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SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC
Public Administration
Country Profile
Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM)
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
United Nations
September 2004
All papers, statistics and materials contained in the Country Profiles express entirely the opinion of the mentioned authors.
They should not, unless otherwise mentioned, be attributed to the Secretariat of the United Nations.
The designations employed and the presentation of material on maps in the Country Profiles do not imply the expression
of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country,
territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents........................................................................................... 1
Syria ............................................................................................................ 2
1. General Information ................................................................................... 3
1.1 People.................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Economy .............................................................................................. 3
1.3 Public Spending ..................................................................................... 4
1.4 Public Sector Employment and Wages....................................................... 4
2. Legal Structure .......................................................................................... 5
2.1 Legislative Branch.................................................................................. 5
2.2 Executive Branch ................................................................................... 6
2.3 Judiciary Branch .................................................................................... 7
2.4 Local Government.................................................................................. 8
3. The State and Civil Society .......................................................................... 9
3.1 Ombudsperson ...................................................................................... 9
3.2 NGOs ................................................................................................... 9
3.3 Civil Society .......................................................................................... 9
4. Civil Service .............................................................................................11
4.1 Legal basis...........................................................................................11
4.2 Recruitment .........................................................................................11
4.3 Promotion............................................................................................11
4.4 Remuneration ......................................................................................11
4.5 Training...............................................................................................11
4.6 Gender................................................................................................11
5. Ethics and Civil Service ..............................................................................13
5.1 Corruption ...........................................................................................13
5.2 Ethics..................................................................................................13
6. e-Government ..........................................................................................14
6.1 e-Government Readiness .......................................................................14
6.2 e-Participation ......................................................................................15
6.3 ICT .....................................................................................................16
7. Links .......................................................................................................17
7.1 National sites .......................................................................................17
7.2 Miscellaneous sites................................................................................17
1
SYRIA
Syria
Click here for detailed map
Government type
Republic under military rule
since March 1963
Independence
17 April 1946 (from League of
Nations mandate under
French administration)
Constitution
13 March 1973 (click here)
Legal system
Based on Islamic law and civil
law system; special religious
courts; has not accepted
compulsory International
Court of Justice jurisdiction
Administrative divisions
Source: The World Factbook - Syria
14 provinces (muhafazah)
Source: The World Factbook - Syria
1958
Syria becomes part of the United Arab Republic, which is dominated by Egypt and
falls apart again in 1961.
1963
Baath Party emerges victorious from internal power struggle.
1966
Military putsch by the left wing of the Baath Party
1967
Six Day War against Israel: loss of most of the Golan Heights
1970
General Hafiz al-Assad assumes power: launch of a reform programme with the socalled Correction Movement.
1971 - 2000
Hafiz al-Assad is President.
1973
Yom Kippur War: Golan Heights cannot be recaptured.
1975
Shuttle diplomacy by US Secretary of State Kissinger leads to a new cease-fire line,
Quneitra ("Golan capital") is returned to Syria.
1981
Annexation of Golan Heights by Israel
17 July 2000
Swearing in of al-Assad's son, Dr Bashar al-Assad, as new President, after he
receives 97.29% of the votes in a referendum.
Source: Federal Foreign Office (Germany) - Syria: History
2
1. General Information
1.1 People
Syria
Jordan
Lebanon
Population
1
a
Total estimated population (,000), 2003
17,799
5,473
Female estimated population (,000), 2003
8,828
2,624
3,652
1,862
Male estimated population (,000), 2003
8,971
2,849
1,790
Sex ratio (males per 100 females), 2003
102
109
96
Average annual rate of change of pop. (%), 2000-2005
2.38
2.66
1.56
Youth and Elderly Population
b
Total population under age 15 (%), 2003
37
38
29
Female population aged 60+ (%), 2003
5
5
9
Male population aged 60+ (%), 2003
4
5
8
52
79
90
Human Settlements
c
Urban population (%), 2001
Rural population (%), 2001
48
21
10
Urban average annual rate of change in pop. (%), ‘00-‘05
3.25
2.96
1.88
Rural average annual rate of change in pop/ (%), ‘00-‘05
1.78
2.19
-1.55
9
12.3i
12.8
1
..
i
13
1
12.7
1
2
Education
d
Total school life expectancy, 1998/1999
Female school life expectancy, 1998/1999
Male school life expectancy, 1998/1999
12.6
..
i
12
ii
Female estimated adult (15+) illiteracy rate (%), 2000
39.6
15.7
19.7
Male estimated adult (15+) illiteracy rate (%), 2000
11.7
5.1ii
7.9
Employment
Unemployment rate (15+) (%), 2001
11.2
1991;
iii
Excluding armed forces;
iv
1
..
2
iv
73
..
2
Syria
Jordan
Lebanon
2
21,872
9,296
17,294
21
iii
Male adult (+15) economic activity rate (%), 2001
ii
..
iv
iii
Female adult (+15) economic activity rate (%), 2001
Notes: i 1999/2000;
2
e
83
..
13
1993, Excluding armed forces
1.2 Economy
GDP
a
GDP total (millions US$), 2002
GDP per capita (US$), 2002
1,286
1,798
3,894
57,563
21,233
18,845
3,385
4,106
4,243
Value added in agriculture (% of GDP), 2004
23.5
26.0
12.2
Value added in industry (% of GDP), 2004
28.6
71.8
20.0
Value added in services (% of GDP), 2004
48.0
44.5
67.7
5.1
1.9
1.3
PPP GDP total (millions int. US$), 2002
PPP GDP per capita(int. US$), 2002
Sectors
b
Miscellaneous
c
GDP implicit price deflator (annual % growth), 2004
Private consumption (% of GDP), 2004
58.5
79.7
96.1
Government consumption (% of GDP), 2004
10.7
23.2
12.8
Notes:
1
United Nations Statistics Division:
Statistics Division and Population Division of the UN Secretariat; b Statistics Division and Population Division of the UN
Secretariat; c Population Division of the UN Secretariat; d1 UNESCO ; d2 UNESCO; e1 ILO; e2 ILO/OECD
2
World Bank - Data and Statistics:
a
Quick Reference Tables; b Data Profile Tables ; c Country at a Glance
a
3
1.3 Public Spending
Syria
Jordan
Lebanon
Education (% of GNP), 1985-1987
4.8
6.8
..
a
Education (% of GNP), 1995-1997
4.2
7.9
2.5i
a
Public expenditures
3
Health (% of GDP), 1990
0.4
3.6
..
Health (% of GDP), 1998
0.9
3.6
2.2
Military (% of GDP), 1990
6.9
11.1
5
b
Military (% of GDP), 2000
5.5
9.5
3.6
b
Total debt service (% of GDP), 1990
9.7
15.5
3.5
Total debt service (% of GDP), 2000
2
8
11
Notes: i Data refer to the ministry of education only
1.4 Public Sector Employment and Wages
Syria
1991-1995
Syria
1996-2000
(,000)
..
137.0
(% pop.)
..
0.94
Data from the latest year available
Middle East
& North
Africa
average4
1996-2000
Non-Gulf
States
average4
1996-2000
Middle
income
group
average4
1996-2000
0.65
0.65
0.59
0.65
0.65
0.59
0.96
0.97
1.20
0.20
0.21
0.70
0.37
0.26
0.30
0.91
0.86
0.46
2.67
1.04
3.61
6.26
6.26
6.05
Employment
Civilian Central Government5
Sub-national Government5
Education employees
Health employees
Police
Armed forces
SOE Employees
Total Public Employment
(,000)
..
40.0
(% pop.)
..
0.28
(,000)
..
179.35
(% pop.)
(,000)
(% pop.)
..
1.24
47.06
..
0.33
..
(,000)
..
8.0
(% pop.)
..
0.05
320.0
(,000)
..
(% pop.)
..
2.09
(,000)
..
463.0
(% pop.)
..
3.10
(,000)
..
..
(% pop.)
..
..
Wages
Total Central gov't wage bill
(% of GDP)
8.7
10.0
11.1
10.5
8.5
Total Central gov’t wage bill
(% of exp)
..
..
32.6
29.3
21.6
Average gov't wage
(LCU)
65,214
34,622
Real ave. gov’t wage ('97 price)
(LCU)
78,009
35,431
2.3
2.3
4.2
Average gov’t wage to per capita GDP ratio
1.8
0.7
Source: World Bank - Public Sector Employment and Wages
3
UNDP - Human Development Report 2002
Data refer to total public expenditure on education, including current and capital expenditures.
As a result of a number of limitations in the data, comparisons of military expenditure data over time and across
countries should be made with caution. For detailed notes on the data see SIPRI (2001).
4
Averages for regions and sub regions are only generated if data is available for at least 35% of the countries in that
region or sub region.
5
Excluding education, health and police – if available (view Country Sources for further explanations).
a
b
4
2. Legal Structure
T
he Constitution of 1973 provides for a republican form of government and
stipulates that the people are the ultimate source of national sovereignty. Power is
divided into the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The President of the
Republic has executive as well as some legislative powers. Legislative authority,
however, is entrusted mainly to the People's Assembly.
Source: UNDP (POGAR - Programme on Governance in the Arab Region) - Syria: Constitution
2.1 Legislative Branch
Unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve fouryear terms).6
women in parliament: 30 out of 250 seats: (12%).7
The Syrian parliament is the unicameral People's Assembly
(Majlis al-Shaab). Its 250 members are elected popularly for
four-year terms of office. No less than 50 percent of the
parliament must represent workers and peasants.
The Assembly sits in three regular sessions annually and may be
called into special session by the speaker, by the president of the
republic, or at the request of one-third of the Assembly
members. The Assembly enacts laws, discusses government
policy, approves the general budget and development plans,
ratifies treaties, and nominates the candidate for the presidency
of the republic.
Fact box:
elections: last held 2-3
March 2003 (next to be
held 2007)
election results: percent
of vote by party - NPF
67%, independents
33%; seats by party NPF 167, independents
83
The People’s Assembly is endowed with authority to debate, amend and approve
legislation and presidential decrees. The People's Assembly may debate motions of
no confidence in the Council of Ministers as a whole or in an individual minister. Such
a motion must be initiated by at least one-fifth of the members and, to become
effective, must be approved by the majority of the People's Assembly. If the motion
is carried, the Council of Ministers or the individual minister concerned must resign.
The People’s Assembly debates and passes legislation. Any law passed by the
assembly is subject to review by the president, who has one month to promulgate
the law or return it to the legislature. Any bill so returned can be put to a second
vote. If the bill obtains a two-thirds majority of those present and at least an
absolute majority of all members of the legislature, then the president must issue
the bill as law. One third of the members of the People’s Assembly can propose a
constitutional amendment, though such an amendment must win by a three-fourths
majority and be approved by the president to enter into force.
The members of the People's Assembly elect the speaker for a one-year term by
absolute majority for the first round and simple majority for subsequent rounds. The
speaker convenes sessions, establishes and modifies the parliamentary agenda,
organizes the debates and sets speaking time, examines the admissibility of bills and
amendments, refers texts to one of the Assembly’s standing committees for study,
examines the admissibility of requests for setting up provisional committees and/or
special committees of enquiry, and proposes or decides on the setting-up of such
6
7
Source of fact boxes if nothing else stated: The World Factbook - Syria
Inter-Parliamentary Union - Women in National Parliaments
5
committees. He also takes the floor in legislative debates, takes part in voting,
proposes bills or amendments, and intervenes in the parliamentary oversight
procedure.
Source: UNDP (POGAR - Programme on Governance in the Arab Region) - Syria: Legislature
2.2 Executive Branch
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; referendum/election last held 10 July
2000 - after the death of President Hafiz al-ASAD, father of Bashar al-ASAD - (next to be held 2007); vice
presidents appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
The President, proposed by the Ba’th (Arab Socialist
Resurrection) Party and then nominated by the People's
Assembly, is voted into office by national referendum to serve a
seven-year term. He may delegate his powers, at his sole
discretion, to his vice presidents.
The President is the Head of State, the chief executive, and the
secretary of the ruling Ba’th Party. He appoints and dismisses the
vice presidents, the prime minister, deputy prime ministers,
other members of the Council of Ministers (the cabinet), and top
civil servants and military officers. The Council of Ministers,
headed by the prime minister, is responsible to the president.
The President of the Republic is the commander in chief of the
armed forces and can declare war. He promulgates the laws
approved by the People's Assembly. He may veto these laws,
giving the reasons for his objection within a month after their
receipt. If the Assembly again approves them by a two-thirds
majority, the president of the republic has to issue them.
However, he has the right to dissolve the People's Assembly, in
which case a new Assembly must be elected within 90 days from
the date of dissolution. He may not do so twice for the same
reason.
Fact box:
chief of state: President
Bashar al-ASAD (since
17 July 2000); Vice
Presidents Abd al-Halim
ibn Said KHADDAM
(since 11 March 1984)
and Muhammad Zuhayr
MASHARIQA (since 11
March 1984)
head of government:
Prime Minister
Muhammad Naji alUTRI (since 10
September 2003),
Deputy Prime Ministers
Lt. Gen. Mustafa
TALAS (since 11 March
1984), Farouk alSHARA (since 13
December 2001), Dr.
Muhammad alHUSAYN (since 13
December 2001)
The President of the Republic assumes legislative authority when
the People's Assembly is not in session, provided that all the legislation issued by
him is referred to the People's Assembly in its first session. The President can
assume legislative authority even when the Assembly is in session in order to
safeguard the country's national interest “in case of absolute need relating to
national security.” All presidential decrees, however, must be presented to the
legislature for their endorsement. The Assembly may, by a two-thirds vote, amend
or rescind presidential decrees, provided that the two-thirds majority constitutes no
less than the absolute majority of the Assembly membership.
The President cannot be removed from power except for high treason. Impeachment
proceedings may be initiated through a petition signed by one-third of the members
of the People's Assembly voting openly or by a petition of two-thirds of the Assembly
members voting at a special closed session. The President can be tried only by the
Supreme Constitutional Court, of which he is a member.
Article 113 of the constitution grants the President broad emergency powers and
those powers have been in effect in Syria since the 1963. The President of the
Republic can call for national referenda. The results of the referenda are binding and
6
effective on the date of their promulgation by the President. He can form specialized
organizations, councils, and committees.
By Article 8 of the Constitution, the Arab Ba’th Socialist Party is the leading party in
the state and society and heads the National Progressive Front. The President of the
Republic is chairman of the Front as well as Secretary General of the Ba’th Party. The
Front decides on matters of war and peace. It approves the five-year plans of the
state, discusses the economic policy, lays down the plans for a national, socialist
education, and determines the state’s general political orientation.
Source: UNDP (POGAR - Programme on Governance in the Arab Region) - Syria: Constitution
2.3 Judiciary Branch
Supreme Constitutional Court (justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president); High Judicial
Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts.
The legal system of Syria draws primarily from Civil Law traditions, as well as Islamic
and Egyptian legal traditions. The Syrian Constitution of 1973 guarantees the
independence of the judiciary.
The chief codifications of law are contained in the Civil Code of 1949, the Commercial
Code of 1949, the Penal Code of 1949, the Criminal Procedure Code of 1950, the
Civil Procedure Code of 1953, and the Personal Status Code, contained in Legislative
Decree No. 59 of 1983. The Judicial Authority Law of 1961 and the Civil Code of
1949 are the primary documents governing the organization and functioning of the
secular judicial system. Administrative authority of the judiciary, including the
powers to appoint, promote, and transfer judges, is vested in the Supreme Judicial
Council, which is presided over by the Minister of Justice.
Syria has a dual judicial system, with separate secular and religious courts. The
secular courts hear both civil and criminal matters. At the lowest level are the Courts
of Peace, or Courts of Conciliation (Sulhiyya), composed of a single judge with
jurisdiction to hear cases involving lesser offenses. At the second level are the Courts
of First Instance (Bida’iyya), which are divided into civil and criminal courts. The
Court of Assize is an additional criminal court that hears cases in which the
punishment may exceed three years’ imprisonment.
Decisions rendered by the Courts of Peace, Courts of First Instance, and Court of
Assize may be appealed to the Court of Appeal, or, in some instances, the Court of
Cassation. (Of the 30 total Courts of Appeal, three criminal courts and four civil
courts are located in Damascus, and one civil court and one criminal court is located
in every district.) Decisions of the Courts of Appeal may not be appealed. However,
their verdicts may be nullified by the Court of Cassation, which is located in
Damascus and subdivided into specialized three-judge panels devoted to civil,
criminal, canonical, and military matters.
The final court of appeal is the Court of Cassation, which is located in Damascus and
subdivided into specialized three-judge panels devoted to civil, criminal, canonical,
and military matters.
The Shari’a, Doctrinal, and Spiritual Courts have specialized jurisdiction. The Shari’a
courts hear cases involving personal status, family, and inheritance disputes among
Syrian Muslims and non-Syrian Muslims who apply Islamic personal status laws in
their own countries. The cities of Damascus and Aleppo have three Shari’a Courts;
other districts have one. The Doctrinal Courts are composed of a judge of the Druze
7
Muslim sect and are empowered to guarantee that personal status decisions of
members of the Druze sect are not in conflict with the rules of the sect. The Spiritual
Courts settle personal status matters for Jewish, Christian, and other non-Muslim
groups. Decisions of all of the religious courts may be appealed to the Canonical and
Spiritual divisions of the Court of Cassation.
There are a number of other courts with specialized jurisdictions, including the Court
of Juvenile Offenders, Court of Customs, Court of Labor Conflict, and Military Courts.
Administrative Courts adjudicate administrative disputes involving the state and its
agencies.
The Supreme Constitutional Court may rule on the constitutionality of laws, hear
election disputes, and try the president if accused of criminal offenses. The Court is
composed of five members who are appointed by the President of the Republic for
renewable four-year terms. Upon request, the Court also renders advisory opinions.
The Supreme Judicial Council oversees the judiciary and has the power to appoint,
dismiss and transfer judges. The Minister of Justice chairs the Council.
Source: UNDP (POGAR - Programme on Governance in the Arab Region) - Syria: Judiciary
2.4 Local Government
The political development of Syria since the 1960s has strongly favored centralized
planning and administration. Formal local government administration does exist at
the provincial and municipal level.
Syria is divided into 14 governorates and each is headed by governors appointed by
the Ministry of Interior. These governors report directly to the president. The
governors control provincial government offices as well as the local offices of
ministries and state-owned enterprises. Below the provinces, there are, in
descending order of authority, districts, counties, and villages. Locally elected
administrative councils administer these governments, though in practice they
remain highly dependent on central leadership. All government expenditures are
included in one national budget produced by the Ministry of Finance. Local
governments receive all operating funds from the central government and any
excess revenues collected are returned to the national treasury.
The electoral system for local elections divides elections into two categories:
reserved seats for peasants, workers, and craftsman, and a residual category for all
other peoples. Sixty percent of seats at the governorate and city levels are reserved,
while at the town and village level a full seventy percent of seats are set aside.
Source: UNDP (POGAR - Programme on Governance in the Arab Region) - Syria: Decentralization
8
3. The State and Civil Society
3.1 Ombudsperson
Source: Institution - Title
3.2 NGOs
Given the difficult political context for human rights initiatives in Syria, activities of
international as well as local NGO’s have been and still are very limited.
Syrian authorities closely restrict the operations of local NGO’s (they cannot directly
access international funds) and the presence of international NGO’s is very limited.
Source: EU (External Relations) - Country Strategy Paper 2002-2006
3.3 Civil Society
Article 39 of the Syrian Constitution grants citizens the right to meet and
demonstrate peacefully, in accordance with the law. So also the “popular sectors”
may establish “unionist, social, professional organizations, and production
cooperatives,” by virtue of Article 48 of the constitution. Article 49 further rules that
such organizations must work towards building a socialist Arab society and defending
its system; planning and guiding a socialist economy; and popularly supervising the
machinery of government.
A series of emergency laws, imposed in 1963, permit the government to act in many
areas in the name of security. For a brief period after the accession to power of
Bashar al-Assad in July 2000, informal groups met in private homes to discuss the
economy, human rights, politics, and other topics. The president released 600
political prisoners on 16 November 2000, and scores of exiled members of the
outlawed Muslim Brotherhood were allowed to return home, but the Emergency Laws
remained in effect.
In August 2001, authorities arrested ten opposition leaders, including two members
of parliament, in August through November 2001. Riad Seif, a parliamentarian who
had been granted some freedom to create a nascent opposition party, was indicted
for holding a weekly forum in his home that gathered up to 400 people. In 2004, the
Tharwa Project, based in Damasacus, began "addressing the concerns of the various
ethnic and religious minorities inhabiting the Arab World," including those of Syrian
Kurds.
Article 38 of the constitution guarantees citizens the right to open expression and to
“participate in supervision and constructive criticism in a manner that safeguards the
soundness of the domestic and nationalist structure and strengthens the socialist
system.” Moreover, the state law guarantees freedom of press, printing, and
publication, in according with law. There are three Arabic and one English-language
daily newspapers published in Syria, in addition to weekly publications. Licenses
were also granted to three newspapers owned by officially recognized political parties
and to the privately owned El Domari satirical magazine.
All official political parties in Syria must be members of the National Progressive
Front, which currently consists of nine member parties, the largest of which is the
ruling Arab socialist Ba'th (Rebirth) Party. By law, the president of the republic is
9
also the head of the National Progressive Front and Secretary General of the Ba'th
Party. Political parties are required to support the principles of the revolution, which
include socialism and Arab nationalism.
Under Syria’s corporatist system the General Federation of Trade Unions is the
principal umbrella organization for trade and professional syndicates.
Source: UNDP (POGAR - Programme on Governance in the Arab Region) - Syria: Civil Society (edited)
10
4. Civil Service
A
dministrative reform is a key area among the reforms that President Bashar AlAssad is envisaging. A special ministry is responsible for administrative reform. It
has established reform units in key ministries and a comprehensive proposal for
reform of public administration has been published.
Source: EU (External Relations) - Country Strategy Paper 2002-2006
4.1 Legal basis
Public Service Law No. 1 of 2 January 19858
Al-Jarida al-Rasmiya, 1985-01-23, N. 4, p. 95-153
Public Service Statute of 1985
Contains the conditions and the procedures regarding the nomination and
assignment of positions. Envisages the rules and the basics of the system of
vocational and administrative training. Indicates the criteria of evaluation of output
and promotion. Contains provisions relating to the working conditions (duration of
the work, vacation, hygiene and safety). Specifies the conditions of employment of
women and teenagers.
Source: International Labour Organization (NATLEX) - Syria: Public and Civil Servants
4.2 Recruitment
Source: Institution - Title
4.3 Promotion
Source: Institution - Title
4.4 Remuneration
The State Ministry for Administrative Reform has prepared a broad strategy for civil
service reform, as part of which public sector salaries were increased by 25%, the
first such increase since 1994.
Source: The Arab Banker - Opportunities in Syria's Economic Reforms (2001)
4.5 Training
The National Institute of Administration opened in Damascus in February 2004.
Source: ArabicNews.com - "A National Institute of Administration opened in Damascus" (2/12/2004)
4.6 Gender
The Public Service Law of 1985 was amended in 2002 providing for, inter alia, full
salary during maternity leaves:
8
Several amendments and implementing texts
11
Legislative Decree No. 35 of 20029
Al Jarida Al Rasmiyya, 2002-05-22, No.21, p. 1286
Decree amending article 54 of the Public Service Law No. 1 of 1985 and providing for
full salary maternity leave for 120 days for the first child, 90 days for the second and
75 days for the third only. A nursing mother shall be entitled to a one hour nursing
period per day until her baby reaches the age of one year.
Source: International Labour Organization (NATLEX) - Syria: Public and Civil Servants
Click here for Constitutional provisions regarding equal employment opportunities.
9
Amending the Public Service Law of 1985
12
5. Ethics and Civil Service
5.1 Corruption
2003 CPI Score relates to perceptions of the degree of corruption as seen by
business people and country analysts and ranges between 10 (highly clean) and 0
(highly corrupt).
Corruption Perceptions Index
Rank
2003 CPI
Score
Surveys
Used
Standard
Deviation
High-Low
Range
Number
Inst.
90 percent
confidence
range
Country
1
Highly clean
9.7
8
0.3
9.2 - 10.0
4
9.5 - 9.9
66
Syria
3.4
4
1.3
2.0 – 5.0
4
2.4 – 4.2
133
Highly corrupt
1.3
8
0.7
0.3 - 2.2
6
0.9 - 1.7
Source: Transparency International - Corruption Perceptions Index 2003
Surveys Used: Refers to the number of surveys that were used to assess a country's performance. 17 surveys were
used and at least 3 surveys were required for a country to be included in the CPI.
Standard Deviation: Indicates differences in the values of the sources. Values below 0.5 indicate agreement, values
between 0.5 and c. 0.9 indicate some agreement, while values equal or larger than 1 indicate disagreement.
High-Low Range: Provides the highest and lowest values of the sources.
Number Institutions: Refers to the number of independent institutions that assessed a country's performance. Since
some institutions provided more than one survey.
90 percent confidence range: Provides a range of possible values of the CPI score. With 5 percent probability the score
is above this range and with another 5 percent it is below.
In his inaugural address in 2000, President Bashar al-Assad stressed the importance
of the fight against corruption.10 An anti-corruption campaign run by Bashar the
same year sacked a relatively small number of high officials, including a former
prime minister and a former deputy prime minister.
A more recent anti-corruption campaign in late 2003 has removed dozens of public
employees from the civil service and the military. The Syrian government runs anticorruption drives directly; there are currently no special bodies focusing on the issue.
Source: UNDP (POGAR - Programme on Governance in the Arab Region) - Syria: Financial Management (edited)
5.2 Ethics
Source: Institution - Title
10
EU (External Relations) - Country Strategy Paper 2002-2006
13
6. e-Government
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
Ye
m
en
Tu
rk
ey
O
Le
ba
no
n
n
Jo
rd
a
C
Web Measure Index:
A scale based on
progressively
sophisticated web
services present.
Coverage and
sophistication of stateprovided e-service and
e-product availability
correspond to a
numerical classification.
m
an
0
Sy
ria
The index is comprised
of three sub-indexes:
Web Measure Index,
Telecommunications
Infrastructure Index and
Human Capital Index.
e-Government Readiness Index
Is
ra
el
The index refers to the
generic capacity or
aptitude of the public
sector to use ICT for
encapsulating in public
services and deploying
to the public, high
quality information
(explicit knowledge) and
effective communication
tools that support
human development.
6.1 e-Government Readiness
yp
ru
s
e-Government
Readiness Index:
Source: United Nations – World Public Sector Report 2003
Web Measure Index
Telecom. Infrastructure Index
Human Capital Index
1
0.9
0.8
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
m
en
Ye
Tu
rk
ey
O
m
an
no
n
Le
ba
rd
an
Jo
l
Is
ra
e
C
yp
ru
s
0
ri a
Primary indicators are:
PC’s, Internet users,
online population and
Mobile phones.
Secondary indicators
are TVs and telephone
lines.
0.7
Sy
Telecommunications
Infrastructure Index:
A composite, weighted
average index of six
primary indices, based
on basic infrastructural
indicators that define a
country's ICT infrastructure capacity.
Source: United Nations – World Public Sector Report 2003
Human Capital Index:
A composite of the adult literacy rate and the combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross enrolment ratio, with two thirds of the weight
given to adult literacy and one third to the gross enrolment ratio.
14
6.2 e-Participation
e-Participation Index
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
e-information:
The government
websites offer
information on
policies and
programs, budgets,
laws and regulations,
and other briefs of
key public interest.
Tools for disseminating of information
exist for timely access
and use of public
information, including
web forums, e-mail
lists, newsgroups and
chat rooms.
Ye
m
en
ey
rk
Tu
an
O
m
n
ba
no
Le
Jo
rd
an
ra
el
Is
C
yp
ru
s
0
ria
Refers to the willingness, on the part of
the government, to
use ICT to provide
high quality information (explicit knowledge) and effective
communication tools
for the specific
purpose of empowerring people for able
participation in
consultations and
decision-making both
in their capacity as
consumers of public
services and as
citizens.
Sy
e-Participation
Index:
Source: United Nations – World Public Sector Report 2003 d
e-information
e-decision making
e-consultation
8
7
6
5
4
3
1
Ye
m
en
Tu
rk
ey
an
O
m
on
Le
ba
n
Jo
rd
an
Is
ra
el
0
C
yp
ru
s
The government
indicates that it will
take citizens input
into account in
decision making and
provides actual
feedback on the
outcome of specific
issues.
2
Sy
ria
e-decision making:
ource: United Nations – World Public Sector Report 2003 d
e-consultation:
The government website explains e-consultation mechanisms and tools. It offers a choice of public policy topics online for discussion with
real time and archived access to audios and videos of public meetings. The government encourages citizens to participate in discussions.
15
6.3 ICT
Click here for “Needs Assessments of Governance & Public Administration in Syria”
partly focusing on the utilization of ICT.
16
7. Links
7.1 National sites
Authority
Topic
Ministries
http://www.syriagate.com/Syria/Government/Ministries..
Ministry of Information
http://www.moi-syria.com/
Syria Today
http://www.basharassad.org/
7.2 Miscellaneous sites
Institution
Topic
Arab Administrative Development Organization
(ARADO)
http://www.arado.org.eg/
Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
http://www.arabfund.org/
Arab Social Science Research
http://www.assr.org/countries/syria/index.html
European Union (EU)
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/syria/intro/index.htm
International Labour Organization (ILO)
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex_browse.home
United Nations in Syria
http://www.un.org.sy/
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
http://www.undp.org.sy/
UNDP - Programme on Governance in the Arab
Region (POGAR)
http://www.pogar.org/countries/index.asp?cid=19
UNPAN
http://www.unpan.org/virtual_library-byregion.asp
World Bank (WB)
http://www.worldbank.org/sy
17