Financial Crime World

Bhutan’s Anti-Corruption Commission: Ensuring Independence and Effectiveness

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bhutan has been working diligently to prevent corruption in the country. In this article, we will explore the measures taken by the ACC to ensure its independence and effectiveness, as well as the challenges it faces.

Ensuring Independence and Effectiveness

The ACC has implemented several key measures to guarantee its independence:

Functional Independence

  • The ACC is an independent Constitutional body, protected by the Constitution.
  • This ensures that the commission can operate without fear or favor, and make decisions based on evidence and merit rather than political pressure.

Appointment of Commissioners

  • Commissioners are appointed by His Majesty the King for a fixed 5-year term from a list of nominations submitted jointly by the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice, the Speaker, the Chairperson of the National Council, and the Leader of the Opposition party.
  • This process ensures that commissioners are chosen based on their expertise and impartiality.

Ethical Code of Conduct

  • All staff members adhere to an Ethical Code of Conduct that requires them to display professional excellence, conduct duties without fear or favor, maintain confidentiality, exercise courtesy, and take no undue advantage of their authority and position.
  • This code ensures that ACC staff are held to high standards of integrity and professionalism.

Financial Independence

  • The ACC receives full support from the Ministry of Finance for its budgets and from the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) for human resources.
  • However, it does not have full autonomy over financial and human resources, which can be a challenge in ensuring its independence.

Challenges Faced by the ACC

Despite its efforts to ensure independence and effectiveness, the ACC faces several challenges:

Staff Turnover

  • The turnover rate is high, with 17 staff members separating in 2018 alone.
  • This can lead to a loss of institutional knowledge and expertise, making it difficult for the ACC to function effectively.

Understaffing

  • As of December 2019, the total staff strength was 119 against an approved outlay of 140 for the year, resulting in a 15% understaffing.
  • This can lead to burnout and decreased productivity among existing staff, making it even more challenging for the ACC to function effectively.

Recruitment Challenges

  • The ACC is facing challenges to retain existing staff and recruit new ones with appropriate skills.
  • This can be due to a variety of factors, including lack of resources, limited career development opportunities, and poor working conditions.

Addressing the Challenges

To address these challenges, the ACC has taken several steps:

Capacity Development Programs

  • For 2019 alone, 59 short-term capacity development programs were availed, including in-country and ex-country capacity development programs.
  • These programs aim to enhance the skills and knowledge of ACC staff, enabling them to function more effectively.

Budget Increase

  • The annual budget for the financial year 2019-2020 is Nu. 142.03 million (approximately USD 2.02 million), an increase of 6.15% compared to the previous financial year.
  • This increase in budget will enable the ACC to address some of its operational challenges and improve its effectiveness.

Conclusion

The ACC has taken various measures to ensure its independence and effectiveness in preventing corruption. However, it still faces challenges such as high staff turnover and understaffing, which require continued attention and effort to address. By implementing capacity development programs and increasing its budget, the ACC is taking steps to strengthen its ability to function effectively and prevent corruption in Bhutan.