Civil Society Engagement on Anti-Corruption (UK0109)

Our Commitment

Commit to regular engagement with civil society on HMG’s development and subsequent implementation of the UK Anti-Corruption Strategy, led by the Joint Anti Corruption Unit. This includes holding quarterly meetings with the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition, and the inclusion of a civil society representative in the UK delegation to the 2025 Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption.

Our Analysis

The participation of civil society is vital to ensuring a holistic approach to preventing and countering corruption. Civil society input is invaluable in ensuring effective development and implementation of governments’ anti-corruption strategies. The Problem The UK strongly values the contribution of civil society to anti-corruption efforts both at home and abroad. However, we also recognise that effectively making use of civil society perspectives requires consistent and regular engagement and is aided by having dedicated structures to do so. This is vital in ensuring that civil society has an active and meaningful role in the development and implementation of the UK’s anti-corruption efforts.

Our Solutions

To ensure the UK is able to consistently and meaningfully utilise the expertise of civil society and academia in the development and subsequent implementation of the UK’s Anti-Corruption Strategy, we will continue to hold quarterly meetings with the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition. We will use these meetings as a regular channel to obtain insight from civil society and academia, and as a forum to engage with emerging research, analysis and insight from civil society on key topics in anti-corruption. We will also continue to include civil society representatives in the UK delegation to the biennial Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption. By doing so, we will ensure civil society partners are able to meaningfully shape the development of international standards through the UNCAC and promote accountability for states’ implementation of the convention.

Our Deliverables (Deliverable | Expected Outputs | Expected Completion Date | Stakeholders)

Meetings between the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition and the Joint Anti-Corruption Unit (JACU) | Input from civil society stakeholders on HMG’s development and subsequent implementation of the ACS and other anti-corruption priorities | Ongoing – quarterly | JACU, UKACC

Civil society representation in the UK Delegation to the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption | Input from civil society stakeholders in the development and implementation of global anti-corruption standards | December 2023 December 2025 | JACU, UKACC

Ongoing review of arrangements for civil society representation on the UK UNCAC delegation | Improved UK government and civil society input to the UNCAC. | Ongoing | JACU, UKACC

Our Milestones (Milestone | Expected Outputs | Expected Completion Date | Stakeholders)

Attend UNCAC COSP | UK government and civil society influence on COSP agenda and outcomes | December 2023 | JACU, UKACC

Attend UNCAC COSP | UK government and civil society influence on COSP agenda and outcomes | December 2025 | JACU, UKACC

Meetings between the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition and the Joint Anti-Corruption Unit | Input from civil society stakeholders on the development and subsequent implementation of the ACS and other anti-corruption priorities | Ongoing – quarterly | JACU, UKACC

Action Plan Review

Commitment 3 seeks to formalise civil society involvement in implementing the UK Anti-corruption Strategy (ACS) through quarterly meetings between the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition and the Joint Anti-Corruption Unit (JACU). It also aims to appoint civil society representatives, as was the case in 2023, to accompany the UK delegation to the 2025 Conferences of States Parties (COSP) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). This commitment intends to send a message to COSP members that the UK supports civil society involvement in the UNCAC. ^[32] During the co-creation process, government representatives indicated a desire to focus efforts on finalising the ACS. This resulted in some milestones reflecting routine (but important) practices, such as the quarterly meetings between the UK Anti-Corruption Coalition and JACU. The quarterly meetings are also a place for sharing information and discussion on emerging anti-corruption and illicit finance concerns. Civil society was nonetheless content with the outcome. ^[33]

Attending UNCAC proceedings gives civil society a deeper understanding of the negotiation dynamics and potential barriers and could open opportunities for networking and collaboration with representatives from other countries in combating corruption. Moreover, civil society often possesses technical expertise for a more informed approach to addressing corruption. ^[34] However, there is a need to clarify the influence civil society representatives will have at UNCAC COSP and how their attendance will benefit anti-corruption efforts, though this is largely shaped by existing UN processes around civil society involvement in UNCAC. While developing the ACS, a number of workshops were held to understand civil society perspectives on a range of policy areas. [35] Further development of an ACS, including engagement with civil society and other stakeholders, will be taken forward by the new Government. According to the Home Office, civil society has expressed an interest in a more reciprocal exchange of information, to better understand how their contributions inform the ACS and the rationale for any rejected recommendations. [36] The IRM recommends possibly amending this commitment to include both the development and implementation of the ACS. This aligns with the ongoing efforts of civil society and the government to finalise the ACS, ensuring that progress is accurately tracked.