Digitalization – a “silver bullet”
to prevent corruption?

14 December 2021, 18:00-19:00, Cairo time-zone (GMT+2)

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Background

The event will discuss a critical role digitalization plays in preventing corruption globally. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has brought immense opportunities to leverage digitalisation and technological innovation to meet many development challenges. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ICTs and new technologies have played an instrumental role in helping countries respond to and recover from the crisis. In the area of anti-corruption, technology has become one of the greatest allies for preventing and tackling corruption, focused not only on detecting, analysing and monitoring corruption but also on promoting effective, accountable and inclusive institutions through digital tools. However, as the new UNDP study ‘New Technologies for Sustainable Development: Perspectives on integrity, trust and anti-corruption’ reiterates, there is a need to address the risks of misuse and abuse of technology, including corrupt and fraudulent activities that could be facilitated by technology. This includes strengthening digital governance, promoting regulation, addressing the digital divide, and integrating ethical and human rights considerations to promote trust and integrity.

The side event will feature high-level speakers from the governments, CSOs and development partners in the region and will contribute to the goals of the Conference by discussing the criticality of corruption-prevention measures. We will particularly focus on digitalization and how it was employed by the governments to prevent corruption in the delivery of public services during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as how CSOs held government accountable using data generated through various open data platforms. This side event aims to explore the opportunities and benefits of technology for anti-corruption efforts in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and 2030 Agenda, as well as the risks and limitations it brings. It will also identify and discuss effective digital governance strategies, and offer recommendations for various stakeholders to maximise the benefits of technology and mitigate the risks of abuse and misuse in its application and adoption.

The event is jointly organized by UNDP, Sida, Governments of Uzbekistan and Fiji.

The objectives of this side event are to:

1. Highlight the opportunities and risks of technology for anti-corruption efforts, particularly amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and in the context of the 2030 Agenda
2. Present global, regional and national experiences and lessons learned on leveraging technology for anti-corruption efforts (Launch of the new UNDP study)
3. Offer recommendations to various stakeholders on effective digital governance strategies to maximise the benefits of technology and minimise the risks of abuse and misuse in its application and adoption (country experiences)

Agenda

18:00 - 18:05 | Opening remarks from the moderator: Sarah Lister, Head of Governance, Bureau of Policy and Programme Support, UNDP (connecting remotely)

18:05 - 18:10 | Christina Hartler, Head Policy Support Unit, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (connecting remotely)

18:10 - 18:15 | Akmal Burhanov, Director, Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan

18:15 - 18:20 | Rashmi Aslam, Deputy Commissioner, Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (connecting remotely)

18:20-18:25 | Kristen Robinson, Head of Advocacy, Open Contracting Partnership Open Contracting Partnership

18:25:18:30 | Anga Timilsina, Global Programme Advisor on Anti-corruption, UNDP Global Center for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development

18:30-19:00 | Questions from the audience