UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (USPC), in collaboration with UNDP Sri Lanka, kickstarted an SDG Partnership focusing on the Republic of Korea’s Integrity Effort Assessment (IEA), formally known as Anti-Corruption Initiative Assessment (AIA), on 3 April 2024.  

The anti-corruption agenda in Sri Lanka has gained significant momentum in order to overcome the recent socio-economic crisis, exacerbated by governance failures and the urgent need to combat corruption. Against this backdrop, the webinar marked the initiation of a two-year project supporting Sri Lanka in institutionalizing an assessment mechanism for anti-corruption initiatives, inspired by the Korean AIA model. AIA, conducted annually by the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) of the Republic of Korea across the country’s public organizations, assesses and encourages the implementation of anti-corruption and integrity initiatives based on predetermined criteria and indicators. It has played a crucial role in fostering integrity within the public sector by offering clear and regular guidance and incentives for behavioural change. Recently, AIA has been renamed to IEA and was integrated into the Comprehensive Integrity Assessment (CIA), reflecting its shift towards a more comprehensive evaluation framework.

Key participants included Hon. Mr. Chul Whan Ryu, Chairperson of the ACRC; Hon. Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawela, Chairperson of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC); H.E Miyon Lee, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka; Dr. Anne Juepner, Director of USPC; and Ms. Azusa Kubota, Resident Representative of UNDP Sri Lanka.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Ryu highlighted the ongoing cooperation between ACRC and UNDP since 2015 to share the anti-corruption policies and systems from the Republic of Korea with various countries. He emphasized the value of sharing experiences, contributing to developing anti-corruption institutions globally. Justice Iddawela expressed gratitude for the support received from ACRC and the Republic of Korea in combating corruption, and hope for strengthened future partnerships. Ambassador Lee commended Sri Lanka's efforts and expressed hope for effective collaboration. Dr. Juepner highlighted the importance of USPC’s flagship SDG Partnerships in supporting partner countries by sharing Korea's innovative development solutions tailored to local contexts. She also acknowledged CIABOC’s strong interests and commitment to the shared agenda of anti-corruption. Finally, Ms. Kubota conveyed confidence in this partnership, stating, “I am very sure that this partnership will be a fruitful one, very effective and relevant for Sri Lanka at this point in time.”

Ga Yeoung Jung, Director of the Anti-Corruption Survey and Evaluation Division of ACRC, introduced CIA with a focus on IEA. Ms. Jung summarized the presentation by shedding light on active leadership and effective initiatives that lead to higher assessment scores based on the positive responses from the IEA officers, indicating that the assessment helps in the systematic implementation of integrity initiatives and motivates institutions to carry out creative integrity policies.

The presentation by Sri Lanka underlined the anti-corruption strategies of CIABOC, emphasizing its recent shift towards prioritizing prevention efforts alongside traditional investigation and prosecution methods. CIABOC outlined its restructuring following the enactment of a new act in September 2023, granting it broader authority to advise government institutions on tailored anti-corruption measures. Inspired by the Korean model of AIA, the Commission aims to integrate similar mechanisms into its operations and has proposed collaboration with ACRC for training and joint assessment.

ACRC and CIABOC expressed anticipation for future collaboration, signifying the commitment to implement the IEA tool in Sri Lanka. This webinar marks a pivotal step in enhancing transparency and accountability, fostering collaboration, and drawing insights from Korea’s tested-and-proven methodology. As Sri Lanka continues to navigate its socio-economic challenges, the joint efforts showcased during the webinar underscore a collective determination to combat corruption and promote sound governance for a more sustainable and equitable future.

* UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (USPC) shares Korea’s tested-and-proven policy tools with other countries through SDG Partnerships. SDG Partnerships provide a combination of support, including partnership development with Korean institutions, seed funding, technical assistance, and policy advisory services. It utilizes UNDP’s global network of country offices and the policy expertise and know-how of partner organizations.