1. Enlisting Information Technology In The Fight Against Corruption
the coalition against corruption
Enlisting Information Technology In The Fight Against Corruption
Nancy Boswell
Transparency International Board of Directors
President and CEO, Transparency International-USA
World Bank e-Development Seminar
Leveraging e-Government for Successful Anti-Corruption Programs
January 17, 2007

2. Information Technology’s Promise
Transparency = a key prerequisite to
governmental integrity
Transparency = access to information
Technology solutions can increase
access to information exponentially
Technology should be a fundamental tool in the
fight against corruption

3. Key Actors & Transparency
Bank transparency –
Meetings with officials, country strategies, procurement, budget support, INT data (across MDBs and with public), whistleblower/real time response
Borrower transparency –
Laws & regulations, budget, procurement, judicial decisions, asset disclosure, political finance
Civil society transparency – media, private sector

4. Technology Can Contribute To . .
Promoting Accountability
Reducing Opportunities For Extortion
Mitigating Corruption Risks
Enhancing Research

5. Promoting Accountability
Transparency permits citizen oversight & participation
Media access to information enhances public scrutiny
IT facilitates citizen capacity to communicate, organize networks & advocate reform

6. Reducing Opportunities For Extortion
Publication of laws & regulations increases predictability
IT transparency in procurement, licensing & revenue collection reduces discretion & contact with officials
No Bribes

7. Mitigating Corruption Risks
Databases enable expanded due diligence
New software helps identify red flags & patterns of fraud
IT permits real-time reporting

8. Enhancing Research IT enhances:
Information sharing among researchers and practitioners
Improved data collection (surveys) and analysis about corruption and ways of combating it
Benchmarking progress and comparison to best practices

9. Caveats: IT has limits Not a substitute for political will
Limited infrastructure – less than 20% world population access internet; less than 4% in Africa
Capacity constraints – media and civil society need skills to process and utilize information
Poor utilization – requires early integration in institutional reform & timely and accessible information
False promise – reliance on false assumption that IT is panacea & automated systems are corruption-proof
Expense – promising databases and software are accessible primarily to the richest market players

10. the global coalition against corruption
Nancy Boswell
Transparency International Board of Directors
President and CEO, Transparency International-USA
World Bank e-Development Seminar
Leveraging e-Government for Successful Anti-Corruption Programs
January 17, 2007