African Union Engages University of Dodoma to Build Continent's Corruption Index Tool in Battle against Vice

African Union Engages University of Dodoma to Build Continent's Corruption Index Tool in Battle against Vice

  • An organ attached to the African Union is devising a special tool that will help gauge countries' commitment to dealing with corruption
  • African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC) is engaging the University of Dodoma in coming up with an apt anti-corruption index
  • The methodology will help African countries establish the extent that corruption has infiltrated them and thus devise viable ways to counter it

Africa will soon have a unique tool to assess corruption levels across the continent.

African Union
AUABC executive members Charity Nchimunya and Samuel Mbitu engaged the media in a workshop. Photo: Charity Nchimunya.
Source: UGC

African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC) has indicated a methodology that will go beyond ranking countries' levels of corruption is in the pipeline and at an advanced stage.

Anti-graft index tool

Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday, September 27, AUABC Executive Secretary Charity Nchimunya confirmed that the anti-corruption tools and resources are being put together on a consultancy basis with the University of Dodoma Tanzania.

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Nchimunya acknowledged that African Union member states had raised concern with the Transparency International corruption index and proposed the establishment of an African methodology to address African issues.

"We are working through consultancy with the University of Dodoma to come up with an index that will not focus on ranking but point out issues that needs to be addressed to eliminate the vice. The process began in 2017 and the progress will be communicated," she said.

According to Nchimunya, with the tool, African nations will be able to know the extent of the corruption challenge and how to counter it.

"Knowing the extent of the problem will help us come up with interventions and specific ways of generating applicable solutions," she explained.

Samuel Mbitu Kimeu, Board Member AUABC, echoed Nchimunya's sentiments and added that embracing a locally developed corruption index monitoring resource would enhance the fight against the vice.

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"The tool and resources are not focused on ranking based on positions but will enable State and Non-State parties to enhance war against corruption through contributing to and getting updates on arising before the findings are presented to higher levels," he explained.

This model, he said, is homegrown and will be transformative.

"We need a homegrown measurement tool developed by Africa for Africa," he reiterated.

The AUABC an organ of the African Union monitors the implementation of the Africa Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) which was adopted in 2003 and began to be implemented in 2006.

AUABC acknowledged there was goodwill to fight against corruption, and much progress would be achieved if all African States ratified the convention and jointly worked to overcome the vice.

Countries yet to ratify convention

The board called on countries like Central Africa Republic, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Eritrea, South Sudan, Eswatini and Somalia to ratify the convention and help make Africa corruption free.

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Martha Munthali, Senior Policy Officer Economic and Statistical Matters, asked countries that have ratified the convention to live their commitment by criminalising corruption, jointly stopping the illicit flow of money, protecting whistleblowers and journalists who keep governments accountable and making corruption unprofitable by seizing illegally acquired wealth.

She called for a change in the reportage of corruption-related issues by giving small gains against the vice prominence to spring the goodwill among a number of citizens into life and ignite a change wave.

"We need to change the narrative and celebrate small wins like proper usage of funds to develop infrastructure. Citizens who are aware of consequences of corruption and live honestly are among those islands of progress that need to be highlighted prominently also," Munthali said.

The developments came about during an engagement workshop between AUABC and journalists from across Africa that began on Tuesday, September 27 and will end on Thursday, September 28, in Nairobi.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke

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