The Governance Studies program of the Brookings Institution has announced the initiation of the Anti-Corruption, Democracy, and Security Project (ACDS). This new initiative aims to tackle the most pressing and complex anti-corruption issues that pose a challenge to global democracy.
According to a press release from the Brookings Institution, the ACDS will focus on conducting evaluations of anti-corruption measurement frameworks. These include best practices and obstacles in measuring; monitoring governmental anti-corruption commitments' progress; and leading a "Democracy Cohort" to promote financial transparency, accountability, and integrity. This effort will be carried out in collaboration with the Open Government Partnership and the U.S. government. The ACDS also plans to establish a global community of anti-corruption practitioners for sharing best practices and peer learning. Additionally, it will concentrate on Ukraine's integration of anti-corruption and democracy priorities with its recovery and rebuilding process.
As per the same press release, ACDS is spearheaded by Brookings Senior Fellow Ambassador Norman Eisen (ret.), an expert in anti-corruption and rule of law. Eisen also chairs the Brookings Institution’s Leveraging Transparency by Reducing Corruption project. Jonathan Katz, an expert in anti-corruption, national security, and democracy, serves as senior director.
"Corruption has a corrosive effect on democracy and fighting that in the U.S. and around the world is not for the faint of heart. This pressing challenge requires resolute action, both domestically and globally, and an unwavering shared commitment to develop and implement rigorous and innovative anti-corruption policies," Eisen said in the press release.
According to information on the Brookings Institution’s website, ACDS hosted its inaugural event on December 6 at Falk Auditorium within Brookings Institution premises in Washington D.C. The agenda included a fireside chat moderated by Shannon Green, assistant to the administrator of Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance at the United States Agency for International Development, and a panel discussion moderated by Katz.
