Transparency and Governance Project

Acting U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission, Michael L. McGee, provide remarks on the launching of the Code of Ethics for the Construcion Sector on September/2009. USAID is working with both the government and private sectors in El Salvador to increase transparency and reduce corruption. Photo by Casals and Associates, Inc.

A transparent and accountable government is one of the core pillars of a truly democractic society. Around the world, governments and civil society face the challenge of reducing corruption in order to devote more economic resources to social initiatives. Although the Government of El Salvador has made progress toward improving accountability and transparency, Salvadorans still cite corruption as one of the main reasons why they do not trust their government.

For these reasons, the USAID Transparency and Governance Project provides technical assistance and training to a diverse group of partners from the government, civil society, and the private sector, in order to implement anti-corruption measures, comply with international conventions against corruption, and promote ethical values among public and private sector employees.

Current Activities

• Promoting Good Governance Practices – USAID assists the Salvadoran Government in implementing transparency, ethics, and anti-corruption measures in order to better respond to citizen rights and needs. This includes support for the Government Ethics Tribunal’s efforts to implement the Ethics Law in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as assistance for the creation of an Access to Information Law. USAID is also supporting the start-up of the newly created Vice-Secretary for Transparency and Anti-Corruption.
• Engaging Civil Society – USAID is currently working with the local civil society organization National Foundation for Development (FUNDE) to establish a Salvadoran Chapter of Transparency International, a leading international civil society organization in the worldwide fight against corruption. The program also assists the private sector in implementing transparency, ethics, and anti-corruption measures. Moreover, USAID is engaging youth organizations and university students in order to promote the creation of a new generation of political leaders who will carry practices of accountability and transparency into the future.
• Supporting Compliance with International Conventions - The Government of El Salvador has shown its commitment to reduce corruption by signing international agreements such as the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption and the United Nations Anti-corruption Convention. USAID supports initiatives that will help the government increase its compliance with these international conventions, as well as civil society oversight of these efforts.

Accomplishments

• With USAID assistance, The Vice-Secretariat for Transparency and Anti-Corruption created its 5-year Action Plan after being established in June 2009, and is ready to implement specific transparency initiatives within the Government.
• The Salvadoran Chamber for Construction (CASALCO) adopted a USAID-funded Ethics Code for the construction sector, and it is ready to implement transparency initiatives such as the Integrity Pact to reduce corruption and increase transparency in public procurement processes.
• USAID supported the Government Ethics Tribunal in drafting reforms to the Ethics Law, which would improve the Tribunal’s effectiveness allowing investigations of public officials without requiring receipt of an outside formal complaint. Additionally, new government employees appointed to Ethics Commissions received training in the Government Ethics Law, promoting transparency, and corruption prevention.
• USAID supported the Civil Society Alliance Grupo Promotor in the creation of an Access to Information draft bill, and carry out a lobbying process to get it approved. The draft bill has already been presented before the Legislative Assembly is currently undergoing a discussion process.
• The Vice-Secretariat for Transparency and Civil Society Organizations were able to submit official and shadow reports on compliance with the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption to the Organization of American States (OAS) in a timely fashion, with USAID assistance.

Documents

• Transparency and Governance Project [121.31 KB | 2010-06-30]

Contact:

María Antonieta Zelaya de Gómez
USAID/El Salvador
503-2501-3445
mazelaya@usaid.gov