DECEMBER 2014

TRANSPARENCYINTERNATIONALNEPALcoalition against corruption

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CAPSULEMONTHLY NEWS BULLETIN

CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX 2014In the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2014, Nepal scored 29 out of 100, on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean).

The index is based on experts’ assessments and opinion surveys conducted by renowned institutions, including the Bertelsmann Foundation, World Bank, World Economic Forum, Global Justice Project, Global Insight and other leading institutions. A score of less than 50 indicates that countries are highly prone to corrupt behavior, and the activities currently carried out to control corruption are ineffective. TI-Nepal, therefore, stresses the need for the implementation of more effective anti corruption measures to minimize the incidence of corruption in Nepal.

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CAPSULE DEC 2014

The Parliamentary Committee on public accounts (PAC), has declared that funds amounting to Rs 540 million were embezzled from the Chameliya Hydropower Project based in Darchula. The cost of the 30 MW project undertaken by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has increased from the original cost estimate of Rs 8 billion and has reached close to Rs 15.6 billion. PAC directed the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the government to take action against the decision makers including the Energy Minister, the Chairman of NEA, and the board members.

In an interview, the newly elected chair of Transparency International, José Ugaz, emphasized not only the role played by various civil society organizations in the fight against corruption, but also recognized the efforts of individuals in the movement to expose, detect and sanction corrupt behaviors.

He also added that in the cases where corruption is not visible, it is Transparency International’s responsibility as a leading anticorruption organization to collect data, facts, information and make it visible to people. This is the first step to mobilize people against corruption.

Mr. Ugaz is a renowned ad-hoc state attorney who prosecuted several high profile corruption cases in Peru. He has served on the Transparency International board since 2011.

INTERVIEW WITH JOSÉ UGAZ

PORTFOLIO HOLDERS OF TI-NEPAL

RS 540 MILLION WERE EMBEZZLED

Mr. Bharat Bahadur ThapaPresident, President - Nepal Former Employees' Council, Former Secretary- Government of Nepal

Mrs. Geeta KesharyVice PresidentAcademician, Litterateur, Former Member Secretary -Nepal Academy

Mr. Mukunda Bahadur PradhanSecretary GeneralInvestment Consultant, Executive Committee Member – Nepal Red Cross Society

Ms. Padmini PradhanangaTreasurer Social worker and activist

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INTEGRITY PLEDGEOn the occasion of international anti-corruption day, an Integrity Pledge was signed by Ncell, the fist of its kind by a foreign investment company (telecom operator), with TI Nepal as a witness. The pledge reinforces Ncell’s commitment towards fighting corruption. The pledge signing took place on December 8, 2014 in Kathmandu.

TI Nepal celebrated International anti corruption day with two important stakeholders, The Government of Nepal and anti-corruption agency, Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, on December 9, 2014.

A message targeting politicians, parliamentarians, government, judiciary, civil society, media and the CIAA was made public by TI Nepal on the day. Chief commissioner of CIAA, Chief Secretary of Government of Nepal and TI Nepal President spoke about the need to join hands together against corruption during the joint event held at CIAA to mark the day.

INTERNATIONAL ANTI CORRUPTION DAY 2014

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CAPSULE DEC 2014

Before the SAARC Summit, Transparency International’s National Chapters in South Asia: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, as well as the TI-Secretariat, sent letters to the Head of State or Government of SAARC countries, urging the delegates to make good governance and anti-corruption high priority issues, and to take concrete steps to control corruption and make governments accountable in the South Asian region.

LETTER TO SAARC DELEGATES

On November 4, 2014, the first meeting of BNIN and the review meeting of ALAC DP were conducted in Sauraha, Chitwan. The objective of the BNIN program was to sign agreement between TI-Nepal and the newly affiliated nine organizations, and to brief the affiliated organizations’ delegates about the overall goals of the project. In the same program, a parallel session for ALAC DP was also conducted to review the progress of the Development Pacts in public offices facilitated by 13 Affiliated Organizations.

ALACDP AND BUILDING NATIONAL INTEGRITY IN NEPAL (BNIN) JOINT PROGRAM IN CHITWAN

18TH SARCC RECOGNIZES GOVERNANCE AGENDA

As part of conducting regular meetings with the concerned stakeholders, TI-Nepal paid a courtesy visit to the National Information Commission to seek potential collaboration in the future. The meeting was a success, and it was decided that TI-Nepal will develop a detailed concept note to identify potential areas of partnerships with the commission.

TI-NEPAL MEETS NATIONAL INFORMATION COMMISSION

On November 6 2014, representatives of ALACO, a UK based leading business intelligence firm, met TI Nepal Secretariat officials to acquire information on the current status of the private sector integrity in Nepal.

ALACO MEETS TI-NEPAL

On November 7, 2014, two Japanese delegates from South Asian Studies Group Japan, met TI-Nepal’s team to learn about the anti-corruption movement in Nepal and TI Nepal’s role in this fight. The delegates, who were conducting a study about good governance in Nepal, sought information on TI-Nepal’s current projects, focusing on their areas of intervention and the impact that they have in combatting corruption.

MEETING WITH JAPANESE DELEGATES

STAKEHOLDERS MEETINGS

The 18th SARRC made a firm commitment to the ideals of good governance, promising “to ensure good governance for sustainable development by promoting accountability, transparency, the rule of law and people's participation at all levels of governance”. However, the people of SARCC region have yet to see this translated into practice. In order to implement good governance, strong corporation from all sectors of the society, including the general public and civil society organizations, is needed.

TRANSPARENCYINTERNATIONALNEPALcoalition against corruption

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CAPSULE DEC 2014

On November 19, 2014, a Mobile ALAC was held at the Land Revenue Office in Sunsari district to collect grievances from the service seekers. More than 37 grievances were recorded and presented to the Head of Land Revenue Office to be addressed.

MOBILE ALAC SUNSARI

DISTRICT VISITS

More than 25 students from renowned universities like the Yale University , Brown University and other universities of the United States, visited TI-Nepal on November 21, 2014 to understand and observe the workings of the organization. TI Nepal Executive Director of TI-Nepal, gave a brief presentation about Nepal’s socio-economic and political context, and the role played by TI-Nepal both at the grassroots and policy level to combat corruption, especially during the current political transition.

STUDENTS VISIT TI-NEPAL’S OFFICE

On November 20, 2014 a formal inauguration of the ALACDP program was conducted in the Sunsari district. During the event, an interaction program between the local citizens and the public service providers was also organized by Sankalpa CBR, a TI Nepal affiliate, in the presence of the Chief District Officer and the Local Development Officer. Heads of major government services offices based in Inaruwa were also present.

ALAC-DP INAUGURATION IN SUNSARI

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL NEPALP.O. Box 11486, Chakubaku Marg, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, NepalTel: +977 1 4475062, 4475112, 4475262 Fax: + 977 1 4475112Email: trans@tinepal.org Web: www.tinepal.org

On November 18, 2014, Mr. Ashish Thapa, the Executive Director of TI-Nepal participated at the workshop conducted by the Norwegian Embassy Kathmandu where he gave a presentation on the state of corruption in Nepal.

NORWEGIAN EMBASSY WORKSHOP

EXCHANGE FELLOW

TI-Nepal welcomed Pankaj Kumar from Transparency International India as the new exchange fellow as part of the South South Exchange Program. As part of the fellowship he will be involved with all the program conducted by TI-Nepal and provide assistance as per the program’s requirements.