1. Gillian dell – transparency international
PREPARING A CSO REPORT
Gillian dell – transparency international
Belgrade, 27 September 2018

2. Reasons to do it
Why do it?

3. AIM OF CSO PARALLEL REPORT
Reasons to do it
Clarifies the reforms you expect from the government based on analysis (change objectives)
Provides evidence-based support for advocacy
Contributes to balance and accuracy of UNCAC reviews, higher quality:
Provides supplementary information
Takes a more critical perspective

4. How to do it?

5. Decisions to make Scope of report Comprehensive versus topic-specific
Mandatory versus optional provisions
Review processs and convention implementation
Use of report
Broad advocacy approach or focus on review process
Practical considerations
Resources, expertise
Costs versus benefits

6. PREPARATION Before you start…
Read the Monitoring & Advocacy Guide & watch our UNCAC review training videos:
Check UNODC guidance material
Check for partners and support
Link up with other CSOs and private sector groups interested in getting involved—UNCAC Coalition may be able to help
Identify pro bono legal support in you country—TI may be able to help
Identify funding
Inform your government and share the report
template or information about your plans

7. Information collection
Desk research:
other review mechanisms (eg. CoE, RAI),
reports on judicial practice, expert policy papers, court records
newspaper clippings, media monitor services
online search (Internet is always a useful tool!)
Key informants, such as law enforcement officials, for interviews

8. Pro bono legAL SUPPORT
Thomson Reuters – Trustlaw International Senior Lawyers Project Advocates for International Development IBA - International Pro Bono Website

9. Process issues

10. Tracking process issues
Transparency and CSO participation in the review process
Did the government make public the contact details of the country focal point?
Yes/No
Was civil society consulted in the preparation of the self assessment?
Was the self-assessment published online or provided to CSOs?
Did the government agree to a country visit?
Was a country visit undertaken?
Were civil society organisations invited to provide input to the official reviewers?
Has the government committed to publishing the full review report?

11. Tracking process issues
Transparency of the Government’s Undertaking of the Review Process
Did the government disclose information about the country focal point?
Yes/ No
Comments
Is the review schedule known?
Please indicate whether the review is on time
Was civil society consulted in the preparation of the self-assessment?
If yes, who? (please tick)
Women’s groups
Access to information groups
Trade unions
Academic networks
Anti-corruption groups
Other (please list)
Please list the organisations consulted
Please indicate date of consultation
Was the self-assessment published on line or provided to civil society?
Please enter link if applicable and date of publication or information about when/how the self-assessment was provided
Did the government agree to a country visit by the review team?
Please indicate date of the visit
Was a country visit undertaken?
Was civil society invited to provide input to the official reviewers?
Please list the organisations invited
Please enter the form of input invited
Was the private sector invited to provide input to the official reviewers?
Please list the firms/organisations invited
Has the government committed to publishing the full country report
Yes/ No/ Unknown
Please indicate if published by UNODC and/ or country and enter a link if applicable.

12. Assessment of implementation

13. Information collection
Desk research:
government publications
other review mechanisms (GRECO, OECD WGB)
expert policy papers, reports on judicial practice, court records
newspaper clippings, media monitor services
online search
Key informants, such as government and law enforcement officials, for interviews

14. GENERAL GUIDELINES
Provide an assessment of whether implementation of UNCAC in a certain area is satisfactory or not
Explain the reasons for any conclusions and recommendations
Be balanced: highlight strengths as well as weaknesses in the performance
Reference information provided
Use concise & clear language
Photo: Flickr, Sylvie Burr

15. Coverage of report Status of implementation
Selection of articles (Guide p. 83)
Art. 6 (preventive anti-corruption bodies) Art. 7 (public sector integrity) Art. 8 (codes of conduct for public officials) Art. 9 (public procurement & management of public finances) Art. 10 (public reporting) Art. 11 (measures relating to the judiciary & prosecution services) Art. 13 (participation of society) Art. 14 (measures to prevent money laundering) Chapter V (asset recovery)
Status of implementation
Application/ enforcement in practice

16. Guidance on legal framework
Explanatory text (draft questionnaire)
Public sector financial management (Article 9.2) Are relevant policies implemented? Are there procedures for the adoption of the national budget? UNCAC, Article 9.2.a Are there measures to ensure timely reporting on revenue and expenditure? UNCAC, Article 9.2(b) Is a system of accounting, auditing standards and related oversight in place? UNCAC, Article 9.2(c) Are key documents available in easily understandable formats to facilitate public understanding and the fight against corruption?

17. Guidance on APPLICATION
Explanatory text (draft questionnaire)
Public sector financial management (Article 9.2) Are key provisions applied in practice? Is information on the adopted budget, its implementation, collected revenues, major sources of income, and an independent audit publicly accessible in a timely manner (for example, through a website)? Are the defense budget and expenditures made through non-public agencies accessible to the public? Technical Guide, p. 36, 37 Do publicly accessible budget documents include a detailed commentary on revenues and expenditures, as well as non-financial performance data, including performance targets? Technical Guide, p. 36, 37 Is budget information disclosed with an adequate level of details and sufficient supporting documentation? Is the budget allocated to and spent by each ministry or relevant State body traceable?

18. accuracy
Steps to prevent libel (Guide pp )
Libel check (and fact check) of the report by qualified lawyers
Cross-check the information: you are not telling stories but analysing facts.
Be careful to reflect the status of cases at the time of writing:
Allegations only? Investigation or prosecution by authorities? Judgement? Final or subject to appeal?
Tone down language about allegations (use language such as “allegedly”, “reportedly” etc.)
Avoid mentioning names of implicated persons involved, unless you have reliable open source reference
All sources of information should be fully referenced

19. Consultation
Obtain government feedback
Contact focal point and/or officials in the Justice or Interior Ministry or Anti-Corruption Agency and /or government delegate to the last UNCAC Conference of States Parties.
Send them copy of the near-final report for comment & arrange meeting
To avoid errors and build dialogue around issues

20. dissemination National level Government UNCAC reviewers
Development partners
Think tanks, academia
National media
International level
UNCAC forums
Other global forums
Regional forums

21. www.transparency.org facebook.com/transparencyinternational
twitter.com/anticorruption
blog.transparency.org
© 2014 Transparency International. All rights reserved.