Multi-stakeholder workshop on UNCAC Implementation and the Review Mechanism in Ethiopia, 2019

27 civil society and 26 government representatives from 14 African countries participated in a ‘Multi-stakeholder Workshop on Implementing the UNCAC and its Review Mechanism‘ from 8 to 11 April 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The workshop was jointly organized by the UNCAC Coalition and the UNODC, with funding from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

The overall objectives of the training were to equip participants with a strong understanding of the UNCAC and its provisions and to motivate them to contribute to their country’s review mechanisms. Furthermore, the workshop connected UNCAC government focal points with civil society activists, and generated mutual understanding for the respective roles, including through roleplaying games, in order to facilitate better cooperation and knowledge sharing.

There was broad consensus that it is crucial to ensure a transparent and truly inclusive UNCAC review process that provides opportunities for civil society to contribute, share findings and provide recommendations, in order to maximize the UNCAC’s impact to create momentum for reforms.

After the workshop, several civil society activists from three countries who had participated in the workshop contributed to the national UNCAC review process, including by meeting with country reviewers to provide them with expert input from a civil society perspective.

Multi-stakeholder workshop on UNCAC Implementation and the Review Mechanism in Senegal, 2018:

Some 50 civil society and government representatives from 15 African countries participated in a ‘Multi-stakeholder Workshop on the UNCAC and its Review Mechanism‘ from 8 to 11 May 2018 in Dakar, Senegal. The workshop was by the UNODC with support from the UNCAC Coalition and funding from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).

The event featured interactive training techniques, enabling participants to understand the Review Mechanism process pertaining to the Second Cycle (2015-2024) with a focus on preventative measures and asset recovery. In addition, civil society organizations received guidance on how to collaborate with the private sector on anti-corruption.

Regional Meeting on Fast-tracking UNCAC Implementation in Southern Africa: 16–20 October 2019

Civil society organizations participated in the Regional Conference ‘Fast-tracking the Implementation of UNCAC in Southern Africa’ which took place from 16 to 20 October 2019 in Livingstone, Zambia. A total of 25 CSOs from seven countries in the region participated in the five-day conference which brought together governments, civil society organizations and the private sector to agree on a set of common anti-corruption recommendations.

This conference sought to build on the momentum generated by the UK Anti-Corruption Summit that took place in London in May 2016, foster partnerships and create a regional platform to fast track the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in Southern Africa.

CSOs took an active and participatory role alongside governmental counterparts, initially formulating their own recommendations, and thereafter, combining theirs with their governmental counterparts to create a joint outcome document per each thematic theme. With an agreed upon set of recommendations across the four themes of conflict of interest in public procurement, inter-agency cooperation, whistleblower protection vs. witness protection and asset disclosure, neighbouring countries in Southern Africa will leverage regional capacities and knowledge to implement those practical reform priorities through common actions.