Project Description

General Country Assessment and Partnership Building Missions

Capacity Building and Training Workshops

Asia-EU Regional Workshop

Training Manual/ Handbook on Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Public Contracting

The Project: Preventing Corruption in Public Contracting: Capacity Building and Networking for Civil Society and Local Governments in Asia aims at curbing corruption in public contracting in local governments in Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan in cooperation with the United Kingdom and the Transparency International Secretariat based in Germany. Initiated in December 2004, this two-year Project is designed to implement capacity building and inter-regional networking for TI National Chapters, other civil society organizations, and local governments in Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan. In each country, this involves an initial General Country Assessment and Partnership Building Mission to identify needs and capacities of the stakeholders and the potential for partnerships, and a Capacity Building and Training (CBT) Workshop addressing those needs and introducing useful and practical tools for promoting transparency and accountability in public contracting and procurement, such as the TI Integrity Pact.

To promote the sharing of best practices, tools and training materials, in particular the outcomes of the national CBT workshops, an Asia-EU Regional Workshop is also planned in 2006. Based on the findings of the Workshops, a Handbook on Curbing Corruption in Public Contracting and Procurement will then be produced. Building partnerships between Asia and the EU and within Asia is key to the project and supported through all activities. Local ownership is emphasised with a view to the project's replication in neighbouring communities and countries. A significant number of people will benefit directly and indirectly from the activities. To maximise the results of the project, high visibility promotion will be undertaken on TI websites and other media.

The project has received substantial funding from the European Union with additional support from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Additional funding is being sought to enhance the overall impact of the project through increasing local participation in project activities, the quantity and dissemination of outputs and potential for replication and sustainability in the region.

To view the full Project Proposal, please click here:

For more information, please contact the Project Manager.

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Three General Country Assessment and Partnership Building Missions took place between April and July 2005. The Missions were to Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan. The purpose of the Missions was to prepare for the CapacityBuilding and Training (CBT) Workshop part of the Project i.e.

(a) To ensure that the CBT Workshop adequately and appropriately meets the local needs, addresses the weaknesses and builds on the strengths of the target groups, and takes into account opportunities and threats at the local level of the target groups and local situation in general, and

(b) To map existent and potential partnerships with local actors/target groups to promote their participation in the design, implementation and follow-up to the CBT Workshop.

The Mission Leader, Project Manager and local TI project staff conducted each of the missions. This Mission Team met with relevant stakeholders to assess their needs and learn their views on weaknesses, strengths, opportunities and threats regarding the state of local government public contracting in general and the organisation of a capacity building seminar.

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The main aims of the CapacityBuilding and Training (CBT) Workshops are to raise public awareness and increase target group’s understanding about corruption in public contracting and to provide and facilitate the adaptation of useful anti-corruption tools to mitigate such problems.

The CBT Workshops are designed to meet the specific needs of each local community. They include at minimum the following:

(a) Basic training on combating corruption in public contracting:

• Discussion on how corruption in public contracting operates and how can it be prevented;
• Review of international and regional norms and guidelines for preventing corruption in public contracting and procurement. State obligations and case studies regarding implementation are discussed;
• Assessment of the particular characteristics of corruption in public contracting in that country using a participatory risk map methodology to comprehensively asses needs and to identify risks for corruption and possible areas of work.

(b) Focused training on developing and implementing anti-corruption tools for transparency and accountability in the procurement and post procurement processes. The main tool for discussion is the Integrity Pact (IP).

• Discussion on well known best practices and tested, useful tools;
• Exchange of know how but also problems or constraints on tool implementation and short and long terms strategies for development;
• Discussion on selection and adaptation of tools and best practices in the Project country;
• Strategy and Action Plan development for civil society and the local government.

On average, about 20 persons are expected to attend each country’s CBT Workshop. Invited participants include, as appropriate, members of TI National Chapters, local civil society organisations, local government, national government, private sector, regional/international organisations, donor agencies and foundations, and the media.

The Workshops are interactive and participatory as they aim to meet the needs of the participants and their situations, and to allow discussion on the particularities of local dynamics and requirements in order to adapt the tools learned to work best in each given situation.

At the conclusion of each CBT Workshop, recommendations and/or an Action Plan may be adopted. Participants evaluate the Workshops by responding to a Workshop Questionnaire which is distributed at the Workshop.

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The Asia-EU Regional Workshop is planned to take place in Jakarta, Indonesia in mid 2006. It covers the subject: “Promoting Transparency and Accountability of Local Governments and Deterring Corruption in Public Contracting and Procurement.”

The Workshop aims to:

• Present an overview on the status of corruption in public contracting and procurement at the local government levels in Asia and in Europe;
• Educate and inform on initiatives to promote transparency and accountability of local governments and deterring corruption in public contracting and procurement;
• Promote information exchanges and sharing among participants, in particular regarding the results of the Capacity Building and Training Workshops and developments to promote greater accountability and to deter corruption in local government public procurement;
• Promote networking among participants;
• Develop the Training Manual or Handbook on Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Public Contracting” as a general source of information.

The format of the agenda is designed however to give ample time for discussion and lead to constructive evaluation, analyses and recommendations for general improvement and better facilitation of tools are best practices already in place. New ideas are expected to be generated also.

Wide participation to the regional workshop from members of TI National Chapters, local civil society organisations, local government, national government, private sector, regional/international organisations, donor agencies and foundations, and the media, from the Project Countries and from other countries in the region. Approximately 50 participants are funded by the Project proper.

The Regional Workshop is intended to be interactive and participatory as it aims to meet the needs of the participants and their situations, and to allow discussion on the particularities of local dynamics and requirements in order to adapt the tools learned to work best in each given situation.

At the conclusion of the Regional Workshop, recommendations for further action are concluded such as:

• Steps to be taken to further enhance the work of the Asian Partners such as the development and implementation of Pilot Projects in a Phase II of the Project; and
• Future activities as well as technical and financial support thereto, to foster regional co-operation and local community programmes to promote transparency and accountability of local governments and deterring corruption in public contracting and procurement.

Participants evaluate the Workshops by responding to a Workshop Questionnaire which is distributed at the Workshop.

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The Training Manual or Handbook on “Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Public Contracting” is a key product of the overall project. Its design and contents are formulated through the conclusions reached at each CapacityBuilding and Training Workshop. The Handbook or Manual is expected to be a user-friendly, practical resource book for civil society organisations, local governments and interested individuals and stakeholders on how to better curb corruption in public contracting and procurement. The Handbook/Manual covers some training material and tools presented in the CBT Workshop as well as other useful practical information.

The production of the manual follows a participatory process thereby adding to its usefulness and legitimacy. It is intended that the manual be replicable throughout the region, Accordingly, the final version is produced following the receipt of feedback and input on the manual’s content, structure and presentation from participating stakeholders at the Asia-EU Regional Workshop.

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This webpage has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of Transparency International and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.