contributes to the SDG 3 Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-Being (GAP) through “support of countries by harmonizing operational and financial strategies, policies and approaches”.