ELLA Policy Brief: Fighting Corruption by Improving Transparency and Access to Information
ELLA is the Evidence and Lessons from Latin America programme
Abstract
Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), in the last decades countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Paraguay have designed and created electronic platforms that make information about procurement and government officials’ personal assets public. These electronic platforms have guaranteed an effective and transparent flow of public information, thereby empowering citizens to identify and demand action against corruption and allowing oversight agencies to detect and sanction public officials engaging in corruption.
Key Lessons:
•Implementing transparency and access to information electronic platforms in sensitive areas such as the procurement process or to monitor public officials’ personal assets can reduce corruption.
•Civil society’s monitoring of procurement and assets information proved to successfully contribute to identifying corruption.
•Political will and the strengthening of public agencies’ technical, institutional, and financial capacities are important for the success of these practices.
Citation
Oropeza, J. ELLA Policy Brief: Fighting Corruption by Improving Transparency and Access to Information. ELLA, Practical Action Consulting, Lima, Peru (2012) 5 pp.