Responsible and accountable institutions

UNDP defines governance as “the system of values, policies and institutions by which a society manages its economic, political and social affairs through interactions within and among the state, civil society and private sector. It is the way a society organizes itself to make and implement decisions—achieving mutual understanding, agreement and action”.  They are anchored on six key principles: participation, inclusion, non-discrimination, equality, rule of law and accountability. When these principles are applied to strengthen performance, adaptability, and stability -- institutional values and qualities that are critical to develop and implement effective and equitable policy measures, they provide the foundation for responsive, inclusive and effective governance systems.

Currently, in the region, levels of government effectiveness vary, which can be seen in survey data on people’s perceptions of the quality of public services, the independence of the civil service, and of the way policies are formulated. At the same time, the region is increasingly looking to innovation, e-government and use of data and technology to help streamline and improve services.

Building responsive and accountable institutions at all levels of government is central to encouraging strong citizen engagement and giving people a sense of ownership over important decisions.

In order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government and the provision of services, UNDP works to:

• Increase transparency and accountability systems to enhance inclusive public policy, budgeting and financing, monitoring, and reporting of development progress
• Introduce modern, innovative, and responsive access to quality services for the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized;
• Empower local governments by facilitating the decentralization of government and strengthening of local capacities;
• Support the exploration and delivery of digitalization and technology to improve governance systems, real-time monitoring, citizen engagement, innovative planning systems, data exchange, and learning;
• Support civic engagement and empowerment including new forms of digital activism
• Empower youth as change makers and future decision-makers

Anti-corruption

Corruption siphons public resources, undermines effective and stable governance, and complicates efforts to streamline services and development processes. If not addressed at earlier stages, corruption can become entrenched to the point that it becomes the norm and perceived as a regular cost of doing business.

Without citizen ownership and support of anti-corruption efforts, any gains are likely to quickly reverse.

UNDP works with partners to combat corruption and improve transparency by:

• Supporting institutions at the central level that are responsible for implementing the UN Convention Against Corruption;
• Putting into place the "Islands of Integrity" methodology to prevent corruption in cities and municipalities;
• Helping draft laws on access to information, anti-corruption reform packages, and mainstreaming of anti-corruption principles across all sectors;
• Assessing corruption risks and assisting governments to target the most vulnerable areas, such as education and healthcare;
• Raising awareness on the importance of business integrity and open contracting as a means to decrease risk of corruption in the public sector; and
• Creating web portals that allow municipalities, citizens and media to report corruption.

Local governance and development

For most citizens across the region, local government remains the most accessible level of government. It is the most direct way for people to access basic services, to participate in public processes, and to exercise their rights and obligations.

Effective local governance is at the heart of all efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. Local governments can make a huge difference when it comes to increasing the quality of life of people in both urban and rural settings, reducing inequalities across society, enhancing relations between people and public institutions and providing a platform for the voices of minorities.

While decentralization legislation and policies exist in many countries, fiscal responsibilities have remained centrally controlled. In many cases, local governments are not financially equipped to manage their services. On the other hand, continued fiscal centralization is often justified by weak capacities at the local level.

UNDP works throughout the region to improve local governance and strengthen local democracy by:

• Building local capacity to implement the SDGs and anticipate and respond to emerging development challenges such as migration, urbanization and environmental degradation;
• Encouraging the active participation and engagement of civil society, the private sector and the public in local decision-making processes and in holding governments accountable;
• Enabling effective, innovative, data- and evidence-based planning and monitoring at the local level; and
• Helping central governments to develop strategies and plans to devolve power to local governments.

Digitalization and Governance

UNDP’s digital transformation framework which provides a whole-of-society approach and insights across five pillars i.e., infrastructure, government, regulation, business, and people – all of which are critical elements of good governance.  As countries adapt and grapple with the opportunities, challenges and risks offered by digitalization and technology, UNDP has seen increasing application of digitalization and tech in governance such as public service delivery, public portals and online reporting and feedback systems, online registries and databases, information portals, and online public communications including through the use of social media. 

UNDP works in the region to advance digital transformation and governance by:

• Supporting digital readiness assessments and functional analysis to inform the establishment of agile, responsive, and well-coordinated institutional arrangements, standards and regulations for inclusive digital transformation;
• Strengthening digital resilience through improving data strategies, systems, and security;
• Supporting digital literacy, knowledge and future skills in public, private and civil society organizations;
• Enhancing the social contract through digital governance, innovations, and active public engagement and activism;
• Supporting urban, regional and local development through targeted support to digital economy and digital financing solutions.

Open data and open governance

Across Europe and Central Asia, citizens’ demand for more government accountability and transparency are growing, along with citizen-driven initiatives. Open data is a powerful tool for bridging gaps between institutions and communities. If used correctly, it can help build responsive institutions and efficient public services, and ensure citizens participate.

UNDP works closely with organizations across the region to use data for open governance and advocacy. We collaborate closely with the Open Government Partnership in strengthening transparency and accountability, using technology and encouraging participation across the region, and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) on open data programming and promoting learning, sharing and data literacy.

UNDP takes an ecosystem approach in supporting open data initiatives and integrating them into a range of sectors. From supporting legislation to development of IT solutions, we create spaces for collaboration between institutions, citizens and relevant organizations.

Public Finance Management

Public finance management is a key component of effective and accountable governance systems, and therefore an important policy solution for sustainable development.  Across Europe and Central Asia, member states have been spending significant amounts of public funds for COVID-19 response and recovery; however, to a large extent, there remain considerable constraints in transparent spending, monitoring, and reporting these funds. As economies brace for long-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, tracking expenditures, tax benefits, and financial reporting mechanisms becomes even more crucial to assure that critical public budgets are allocated where there is the most need and the leakage due to mismanagement and corruption is minimized.

UNDP works throughout the region in close collaboration with COs to track available data and information on financing, spending, and reporting of C-19 response and recovery of governments at regional, national, and local levels, aiming to maximize large-scale resource disbursement efficiency and effectiveness by:

• Supporting the transparent monitoring and reporting of COVID-19 financing.
• Introducing inclusive and innovative digital approaches for COVID-19 finance monitoring and reporting, such as blockchain.
• Encouraging transparent publication of data on budget allocations and expenditure;

E-governance and public administration reform

A key challenge for many countries in the region is establishing the machinery of government to function, and effectively implement laws and policies in less than optimal conditions. This means ensuring government services continue through transitions of government, disasters and economic downturns, and for institutions to remain progressive, client-focused and objective in the face of government pressure, conflict and extremism.

We aim not just to develop resiliency, but also improve government functions and foster innovation. New technologies provide an unparalleled opportunity for governments to become more transparent, efficient and accessible and to provide services in a manner that is beneficial for both citizens and civil servants.