Corruption imposes significant economic and social costs across Latin America and the Caribbean, undermining investment, weakening public services, and eroding trust in institutions. Transparency and integrity (T&I) reforms are widely recognized as important tools for addressing these challenges.
In this evaluation OVE assessed IDB support for strengthening public sector transparency and integrity between 2010 and 2023, examining: (i) how T&I was reflected in corporate, sector, and country strategies; (ii) the relevance of the Bank's interventions in addressing governance and corruption challenges; and (iii) the extent to which operations achieved their intended T&I objectives.
The evaluation covered a broad portfolio of sovereign-guaranteed operations and technical cooperation projects and used a mixed-methods approach combining strategy and portfolio reviews, interviews, literature review, and country case studies. Interventions were analyzed under four policy objectives: reducing opportunities for corruption, increasing public oversight, reducing impunity, and changing social norms.
The evaluation finds that the IDB progressively strengthened its strategic focus on transparency and integrity and supported a diverse set of interventions across countries and sectors. The Bank's support often responded to country-specific opportunities for reform, including government initiatives, commitments to international standards, and broader governance reform efforts. Evidence suggests that interventions supporting public procurement, financial transparency, identification systems, audit institutions, and comprehensive policy reforms contributed to strengthening transparency and integrity outcomes in a range of country contexts. At the same time, the evaluation identified opportunities to further strengthen the link between strategic priorities and operational engagement and highlighted challenges in measuring results consistently across the portfolio.
The evaluation recommends: (i) systematically leveraging opportunities for T&I engagement; (ii) strengthening the connection between strategic priorities and operations; (iii) expanding the evidence base on what approaches are most effective in different contexts; and (iv) improving the measurement and reporting of T&I results.
Corruption remains one of the most pervasive obstacles to sustainable development across Africa, imposing substantial costs on the private sector through distorted markets, unfair competition, and eroded stakeholder trust (Transparency International, 2025). Recent evidence indicates that 64% of South Africans believe most business leaders are corrupt, highlighting the magnitude of the challenge facing the continent (Human Sciences Research Council, 2025). Although the private sector is increasingly acknowledged as both a casualty of corruption and a critical collaborator for attaining the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the methods by which anti-corruption information is put into practice by businesses are not well understood (Nicaise and Rahman, 2025).
In Africa, Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACAs) have devised creative methods for involving commercial enterprises, which encompass educational campaigns, reward programs for law-abiding firms, and collaborations between public and private entities (Basel Institute on Governance, 2024). Emerging research demonstrates that anti-corruption compliance programmes correlate with improved market share, profit margins, and sustainable growth (Jenkins and Ishikawa, 2025). However, the effectiveness of disseminating anti-corruption research findings as a predictor of sustainable business delivery has received limited empirical attention.
Analysis of firm-level data across sub-Saharan Africa identifies corruption as among the most severe impediments to firm growth, frequently surpassing infrastructure deficiencies as a binding constraint (International Monetary Fund, 2025). The challenge is particularly acute for small and medium-sized enterprises, which face disproportionate barriers and are often excluded from formal anti-corruption frameworks (Pillay, 2025). Furthermore, the effectiveness of regulatory enforcement and knowledge dissemination is contingent upon institutional trust, with the possibility of bribery diluting the effectiveness of regulatory interventions regardless of entrepreneurs' trust levels (Nyemi, 2025).
This study addresses the gap by examining the extent to which the dissemination of anti-corruption research findings by ACAs predicts sustainable delivery in the private sector across African countries. Drawing on institutional theory and knowledge translation frameworks, we investigate dissemination practices, mediating mechanisms, and contextual moderators. By offering evidence-based insights, this paper contributes to strengthening the business case for integrity and optimising ACA strategies for sustainable private sector development in Africa.
Shamin Dzimba, Dr Onesmus Nyaude, Takawira Chirume et al.· International Journal of Lat...· 0 citations
Background: Corruption is one of biggest issues that threatens social justice, economic growth, the provision of public services and governance globally. Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025 prepared by Transparency International to determines the level of public sector corruption among 182 countries and territories.
Methods: Using a qualitative study approach, this report review critically examines the CPI 2025 methodology, regional and global trends, institutional drivers, and implications with a focus on Nepal in particular.
Results: CPI scores of 122 countries were below 50 and the average global was fell to 42 out of 182 countries. Sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest (32) value where EU and Western Europe had the highest regional average (64). The average score for full democracies was 71 compared to non-democratic countries (32). Nepal had got the 34, indicating serious problems with corruption. The report identified political influences, a lack of civic space, weak institutions, and inadequate accountability as major contributing factors. The average global CPI fell to just 42 in 2025 in over ten years for the first time. This review shows corruption as a complex institutional and democratic challenge and links global CPI findings with Nepal's governance context.
Conclusion: This report concluded that to reduce the corruption level and maintain the sustainable governance and development it requires sustaining institutional integrity, financing transparency in political system and increase involvement of civic engagement.
Ashok Baral, E. Maharjan· NPRC Journal of Multidiscipl...· 0 citations
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) have emerged as a strategic instrument for accelerating infrastructure development and promoting sustainable economic growth in developing countries. This study examines the effectiveness of PPPs as a fast-track development approach, with Bangladesh serving as the primary case. Using a qualitative research design, the study reviews more than 100 scholarly publications, analyzes government reports and 17 project completion reports, and validates findings through expert interviews and content analysis. The research identifies the critical success factors, major implementation challenges, and sector-specific issues affecting PPP performance. The findings indicate that well-designed PPP models can significantly enhance foreign direct investment (FDI), improve governance, transparency, and accountability, reduce corruption, and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the study also identifies thirteen major implementation issues and sixteen key challenges, including inadequate project selection, weak institutional capacity, financing constraints, regulatory inefficiencies, and limited technical expertise. To address these limitations, the paper proposes policy reforms, institutional strengthening, innovation-driven hybrid PPP models, improved risk allocation, enhanced knowledge management, and greater stakeholder collaboration. It further introduces the concept of transforming the existing “vicious cycle” of PPP inefficiencies into a “virtuous cycle” through capacity building, governance reforms, and strategic investment. The study concludes that PPPs can serve as an effective catalyst for national development and economic growth when supported by appropriate regulatory frameworks, sound governance, and context-specific implementation models, providing valuable insights for policymakers and other developing economies pursuing sustainable development through public-private collaboration.
Danlami M Bashar· Global Journal of Management...· 0 citations
Corruption is consistently associated with impeded economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa, with pronounced effects in Kenya and South Sudan, two East African nations with divergent political and economic contexts. All studies were re-screened to ensure relevance to South Sudan (post-2011 independence). This qualitative systematic review was conducted using Popay et al. [52] narrative synthesis framework. The framework synthesises peer-reviewed empirical studies from 2000 to 2025 to examine how corruption is associated with reduced gross domestic product (GDP) growth, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, and employment in these countries. In Kenya, an emerging economy with diverse sectors, corruption in public procurement, taxation, and law enforcement diverts resources to rent-seeking, which is associated with higher business costs and lower FDI, exacerbating unemployment and inequality despite robust anti-corruption frameworks like the ethics and anti-corruption commission (EACC). In South Sudan, a post-conflict, oil-dependent nation, widespread embezzlement and patronage networks are associated with impeded economic progress, lower FDI through regulatory uncertainty, and higher unemployment and poverty. Employing PRISMA guidelines, this review analysed 20 studies identified from databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and JSTOR, using the mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) for quality assurance. Following re-screening, five studies originally coded as South Sudan were identified as about Sudan and reclassified. The final evidence base comprises 20 studies: 10 Kenya-specific empirical, 5 South Sudan-specific empirical, and 5 regional or cross-country contextual studies; the resulting asymmetric evidence base is acknowledged as a key limitation. Key findings highlight corruption’s role in being associated with lower, correlating with lower GDP by misallocating resources, correlating with lower FDI through increased risks, and associated with weaker merit-based hiring, particularly affecting youth. The review distinguishes sophisticated corruption [6] in Kenya -complex, institutionalised schemes within relatively stable governance) from overt corruption in South Sudan [60] compounded by conflict and weak institutions. Given the asymmetric evidence base, South Sudan’s conclusions should be treated as tentative and agenda-setting rather than definitive. These associational insights point towards context-specific anti-corruption strategies, strengthened institutional frameworks, and targeted FDI policies to foster sustainable development and equitable opportunities in both nations.
Public procurement is widely recognized as a sensitive and high-risk area for corruption and inefficiency, often affected by opacity and weak accountability. In Nepal, the introduction of the electronic government procurement (e-GP) system signifies a major digital governance reform aimed at enhancing transparency and procedural integrity. This study examines the impact of e GP on transparency in public procurement, focusing on information accessibility, process visibility, fair competition, and stakeholder trust. The analysis is based on survey data from 84 stakeholders, including government officials, bidders, and oversight personnel. Quantitative techniques, including Friedman Chi-square tests and ANOVA, were employed to assess perceived transparency outcomes. The findings indicate that e-GP has improved access to procurement information and strengthened procedural openness; however, challenges persist in traceability and stakeholder engagement, particularly during bidding and contract award stages. The study highlights that technological reforms alone are insufficient without complementary institutional strengthening.
Despite full enforcement of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) regime in 2015 to centralise public funds, enhance fiscal transparency, improve financial accountability, and curb corruption, financial irregularities persist across federal universities. Focusing on the Niger Delta region, the research highlights unique geopolitical constraints affecting policy outcomes. Grounded in Agency Theory, this study examined the effectiveness of the TSA policy in enhancing fiscal transparency, improving financial accountability, and curbing corruption in Nigerian federal universities, specifically UNIPORT, UNICAL, and UNIBEN. The study relied on mixed methods combining quantitative survey data (n = 158) analyzed via Chi-square tests with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews and interpretation of secondary data from World Bank and Transparency International. Findings showed that while TSA has significantly enhanced fiscal transparency and accountability (p = 0.004), its implementation is marred by bureaucratic rigidity, operational delays, and circumvention strategies by institutional actors. Consequently, corrupt practices have not been fully abated due to reconfiguration into less traceable forms such as procurement fraud, contract inflation, and off-book cash payments. Despite savings exceeding ₦10 trillion nationally, Corruption Perception Index scores remain low, indicating systemic challenges beyond cash management. The study concluded that although the TSA regime has closed certain financial leakages, it is insufficient as a standalone measure. It recommends a holistic reform that integrates TSA with complementary anti-corruption strategies, including strengthened monitoring mechanisms, improved digital infrastructure, continuous staff training, and limited financial autonomy for universities. External oversight by agencies like EFCC and ICPC is also advocated to ensure comprehensive fiscal integrity within the higher education sector.
M. I. Foster, E. Aniche, A. Okoye et al.· RUDN Journal of Public Admin...· 0 citations
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