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Anti-Corruption Assessment Handbook
 View Anti-Corruption Assessment Handbook, February 2009 [PDF, 255kb]
USAID's 2005 Anti-Corruption Strategy signaled a clear recognition that new approaches need to be taken by host country governments, their civil society and business communities, and international donor organizations to address corruption as a serious obstacle to development. Corruption is both the product and the cause of numerous governance failures, economic dysfunctions, and political shortcomings. More than a decade of programming experience demonstrates that effective programs to address corruption must take into account a wide range of these factors to avoid the trap of tackling the symptoms but leaving the underlying disease untreated. A first step toward implementing improved anti-corruption programs is to assess how corruption manifests itself in a particular country, the array of factors that drive it, and the effectiveness of existing laws, institutions, and control mechanisms meant to reduce a country's vulnerability to corruption.
The main objective of the assessment approach outlined in this handbook is to ensure that assessments start by casting a wide analytical net to capture the breadth of issues that affect corruption and anti-corruption prospects in a country and then provide a clearly-justified, strategic rationale for their final programmatic recommendations. This handbook offers step-by-step practical assistance for implementing the methodology and producing an assessment report that addresses a wide range of issues and generates recommendations for action. The guidance provides assessment teams with tools for diagnosing the underlying causes of corruption by analyzing both the state of laws and institutions and the political-economic dynamics of a country. By understanding country-specific drivers of corruption, assessment teams should be able to develop reasonable insights on the government sectors and functions that are most vulnerable to corruption and the types of initiatives that can reverse or control these problems. The framework also provides a rationale for setting priorities, choosing some approaches, and rejecting others.
This handbook is organized to support practical assessment teams going out to the field. Assessment teams can download and print the entire handbook, as well as its eight annexes, which are listed below. Annexes that include tables and forms that can be filled out in the course of the assessment are provided in MS Word format. If the handbook is viewed on the internet, the many hyperlinks throughout the document will enhance the resources available to the user.
The Anti-Corruption Assessment Handbook Contents:
- Introduction provides a brief discussion of the objectives, underlying principles, and basic approach to applying the handbook.
- Understanding Corruption provides a brief overview of the major features of corruption, including definitions.
- The Anti-Corruption Assessment Framework is a practical guide to using the handbook, illustrating the approaches, tools, and activities.
- Applying the Framework describes how the framework was used to analyze corruption in one country—Ukraine—and includes lessons learned from pilot tests conducted elsewhere.
- Links to Anti-Corruption Resources provides direct access to information on indicators, previous assessments and studies, and other data and materials that can be helpful to assessment teams.
- Annexes to this handbook provide additional resources and detailed explanations of tools for assisting in the analysis of the sectors and functions where corruption is common. A model Statement of Work, an outline of an anti-corruption assessment report, practical planning guidance, and other information materials are also offered.
- Guidance on Team Planning Agenda and In-Country Activities. Topics to address in the team planning meeting and tips on scheduling to accomplish the in-country tasks. [PDF, 30kb & Word, 54kb]
- Legal-Institutional Framework Analysis. Questions in table format—to be completed by local legal experts—on the current status of the legal and institutional framework to counter corruption. [PDF, 82kb & Word, 251kb]
- Initial Analysis of Sectors, Functions, and Institutions. Table broken down by sector in a pro/con fashion to assist the team in identifying the key sectors, functions, and institutions that are vulnerable to corruption. [PDF, 27kb & Word, 34kb]
- Library of Illustrative Diagnostic Guides. Concise sets of questions to assist team members in probing potential corruption vulnerabilities in 19 key sectors and functions. [PDF, 433kb]
- "Track Record" Reports on Anti-Corruption Experience. A collection of reports and articles that integrate the impact of anti-corruption programs in key sectoral and functional areas. All materials are easily accessible from this annex. [PDF, 53kb]
- Anti-Corruption Assessment Report: Annotated Outline. Illustrative outline for an anti-corruption assessment report. [PDF, 23kb & Word, 53kb]
- Illustrative Scope of Work for an Anti-Corruption Assessment. Illustrative scope of work to request an anti-corruption assessment using this methodology as guidance. [PDF, 65kb & Word, 103kb]
- Background Note on Corruption Syndromes. Additional information about the four corruption syndromes, their implications, and how to apply them in support of the assessment. [PDF, 89kb]
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