As part of the Justice Sector Training, Research, and Coordination Plus Program (JusTRAC+), the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) hosted a virtual community of practice meeting on February 28, 2023 focused on the “White Paper on Strengthening Coordination in Support of the United States Strategy on Countering Corruption”, which was drafted by Matthew Murray, ABA ROLI’s Expert Consultant, in consultation with the U.S. State Department.
The meeting, moderated by Lemarque Campbell, ABA ROLI’s Senior Anti-Corruption Technical Advisor, included Matthew Murray, who presented the White Paper, along with the following discussants: Cheri-Leigh Erasmus, Global Director of Learning at the Accountability Lab; Gary Kalman, Executive Director of Transparency International USA; and Pat Austria Ramsey, Director of Country Programs and Innovation at the Institute for State Effectiveness.
Randy Hansen, ABA ROLI’s Global Programs Division Director, kicked off the meeting with an introduction and welcomed the participants, who included both U.S. Government (USG) interagency personnel and anti-corruption civil society leaders. Lemarque Campbell provided an overview of the significance of the White Paper presentation, and an overview of the JusTRAC+ program—which is implemented by both ABA ROLI and the Rule of Law Collaborative at the University of South Carolina (ROLC). The program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). It serves as a key resource for rule of law practitioners engaged in justice sector programming and offers a variety of activities and resources for a practitioner audience through its Knowledge Portal.
How did the White Paper come to be?
The White Paper stems from the Biden-Harris Administration United States Strategy on Countering Corruption (“Strategy”), issued in December, 2021, which calls upon the USG to elevate the fight against corruption as a core national security interest. The Strategy is based on the assessment that the global rise of corruption-fueled authoritarianism poses a threat to the international rules-based order and democracy itself.
Further, the White Paper is the product of the inputs made by USG interagency personnel during the JusTRAC+’s Interagency Roundtable Series on Strengthening Coordination to Counter Corruption Abroad – the New U.S. Strategy, which was organized by ABA ROLI. The Roundtable Series took place from April 19 to April 22, 2022, and featured officials from the following departments and agencies: the National Security Council (NSC), Department of State (DOS), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Treasury, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
Actions Recommended Under the White Paper
The White Paper highlights seven outcomes which are dubbed as desired interagency outcomes. Matthew Murray provided recommendations and best practices on each of these outcomes.
The seven desired interagency outcomes outlined in the White Paper are;
- Form a Common Operating Picture of Corruption
- Expand Sharing of Intelligence, Information and Data on Corruption
- Lead Intra-Agency Processes to Elevate and Integrate Anti-Corruption
- Form and Execute Holistic Solutions to Corruption
- Strengthen and Expand Linkages among Diplomacy, Foreign Assistance, and Other Tools
- Form Core USG Network to Help Disrupt and Defeat Corrupt Networks
- Learn, Change and Innovate as a Community
A full overview of each desired outcome can be found by viewing the White Paper here on the JusTRAC+ Knowledge Portal.
A Systems Building and Introspective Approach to Enhancing Accountability
Pat Austria Ramsey highlighted the relevance of the White Paper to her organization. She mentioned the that the primary goal for the Institute for State Effectiveness is making institutions more inclusive and accountable to citizens. To do so, they help bridge the governance gap by focusing on a systems-building approach, which involves building operational plans, manuals, and trainings in government work, among other things.
The concept of accountability being entrenched in systems resonates with the White Paper as the paper states, “…corruption is not seen as an externality or a byproduct of inefficiency but is seen as a fundamental sign of the efficacy of an institution and the eco-systems by which they work.” Anti-corruption practitioners continue to grapple with the question of how to overcome these inefficiencies and challenges instead of reacting to corruption. Pat Austria Ramsey agreed with what the paper proposes, “…institutions are simply not meant to react to corruption but to proactively build accountable systems that work towards continuous improvement.”
The White Paper views corruption not just as an erosion of ethics but as a detriment to the broader eco-system, so an institutional and systemic issue must have an institutional and systemic approach.
Ramsey reiterated the concept of introspective approach by anti-corruption practitioners in their daily work. On this, the White Paper states, “…as often anti-corruption practitioners see corruption as that done by others instead of asking the question of, 'How does our work and processes contribute to corruption?'”
Institutional Change and Process Dimension in Countering Corruption
Ramsey further highlighted the importance of change and process dimensions. The White Paper similarly calls for continuous learning, and asks the question to anti-corruption practitioners, “...as corruption continues to change how do we adapt to it?” Once something is achieved we cannot wash our hands and say it is done, no, there is continuous learning needed.
Ramsey shared that to successfully implement this framework it is critical to ask, “How do you destigmatize change and increase the institution’s ability to absorb the change?” Because change is often viewed negatively, or as a signal of failure, but it forces institutions to admit when things aren’t working.