Community Initiative for Social Empowerment (CISE)

Country: Malawi
Website: cisemalawi.wordpress.com
Social media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram
Head of the organisation: Margaret Sapezeka, Executive Director
Email: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Tel: +265999777333
Languages: English

General description of your work in the prevention of and the fight against corruption

CISE Malawi is a member of the National Anti-corruption Alliance (NACA,  that aims at mobilising and coordinating civil society activities to combat corruption in Malawi. CISE Malawi’s approach in the fight against corruption is threefold:

  1. Prevention: Educating the public on the Malawi Corrupt Practices Act. The aim is to sensitise the youth, members of churches, school children, politicians, public office bearers, community leaders, representatives of the private sector and citizens of the nation towards the consequences of corruption,  so that they feel free and also obliged to report cases of corruption to the Anti-Corruption Bureau without fear of reprisal.
  2. Response to cases of corruption: CISE Malawi reports suspicions of corrupt practices, because it is a threat to any positive progress, success, nation building, unity and national prosperity.
  3. Bringing those found guilty of corruption to justice: Through the National Anti-corruption Alliance, CISE Malawi makes sure those involved in corrupt practices are punished by law, especially public officers who are entrusted to manage public resources.

CISE Malawi, alongside other CSOs is committed to the prevention of and the fight against corruption, because Malawi continues to score poorly in the Corruption Perceptions Index.

Malawi scored 32 points out of 100 on Transparency International’s 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index. In the period of 1998-2018, Malawi scored an average of 32.33 Points, reaching an all-time high of 41 Points in 1999 and a record low of 27 Points in 2006.

Describe your organisation’s work linked with the UN Convention against Corruption

CISE Malawi has been a key ally of the Malawi government in the prevention of corruption. As a local NGO engaged in the development and delivery of social, economic, and human development services, CISE Malawi plays an important role in safeguarding democracy by empowering people to actively engage in government affairs and by advocating for policy reforms.

Since joining Civil Society Action Against Corruption (CSAAC), CISE Malawi effectively plays the following roles, which are strongly linked to the UNCAC:

  • Educate the masses through public campaigns on the effects of corruption. This focusses particularly on questions of how to resist, reject and report corrupt practices to relevant authorities, protection of whistleblowers, as well as on how to hold those in public positions accountable;
  • Lobby the Executive and the Legislature to put relevant legal frameworks in place that promote transparency, integrity and accountability  in the public service;
  • Monitor and evaluate activities of all the branches of Government;
  • Publish and denounce corrupt practices through peaceful demonstrations and other acceptable activities;
  • Demonstrate visible transparency and accountability in the way CISE Malawi conducts itself;

A global civil society network promoting the implementation and monitoring of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)