AFRO-NETS> Anti-Corruption Initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa

[Dieter Neuvians MD <neuvians@harare.iafrica.com>]

Anti-Corruption Initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa
-------------------------------------------------

Corruption is being targeted by the World Bank as a development is-
sue. It is a particular concern for developing countries because it 
undermines economics growth, discourages foreign private investment 
programmes and reduces the resources available for infrastructure, 
public services and poverty reduction programs. Corruption hurts the 
poor by forcing them to pay for essential public services and which 
should be free or by denying such services in the absence of bribes. 
Corruption also reduces the effectiveness of donor funded projects 
and weakens public support for such assistance in the industrial 
countries. 

The 1998 Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency Interna-
tional, a Berlin based NGO, covering 85 countries, listed Cameroon, 
Kenya and Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda in the lowest 15 percent (how-
ever, Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia and South Africa were in the upper 
half-least corrupt-of the survey). Since 1997, the Africa Region has 
significantly expanded its anti corruption programme. Country mis-
sions and reports have been undertaken and prepared, in response to 
requests from the concerned country, to assess the state of corrup-
tion, to make recommendations to improve the situation and to suggest 
how more financial support can be garnered from donor in this effort. 

Lessons Learned detailed here stem from fact-finding anti corruption 
missions undertaken so far in 4 countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanza-
nia, Malawi). Another such mission is planned for Mali in the first 
half of 1999. Also Benin has received $126,000 from the World Bank as 
an Institutional Development Fund grant to support the functioning of 
its anti corruption agency. 

Lessons learned: 
- Anti corruption surveys and workshops can provide useful informa-
tion regarding corruption, and citizens' attitudes about corruption, 
and can help to mobilise public opinion against corruption. 

- Key informants are critical to providing in depth information that 
permits a fuller appreciation of local perceptions of the nature and 
extent of corruption, helping to cross check on findings from surveys 
and other documentation, and making available information not found 
elsewhere. 

-Anti corruption laws must be adequately enforced, the key "watchdog" 
institutions made strong and sufficiently funded, and corrupt prac-
tices visibly punished. 

- A fully adequate salary level, adequate pensions and a higher de-
gree of accountability are a must for the civil service. The absence 
of these features creates a strong pressure for petty corruption at 
the lower end of the wage scale and grant corruption at the top. 

- The judicial arm of the government needs to be adequately paid, 
well- staffed and well-qualified. Otherwise, a weak and corruptible 
judiciary cannot enforce contracts and property rights, prosecute 
wrong doers, etc. 

- Improved public sector financial management is essential. Enforce-
ment of financial discipline and prevention of the diversion of pub-
lic resources become difficult in the face of budgetary over-
commitment in relation to available resources, weak internal account-
ing, reporting systems and follow up. The greatest problem areas are, 
on the public revenue side, in the collection of customs duties, and 
on the expenditure side, public procurement. 

- An inefficient state sector contributes to periods of economic de-
cline or higher stagnation and fosters extensive "rent-seeking." Eco-
nomic liberalisation, unless carefully managed, can open new avenues 
for corruption. 

- Civil society needs to be better-organised and equipped to hold 
governments to higher standards of transparency and accountability. 
Internal checks and balances within government need to be stronger. 
Decentralisation, for example, could, given limited resources and 
weak control system, expand corruption at the local level. 

- Strong and clear ownership-demonstrated political will-of the anti 
corruption program by the concerned country is absolutely essential. 

For more information contact:
P C Mohan
Knowledge and Learning Center
World Bank 
Tel: +1-202-473-4114
mailto:pmohan@worldbank.org

 

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