Transparency International on Thursday said that corruption risks in Afghanistan hamper humanitarian aid from getting where it needs to go, and called on government, donor agencies and humanitarian organizations to strengthen transparency and accountability to ensure fair, rapid and corruption-free humanitarian aid.

In a new report, Collective Resolution to Enhance Accountability and Transparency in Emergencies: Afghanistan, developed in partnership with Humanitarian Outcomes, the global anti-corruption organization found that strengthening the role of local governance structures to promote transparency and investing in communication with affected communities would strengthen the response of humanitarian aid providers and the integrity of the aid they deliver.

Through in-depth interviews with affected communities and stakeholders, the study found that corruption risks exist in a number of stages within the program cycle of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. 

In a statement issued by the organization, it said the most notable included during the negotiation of conditions for access and area selection for programming; inappropriate interference in the selection of beneficiaries; risks of nepotism and ethnic bias in staff hiring; a lack of means to reliably hold corrupt staff and organizations accountable; and a lack of transparent and effective communication and feedback mechanisms with aid recipients. 

The statement indicated that many people interviewed were unaware of the amount and timing of aid entitlements and some had tried to complain about aid quality or corruption issues to no effect.

“Corrupt practices were reported both within local government agencies at the provincial and sub-provincial levels, as well as within the contracting chain with national and international aid organizations, the statement read.

Corruption is a major problem in Afghanistan, threatening people’s ability to trust in government, undermining security and pulling apart the fabric of society, Transparency International said. 

The organizations said there is a significant need to create incentives to mitigate corruption in the humanitarian arena and to increase the openness and transparency generally on the corruption experience and challenges faced by humanitarian organizations in Afghanistan. 

Transparency International made the following recommendations:

Humanitarian aid agencies should:

•    Be open, principled and supportive in addressing corruption pressure and threats and prioritise internal and external risk mapping.

•    Establish joint mechanisms to engage and effectively capture the perspectives of those receiving assistance.

•    Support and engage in inter-agency initiatives and invest in collective approaches to mitigation.

•    Develop more rigorous, and possible collaborative, approaches to recruitment, partnerships and contracts, and tendering at local levels. 

Donor agencies should:

•    Take greater shared responsibility for risks and mitigation measures.

•    Increase dialogue with partners on risks, sharing experience and investing in good practice mitigation measures.

The government of Afghanistan should:

•    Promote the integrity of humanitarian assistance and the impartial delivery of assistance to insecure areas.

•    Deepen the role of local governance structures, such as tribal elder’s councils, particularly where local elders have been observed as working with integrity and transparency in aid 

•    distribution and are recognised as being representative of their communities.

For the full report click here: http://www.transparency.org/whatwedo/publication/create_afghanistan