The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and The Republic of Yemen Cosponsored by The United Nations Development Programme and The Government of Japan In Partnership with the Governments of: The Netherlands The United Kingdom The United States And the: Canadian International Development Agency Friedrich Ebert Stiftung International Labour Organization Irish Aid National Endowment for Democracy United States Agency for International Development Westminster Foundation for Democracy World Bank		Summary of Discussions & Recommendations for Action (results of small group discussions) TOPIC IV: ACHIEVING GOOD GOVERNANCE Controlling Corruption, Improving Administration and Strengthening the Rule of Law Topic 1 - Topic 2 - Topic 3 - Topic 4 Purpose: To explore concrete mechanisms to further good governance and the rule of law with a focus on anti-corruption measures. Overview: In order to survive and thrive, new democracies need to be able to provide good governance. Good governance requires attention to several inter-related issues, the most challenging and urgent of which is controlling corruption. Anti-corruption measures are multi-faceted -- the legal framework must be created, administrative capacity should be strengthened and an independent judiciary needs to be established. Non governmental organizations, political parties and the media play a vital role in these endeavors, which require political will and attitudinal change. Recommendations: Governments should: Professionalize the civil service through training and auditing. A nonpartisan, competent, adequately trained and paid civil service is essential to good governance. Implement institutional measures to control corruption, such as an ombudsman, auditor general, independent constitutionally mandated anti-corruption commission and/or parliamentary committee that ensures government accountability. Strengthen the capacity and independence of the judiciary through training and other forms of support to ensure that anti-corruption legislation has an impact. Disseminate generally accepted accounting standards and establish a general auditing office that has the authority to audit government agencies and institutions that receive government funding. Establish procurement regulations to ensure that the bidding process is widely understood, transparent and open to all. Implement periodic disclosure of financial assets for senior public officials and encourage officials, upon assuming office, to make public declarations of integrity. In addition: Political parties should adopt codes of conduct and anti-corruption strategies. NGOs should engage in monitoring activities and in advocacy to promote legislation on accountability and transparency. They should also work as partners with the executive and legislative branches to educate citizens and publicize wrongdoing. A free media can play a key role in controlling corruption by disseminating information to citizens on government regulations and procedures and publishing incidents of corruption. [ Introduction ] [ Declaration ] [ Conference Transcripts ] [ Discussion Board ] [ Forum Home ] [ NDI Home ]