Quest for a World-Class Accountability Framework

The following article is a presentation on the accountability framework of the United Nations system.The objective of the work leading to the article was to better understand the organizational global changes which may have a bearing on the audit and prevention of anti-fraud, anti-corruption work in the United Nations' environment.The word “accountability” did not appear in the U.N.'s early texts. Instead, word like “integrity” was used. Article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations mentioned that “the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff and in the determination of the conditions of service shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.” The word “accountability” was first mentioned in the texts in the early 1990s.Accountability today is seen as one of the prerequisites of democratic or good governance. It entails holding elected or appointed officials charged with a public mandate responsible and answerable for their actions, activities and decisions. It is the role of civil society to hold those in public office accountable. Accountability seeks to know who is liable for what and what kind of conduct is illegal.The United Nations system is in the process of renewing itself to fit the changing requirements of its work environment and accountability. The degree of success, though, will be determined when the implementation is evaluated over time