Advancing Transparency through a Sectoral Approach: Benefits and Drawbacks

1. Sectoral Approach to Transparency: Pros and Cons Inter-American Development Bank September 18, 2007 Laura Neuman The Carter Center

2. Presentation Outline • Emerging Strategies for Transparency Promotion • Benefits of a Sectoral Transparency Strategy • Disadvantages to a Sectoral Transparency Strategy • A Combined Approach

3. Emerging Strategies for Transparency Promotion Comprehensive Holistic approach: Establishing a fully implemented, enforced, and used access to information law Targeted Specific approach: Provides specific transparency remedies to address particular problems Sectoral Thematic approach: Advance greater flow of information in one area of public administration (without seeking specific all-encompassing legislation)

4. In considering approach, must consider: What is success? What impact are you seeking? What is feasible in the time period? What are the indicators and how can they be measured?

5. Sectoral Benefits • More immediate results and impact • Builds on extant legislative framework • More easily identifies and engages existing constituencies • Stakeholders increased capacity to understand what to ask, how to interpret, an how to apply to fight corruption

6. Sectoral Benefits cont. • Build on stakeholder’s focus area, can dedicate to long-term • Develops and refines methods • More measurable?

7. Sectoral Disadvantages • May not lead to overall greater transparency • May not effectuate the necessary change in public administration • Silo approach rather than enhancing transversality of access to information • Without enforceability, may not be sustainable

8. Sectoral Disadvantages cont. • Duplication of efforts and diminished coordination • Marginalizes groups already engaged in the promotion of access to information • More dependent on commitment and continuity of individuals in government • In practice, may not be feasible • Bullet • Bullet • Bullet

9. A Combined Approach Sectoral and Comprehensive Objective of Combined Approach Secure immediate results of a sectoral approach while assuring transformation and sustainability of an enforceable comprehensive transparency regime

10. Combined approach allows: • Immediate change may be used by generalists seeking a comprehensive ATI law • Lessons learned from sectors may be incorporated into law and applied to all of government • Engagement of all interested stakeholders • Greater coordination among various interest groups and promotion of links between relevant constituencies

11. Additional questions to consider: • Sustainability • Are there really gaps in sectoral funding? • Which approach creates greatest demand? • Who needs support (government or civil society)? And which approach provides that support? • Promoting access to information laws through specialized laws, does that advance access or create fragmentation and inconsistency?

12. For additional information, please contact Laura Neuman at: lneuman@emory.edu