National Development Plan has gaps in the anti-corruption fight: National University Chair

The National University of Colombia (UNAL), with the objective of strengthening the National Development Plan (PND) 2022 – 2026, held a lecture on “Citizenship, integrity and the fight against corruption”.

There, the strategies that the PND has in the fight against corruption and to promote transparency in the management of public resources were analyzed. Some of the conclusions are worrying, as they point out the existence of gaps and emphasize the need to provide greater access to information in the accountability processes.

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According to the National University News Agency, which reported on its web page the results of the Chair, the need to broaden access to information and to have greater clarity on crucial issues such as total peace, public-popular alliances, public employment and allocated funds was identified.

The central objective of the PND is to achieve comprehensive and equitable growth in Colombia. Regarding the fight against corruption, the government proposed three fundamental strategies:

• Fight against impunity with public support.

• Creation of anti-corruption plans in regional moralization commissions to prevent, investigate and punish corruption.

• Protection of public resources.

However, the analysis of the chair highlights the lack of clarity on issues such as total peace, public-popular alliances and public employment, which are key aspects of the NDP. According to this, the lack of budgetary and contractual transparency becomes an obstacle when evaluating budgets and their respective executions.

In addition, the need for better access to information on accountability processes at the central, regional and local levels is highlighted.

Claire Launay, Program Director for Civil Society Initiatives at Corporación Transparencia por Colombia, stressed the importance of the government ensuring better traceability of public spending and providing more detailed information on budget expenditures. According to him, this would allow citizens to closely follow public funds and prevent acts of corruption.

A crucial point on which UNAL points out that the National Development Plan must improve is guaranteeing public access to information related to the peace process and its financing.

This includes transparency around the Colombia in Peace Fund and the resources allocated by the Collegiate Body of Administration and Decision (OCAD) -in charge of approving investment projects related to the implementation of the Peace Agreement- and in what has to do with the royalty investment resources destined for this.

Edison Malagón, sociologist at UNAL and advisor to the General Royalties Subdirectorate of the National Planning Department (DNP) General Royalties System (SGR), emphasized that these resources will be used exclusively for territorial investments.

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In this regard, he indicated that the focus on projects mediated by territorial entities and decision-making bodies has generated mistrust and that extreme vigilance over royalty resources is required.

In relation to public-popular alliances, where popular actors collaborate with public authorities to implement specific projects, Claire Launay emphasized the need to establish clear accreditation criteria for participation in these initiatives.

On the issue of employment, the importance of establishing meritocratic criteria for the selection of people for positions of free appointment and removal was highlighted. This is intended to avoid clientelism and promote professionalism in public management, both at the national and territorial levels.

Regarding the public funds created to finance the strategic axes of the NDP, Launay acknowledged the wisdom of their establishment. However, he stressed the need to implement strong transparency and access to information measures to monitor the budget, resource execution and related contracts. This is considered essential to prevent misuse of resources and ensure the effectiveness of investments.

In summary, the National University chair concluded that the National Development Plan 2022-2026 presents certain deficiencies in the fight against corruption and in the promotion of transparency. It also concluded that although strategies have been established, it is crucial to address the gaps identified to ensure sustainable development.

Gaps identified in the NDP in relation to anti-corruption and transparency

The Chair’s summary document found, in summary, six important gaps in the NDP in the fight against corruption and for greater transparency in public finances.

1. Access to information and transparency on crucial issues

Although the NDP establishes strategies to fight corruption and promote transparency in the management of public resources, the chair highlighted the lack of emphasis in key areas such as access to information and clarity on important issues such as total peace, public-popular alliances, public employment and allocated funds.

This prevents citizens from accessing crucial information on how public resources are managed and how important decisions are made.

2. Budgetary and contractual transparency in the context of peace

According to Claire Launay, the chapter focused on peace does not provide sufficient emphasis on budgetary and contractual transparency.

This means that citizens do not have adequate access to budget numbers and details of peace-related contracts.

3. Public access to information on the peace process and its financing

The lack of transparency around the Colombia in Peace Fund and the resources allocated by the Collegiate Body for Administration and Decision Making (OCAD Paz), as well as the lack of clarity on the amount of royalty investment earmarked for implementation, prevents citizens from having a complete picture of how peace processes are financed.

This hinders accountability and oversight by society, said Edisson Malagon.

4. Challenges in implementing public-popular partnerships

Although the NDP mentions the participation of popular actors in alliances with public authorities for specific projects, it does not establish clear criteria for the accreditation of these actors.

This could lead to a lack of transparency in how these actors are selected and how they participate in these initiatives, which opens the door to possible unethical practices.

5. Selection and professionalization in public employment

According to the UNAL, the PND does not establish clear meritocratic criteria for the selection of persons for positions of free appointment and removal in the public sector.

This may open the door to clientelism and weaken the quality and integrity of public administration.

6. Transparency in the management of public funds

According to Claire Launay, although multiple public funds have been created to finance the strategic axes of the NDP, there are no strong transparency and access to information measures in place to monitor the budget, resource execution and related contracting.

This leaves room for possible misuse of resources and a lack of effectiveness in investments.

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