Context
According to the United Nations, the global community lost an estimated EUR 4.3 trillion in 2020 to corruption. This hinders sustainable development as corruption makes it more difficult to access basic public services, such as health and education, and distorts competition. It also fuels organised crime, illicit financial flows, violent conflicts and autocracy. In addition, corruption drives human rights abuses and reinforces social inequality.
Exposure and prosecution are not the only ways to combat corruption. It can also be tackled by strengthening transparency, participation, accountability and integrity. In this regard, the quality criterion on anti-corruption and integrity (March 2022), which is binding for all German governmental implementing organisations, aims to systematically implement this hallmark of development cooperation in all areas.
Objective
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is able to mainstream anti-corruption and integrity in development cooperation more effectively.
Approach
The programme generates impetus and develops innovative approaches for specific areas. It contributes to raising widespread awareness of anti-corruption and integrity, including in the areas of just transition (regarding climate and infrastructure) and feminist development policy. The programme is supported by the following strategies:
- ACWalk: Guidelines, tools and promising methods help to anchor anti-corruption strategies more securely.
- ACPolitics: Positions development approaches geared towards anti-corruption and places them on the agenda.
- ACLab: Develops innovative approaches and measures.
The programme works in cooperation with the U4 Utstein Anti-Corruption Resource Centre and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, among others. It also cooperates with the Transparency International Secretariat, with which the BMZ maintains a strategic partnership.
Last update: September 2022