Involving civil society in the fight against corruption in the state bodies (KG0026)

What is the public problem that the commitment will address? Despite measures taken by the government agencies to fight corruption, Kyrgyzstan still finds itself among countries with high level of corruption, ranking 135th out of 180 countries in the 2017 Corruption Perception Index.

What is the commitment? The government will provide citizens with wider access to information on corruption violations, measures taken by the government agencies, and involve civil society representatives in monitoring and evaluating the anticorruption activities of the government bodies. How will the commitment contribute to solve the public problem? Involving citizens in monitoring and evaluating the anti-corruption activities, and providing public with objective information about corruption levels in various government bodies will help reducing corruption.

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? Transparency: Regular access of citizens to the reports on anti-corruption plans implementation, as well as objective information on corruption offenses. Citizen Participation: Citizens will have the opportunity to systematically participate in the anti-corruption activities of state bodies monitoring process.

Additional information This obligation meets requirements of the following international documents: 1) The UN Convention against Corruption, Article 13 “Participation of Society”, subparagraph (a) “Enhancing Transparency and Promoting Public Involvement in Decision-Making Processes”; 2) The Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan of the OECD Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Milestone Activity with a verifiable deliverable Budget Start Date End Date Activity 1: Strengthening the interaction of state bodies with civil society on countering and preventing corruption. 1.1. Resume the work of the Anti-Corruption Council under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. Development partners’ funds October 2018 January 1, 2019 59 1.2. Make changes and additions to the Regulation on the Anti-Corruption Council under the KR GO that strengthens the role of civil society in the anti-corruption activities. Within the approved budget of the Government Office of the Kyrgyz Republic October 2018 January 1, 2019 Activity 2: Involving civil society in the monitoring of anti-corruption activities of state bodies. 2.1. Develop and approve a single methodology for monitoring of anti-corruption activities of state bodies and civil society. Development partners’ funds January 2019 March 1, 2019 2.2. Conduct trainings on methodology use for the representatives of state bodies and civil society. Development partners’ funds March 2019 April 30, 2019 2.3. Conduct regular monitoring of anticorruption activities of state bodies. Development partners’ funds October 2018 August 31, 2020 Activity 3: Improving the system of civic raising awareness in the field of combating corruption. 3.1. Expand the list of posted information on the official website of the Anti-Corruption Policy of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. Within the approved budget of the Government Office of the Kyrgyz Republic October 2018 October 31, 2018 3.2. Develop and launch educational media projects to increase public awareness in the combating corruption through media and Internet, as well as make social videos on combating corruption and broadcast them. Development partners’ funds Within the national budget May 2019 August 31, 2020 Activity 4: Determining the level of corruption in various government agencies. 4.1. Develop draft Regulations for the assessment of corruption level and economic effectiveness of the fight against corruption in the state bodies. Development partners’ funds January 2019 June 1, 2019 4.2. Conduct a pilot assessment of the corruption level and the cost-effectiveness of the fight against corruption in the separate government bodies and local authorities (LAs). Development partners’ funds June 2019 December 31, 2019 60

Expected result 1 1.1. A new composition of the Anti-Corruption Council has been formed, both by participation of the state bodies and civil society. - the AKC Council meetings are held at least once a quarter. - minutes / resolutions of meetings are posted on the anti-corruption portal. 1.2. By the decision of the government the following changes were approved: - the Council function on “methodology development for monitoring anti-corruption activities of state bodies” has been included; - examination of the alternative civil society reports at Council meetings has been introduced. - the rule on “the composition of the Council is formed on a parity basis from representatives of state bodies and civil society” has been introduced. Expected result 2 2.1. The methodology based on the OECD AntiCorruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia recommendations has been developed and approved 2.2. Trainings were held for at least 50 representatives of state bodies and 50 representatives of civil society 2.3. Jointly, on a quarterly basis, the civil society and the authorized government agencies monitor anticorruption activities of government agencies. Monitoring reports, including alternative civil society reports, are posted on the government anti-corruption portal. Expected result 3 3.1. There is public access to the information, published on a regular basis: - state reports about the anti-corruption plans implementation; - civil society reports on the results of monitoring the anti-corruption plans, implemented by authorized bodies. 3.2. Media projects have been implemented in order to involve citizens in the anti-corruption process and develop a stable hostility towards corruption acts Expected result 4 4.1. The Regulations for the assessment of corruption level and economic effectiveness of the fight against corruption has been approved. 4.2. Data about the level of corruption in state bodies and LAs is obtained.