BrasÃlia, Brazil Day 1– A significant side event titled “Measuring Integrity in Public Procurement: Methodology, Data, and Indicators for Informed Anti-Corruption Action” took place yesterday during the 2nd G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) meeting in BrasÃlia. Organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with Brazil’s Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), the event aimed to address corruption vulnerabilities in public procurement, a sector that represents a substantial portion of global public spending.
Public procurement, estimated to account for 15 to 30 percent of GDP in many countries, is highly susceptible to corruption, which can inflate costs and undermine public trust in institutions. The UNDP’s new methodology, developed with insights from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, seeks to measure integrity in public procurement using standardized, data-driven red-flag indicators.
The event featured opening remarks by Adv. Andy Mothibi, G20 ACWG Co-Chair, followed by a welcoming address from Anga Timilsina, UNDP Global Anti-Corruption Advisor. Key presentations included:
- Methodology Presentation: Romain Ferrali, Assistant Professor of Economics, introduced the new indicators developed to assess procurement integrity.
- Data Collection Insights: Mihály Fazekas, Associate Professor at Central European University, shared details on the creation of a data dashboard that aggregates these indicators.
- Brazilian Case Study: Hamilton Caputo Delfino Silva from TCU highlighted tools and practices implemented in Brazil to enhance procurement integrity.
The event provided a platform for peer learning and facilitated an open discussion, encouraging G20 delegates to provide technical feedback on the methodology and indicators. Participants included G20 ACWG delegates, international organizations, and civil society stakeholders.
The expected outcomes of the event include strengthened engagement on data-driven corruption measurement, technical refinement of the procurement integrity indicators, and increased support for harmonized tools in public procurement governance.
Dr Salomon Hoogenraad Vermaak, Chief Director of the Public Administration Ethics Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit (PA-EID-TAU) in the South African Department of Public Service and Administration, said, “As the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) continues its global efforts to combat corruption, this side event represents a crucial step in promoting transparency and accountability in public procurement, ultimately contributing to improved governance and public trust.”
