Strengthening the UNCAC IRM to Increase Effectiveness & Practical Implementation 

States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) are currently discussing the next Phase of the Convention’s Implementation Review Mechanism (IRM).

The question of how the IRM could assess the practical implementation of the Convention at the national level was the focus of a recent dedicated discussion organized by France and the UNCAC Coalition.

Caroline Goussé from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs moderated the event, and panellists included: 

  • Mathias Huter, UNCAC Coalition
  • Valentina Valdez Jasso, Secretariat of Public Administration, Mexico
  • Vita Habjan Barborič, Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, Slovenia
  • Karin Adams, Transparency International 

What were the panellists’ concrete recommendations on strengthening the next phase of the UNCAC IRM? 

Key recommendations

1. Establish a structured follow-up mechanism

Participants stressed the importance of establishing a follow-up mechanism to ensure progress on country review recommendations. Specific elements raised included: 

  • Other review mechanisms have structured follow-up mechanisms that ensure progress on recommendations and help keep governments accountable. MESICIC requires national progress reports, and the FATF and OECD Working Group on Bribery model of concise follow-up reports on specific issues could be examples to follow.
  • It is important that any follow-up process introduced is public and inclusive of non-governmental stakeholders. 
2. Measurement of effective implementation

Participants raised the importance that UNCAC reviews assess the effective implementation of anti-corruption provisions, rather than merely identifying the legal provisions in place. 

Specific points raised include: 

  • The need to use statistical data to evaluate implementation in practice of anti-corruption provisions. 
  • The need for countries to be proactive in requesting that reviewers evaluate implementation in practice. 
  • The need for effectiveness to be measured regularly to track progress and understand what works.
3. The need for specialized review teams

Participants raised the importance of ensuring that reviewers have practical experience to ensure that recommendations are practical and actionable. 

4. The importance of transparency and inclusiveness

Participants raised the need to ensure transparency and stakeholder participation in the review mechanism to ensure effectiveness: 

Specific points raised include: 

  • Civil society, academia, and other stakeholders should have the opportunity to contribute to the self-assessment checklist. 
  • Civil society, academia, and other stakeholders should have the opportunity to meet with reviewers before government officials to highlight critical issues.
  • Reviewers should be able to consider civil society-produced assessments, such as parallel reports, without needing approval from the country under review.
  • All review-related data should be published in accessible formats to enhance transparency. 
5. Political will

Participants raised the importance that States take ownership of the UNCAC review process to ensure effectiveness. Specific points raised include: 

  • The need for anti-corruption bodies to be adequately resourced to fulfill their role with respect to the review process. 
  • The need for permanence of the bodies responsible for the review mechanism at the national level 
  • The need for public officials to take ownership of recommendations made by the review mechanism and to actively engage. 
6. Sharing of best practices

Participants called for reports to be discussed during IRG meetings to enable the sharing of best practices. 

7. Integrating data from other review mechanisms 

Participants raised the importance of of including data from other review mechanisms to guarantee a more effective review. 

8. Technical assistance

Participants raised the need for improvements regarding the technical assistance process. Specific ideas raised included: 

  • Establishing a structured system for technical assistance, such as a matchmaking platform to better meet countries’ needs.
  • The need for technical assistance to be transparent and inclusive, involving all stakeholders, including civil society, to improve implementation and assess impact.