Foreword

Integrity is a cornerstone of good governance, shaping democracies, economies and societies. It contributes to more efficient public sectors, more productive economies, more inclusive societies and greater public trust. The COVID-19 crisis accentuated the need for integrity to ensure that government action at all levels is effective and benefits those in need. The crisis unfortunately creates opportunities for integrity violations and could exacerbate fraud and corruption, particularly in public procurement, economic stimulus packages and social benefit programmes. Without a coherent integrity system in place that can identify and mitigate integrity vulnerabilities at both central and subnational levels, corruption can flourish during the crisis and undermine a country’s social and economic recovery as well as its long-term resilience.

In Peru, the National Plan of Integrity and Fight against Corruption 2018-2021 (Plan Nacional de Integridad y Lucha contra la Corrupción) establishes a clear path towards creating a coherent integrity system. It underlines the crucial role of regional governments in mainstreaming integrity throughout the country. The Plan drew on the analysis and recommendations provided in the OECD Integrity Review of Peru of 2016, which put forward a strategic vision of integrity and actions to mainstream integrity throughout the whole of government and society. To achieve this goal, Peru mandated all public entities, including in regional governments, to establish an integrity function. While this is a significant step forward, ensuring their implementation is much more difficult, particularly at the regional and municipal level.

The report supports a better understanding of public integrity and its benefits for governments among regional political leaders. It guides the Secretariat of Public Integrity and other national actors in the implementation of the integrity function in the regions in a strategic and priority-based manner which builds commitment and ownership. Furthermore, the report underscores the Regional Anti-corruption Commissions as key actors that need to be strengthened to successfully control corruption in the Peruvian regions.

As such, the report builds on the OECD Recommendation of the Council on Public Integrity to establish clear responsibilities for integrity at all levels of government. Indeed, the breadth of responsibilities, planning and licensing discretions, and close proximity to citizens and users of government services place subnational governments at a unique conjunction of integrity challenges. It is often at this level where trust is forged or lost, given the close interaction between government, the private sector and citizens. At the same time, formal accountability measures are at times weaker than at the national level.

The establishment of integrity functions in the regional governments and enabling the Regional Anti-corruption Commission to fulfil their mandate will contribute towards incorporating integrity in public management and effectively strengthen an integrity culture throughout the country. It is a clear step towards preventing corruption and fraud, strengthening citizens’ trust and contributing to inclusive growth in Peru.