Amman, Dec. 8 (Petra) – Deputizing for His Majesty King Abdullah II, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan on Monday sponsored a ceremony in Amman marking International Anti-Corruption Day and launching the National Integrity and Anti-Corruption Strategy 2026–2030.

Speaking at the event, held under the theme "A Prosperous Jordan Rooted in Integrity" and attended by ministers, senior officials, and heads of Arab and foreign diplomatic missions, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (JIACC) Chairman Muhannad Hijazi said the royal patronage reflects the leadership’s support for the work of oversight bodies, led by JIACC, in promoting integrity, combating corruption, strengthening justice, and enhancing the performance of public institutions.

Hijazi noted that the Commission has made significant progress in recent years across its core areas of work, carrying out its mandate with professionalism and responsibility to safeguard public funds and promote integrity standards across public administration. These efforts, he said, aim to build a society free of corruption and grounded in the values of fairness, accountability, and public trust.

He added that improvements recorded on the national integrity index over the past three years demonstrate the positive alignment between political will and institutional commitment, reflected in adherence to the national integrity principles introduced since mid-2017: rule of law, transparency, accountability, justice and equal opportunity, and good governance.

Hijazi said the Commission continues to assess risks in key sectors and correct shortcomings where needed. He noted that integrity risk studies have been conducted in the water, health, agriculture, and education sectors in partnership with national and international stakeholders, following best practices.

He also announced that JIACC will introduce a municipal governance index in the coming weeks as part of broader efforts to enhance local governance, improve service delivery, and strengthen transparency in decision-making.

Hijazi formally unveiled the National Integrity and Anti-Corruption Strategy 2026–2030, describing it as a comprehensive framework rooted in Jordan’s longstanding commitment to integrity as a cultural, institutional, and ethical foundation that supports trust, elevates performance, and drives national development.

He stressed that the strategy aligns with His Majesty’s vision that a state governed by the rule of law requires a strong integrity system, and that political, economic, and administrative modernization cannot progress without transparency, accountability, and good governance. The strategy, he noted, emphasizes prevention before enforcement and empowerment before accountability.

Hijazi said the strategy’s central goal is to embed integrity in both behavior and institutional practice, strengthening prevention and oversight mechanisms while empowering institutions and individuals to assume responsibility for safeguarding national achievements. He described the strategy as a social and ethical compact affirming that combating corruption is a shared national duty and that every employee and citizen plays a role in building a merit-based system.

Janos Bertok, Deputy Director of Public Governance at the OECD, highlighted the organization’s partnership with JIACC in preparing the strategy. He said corruption is not only a criminal act but a major risk that undermines societies and economies, noting that effective anti-corruption efforts are a cornerstone of sound governance and improved public well-being.

EU Ambassador to Jordan Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas underlined the importance of the EU–Jordan partnership across various sectors and said corruption significantly affects global economic performance and countries’ ability to attract investment. He commended Jordan’s progress on international integrity indicators since the start of the comprehensive modernization program.

//Petra// AA

08/12/2025 15:00:50