Public integrity is a cornerstone of good governance. It not only fosters resilience to corruption but also serves as a strategic enabler of government performance, innovation and the capacity to respond effectively to economic, social and security challenges. By ensuring that public decisions are made in the public interest, public integrity strengthens the effectiveness of government, supports inclusive growth, enhances the quality of public services, and reinforces public trust.
The Government of the Dominican Republic has taken steps to strengthen its public integrity framework. Relevant laws and decrees are currently under discussion in the National Congress or being developed to further reinforce the integrity system, demonstrating the government’s commitment to good governance. The country has also joined the OECD Public Integrity Indicators initiative and is developing its first National Integrity Strategy with methodological support from the OECD. These initiatives lay the foundation for a more strategic and evidence-informed approach to public integrity as well as a coherent and co-ordinated vision across the State.
At the same time, implementation efforts have been strengthened on the ground. For example, the Dominican Republic has established a Presidential Transparency and Anti-Corruption Commission (CPTA) to lead and co-ordinate government strategies on transparency, integrity, and the fight against corruption, and has introduced Government Integrity and Regulatory Compliance Commissions (CIGCNs) within public institutions.
This report is part of OECD efforts to help countries implement its Recommendations of the Council on Public Integrity, on OECD Guidelines for Managing Conflict of Interest in the Public Service and on Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying and Influence. It also aligns with the regional agenda set out in the OECD Action Plan on Integrity for Good Governance adopted by Latin American and Caribbean countries in 2018 and the regional vision of the OECD-IDB Public Integrity Network for Latin America and the Caribbean.
This Review provides recommendations for building on the Dominican Republic’s efforts to strengthen its public integrity system. These include improving institutional co-ordination for integrity policies; promoting and enforcing integrity standards for public officials, with particular attention to conflict-of-interest management; enhancing transparency and access to information as foundations of public integrity; fostering a whole-of-society approach to integrity; strengthening integrity risk management and internal control and audit systems; promoting trust and reinforcing the external audit function; improving whistleblower protection and mechanisms for detecting, investigating and sanctioning integrity violations; and safeguarding transparency and integrity in public decision making, including through frameworks for lobbying and political financing.