26 February 2025 – 

The ongoing funding freeze from the U.S., followed by aid cuts from European countries such as the Netherlands and the UK, signals a troubling shift in global priorities. The withdrawal of support for anti-corruption initiatives weakens international efforts and puts specialized agencies tasked with combating corruption at risk. Civil society organizations (CSOs) across the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region are already feeling the impact, as reduced funding constrains their ability to monitor, advocate, and push for reforms. This shift comes ahead of the upcoming Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (CoSP) in Doha in December 2025, where governments will convene to discuss the future of global anti-corruption commitments. With major donors pulling back, the role of civil society in ensuring transparency, accountability, and the prioritization of anti-corruption measures has never been more urgent. These evolving concerns were at the heart of the SWANA Regional Group’s first meeting for 2025, alongside discussions on national and regional priorities as well as possible action that could be taken by the group throughout the year. 

Regional Developments: CSOs Continue to Resist and Demand Government Accountability

In Jordan, Transparency International’s Jordan chapter, Rasheed, is actively working on thematic areas related to the implementation of the UNCAC. Rasheed has also developed an UNCAC implementationonline tracker tool to monitor progress and ensure accountability. Notably, the Jordanian government has signed the UNCAC Transparency Pledge, committing to engaging civil society in the UNCAC implementation review process.

AMAN, the Transparency International chapter in Palestine, is continuing to push for stronger anti-corruption measures despite the shrinking civic space. AMAN is currently preparing a parallel report on the implementation of the UNCAC, providing an independent assessment of Palestine’s compliance and areas for improvement. In Gaza, AMAN is focusing on strategies to hold both governments and donors accountable for potential reconstruction efforts, ensuring transparency and integrity in the allocation of funds. The Palestinian NGO is also focusing on ensuring government and parliamentary oversight of natural resource management to promote transparency and accountability in this critical sector.

In Bahrain, Transparency Bahrain is leading a coalition of 16 CSOs to push for reforms that would ease restrictions on local civil society organizations and advocate for amendments to the existing CSO law.

In Morocco, the government is advancing new legislation that would strip local CSOs of their legal standing to file lawsuits in court. This move directly contradicts Morocco’s constitutional guarantee of CSOs’ right to evaluate public policies. This shift represents a “significant setback for civil society’s role in combating corruption and monitoring the misuse of public funds”, as noted by the Carnegie Endowment.

In Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring, the government has intensified its crackdown on activists and journalists, with some facing jail terms. Despite these challenges, I WATCH, Transparency International’s national chapter in Tunisia, remains steadfast in its fight against corruption and continues to hold governments accountable.

In Yemen, Improve Your Society Organization is prioritizing economic resilience amid international sanctions on the banking sector, advocating for stronger anti-money laundering measures, and reinforcing the role of local and independent media in exposing corruption.

In Sudan, where 26 million people face acute hunger, Sudan Democracy First Group is intensifying efforts to combat corruption in humanitarian assistance and the gold mining sector. The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched investigations into fraud in Sudan’s aid distribution, and obstacles to life-saving aid continue to exacerbate the crisis in Darfur. Meanwhile, a Bloomberg report highlights that Sudan’s gold production has almost doubled during the conflict, raising critical questions about the governance of natural resources and accountability.

In Iraq, Ufuq Organization for Human Development has highlighted the shrinking civic space, noting that some CSOs have been forced to cease operations due to legal prosecutions, while activists have fled the country. Ufuq has developed a guide on human rights and corruption (read the guide in Arabic here) and is collaborating with the local anti-corruption commission to train CSOs on a human rights-based approach to fighting corruption.

Regional Plans ahead of CoSP 11 in Qatar

Most of the group members expressed their will to travel to Doha for the CoSP, if they will be able to allocate the appropriate funds. Given the fact the next CoSP will be hosted in the SWANA region, and as part of the group’s possible collective voice, members highlighted that:

• Awareness should be raised in case of strong discrepancies between States parties’ CoSP statements in support of civil society, and the reality on the ground which, in many cases, tells a different story.
• CSOs in the region should express their strong will to see anti-corruption efforts back in the forefront of government’s efforts, despite the challenging circumstances of raging violent conflicts.
• The Group will consider organizing a CoSP side event to present SWANA CSO’s experiences, challenges, and successes with regard to UNCAC implementation in their countries. 

Strengthening SWANA’s Representation in Global Anti-Corruption Fora

During the meeting, participants stressed the importance of the SWANA region’s representative on the UNCAC Coalition’s Coordination Committee (CCC). They emphasized that the representative should:

• Keep SWANA group members updated on CCC discussions.
• Hold meetings with SWANA members to collect their concerns and represent them at the CCC.
• Ensure greater transparency in communication with the region’s civil society.

Additionally, one member called for a rotation system to select the SWANA seat representative instead of elections to ensure fair and diverse representation.

The Fight for Accountability Continues

Despite growing financial constraints, repression, and legal restrictions, CSOs in the SWANA region remain on the front lines of the fight against corruption. Their resilience ensures that governments are held accountable and that corruption does not become the status quo. With global anti-corruption efforts at a crossroads, civil society’s role has never been more vital. In this respect, members requested the UNCAC Coalition’s support in identifying possible donors that could support their crucial anti-corruption work on the ground.