Project description

Title: Assistance in Prevention and Campaign against Corruption (KPK)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Indonesia
Lead executing agency: Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
Overall term: 2007 to 2013

Context

Between 2005 and 2011, Indonesia's position in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) rose from 137th out of 158 countries, to 100th out of 183. Despite this improvement, corruption still persists in many sections of society. Corruption affects all three arms of the state – executive, legislature and judiciary – and is therefore seen as one biggest hurdles to sustainable development in the country. Failure to eradicate corruption not only disrupts development, it also weakens the public image of the government. This translates into public mistrust of government institutions and a lack of respect for the laws.

In the past, the Indonesian Government has shown its willingness to tackle corruption, for example through the creation of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in 2003. The KPK has a well-defined mandate with far-reaching competencies for the prevention and prosecution of corruption. However, its internal working and management procedures still need to improve in order to ensure the Commission's effective operation.

While other donor programmes mainly support the legal prosecution of corruption, Indonesian-German cooperation mainly targets prevention activities. The project is helping the KPK to establish an Anti-Corruption Clearing House (ACCH) by assisting with the development of knowledge and information management systems. It is also supporting with the creation of an Anti-Corruption Learning Center (ACLC). Both of these efforts are components of an overarching prevention strategy. At the same time, the project is also helping to improve the KPK's own internal Integrity management system.

Objective

The KPK is organisationally and institutionally qualified to implement corruption prevention measures. The Anti-Corruption Clearing House is being used successfully for the prevention of corruption.

Approach

The project consists of four main components.

Improvement of the KPK's internal integrity management system: To prevent the KPK from losing its own credibility, the project is helping it to ensure it maintains the highest possible level of integrity.

Establishment of the Anti Corruption Learning Center (ACLC): The project is developing a blueprint for the ACLC and providing organisational advice  in support of the KPK's efforts to establish this national resource and learning centre.

Development of a coherent strategy for corruption prevention: Support is given to the KPK, not only for the development of a coherent strategy, but also for a number of specific prevention matters.

Provision of data and information through the further extension of the ACCH: The project is assisting all the departments of the KPK with the regular use and distribution of data and information through internal (KPK intranet), external (extranet), and public (internet) channels.

Results achieved so far

The staff of the KPK now manages the ACCH more efficiently and effectively.

After having cooperated in joint corruption prevention and education campaigns, central and local government bodies and civil society stakeholders now possess greater understanding and awareness of integrity.

Civil society organisations and the public at large inform themselves with the aid of library days, anti-corruption info-points, and the ACCH internet portal.

A 'whistleblower system' has improved the KPK's responsiveness to public reports of corruption. This system enables complaints to be made anonymously, which means a larger number of corruption cases are reported and investigated.