Page 18 - OSISA Annual Report 2015-2018

Democracy and Governance
Transparency and accountability
Effectiveness of anti-corruption agencies in southern Africa
The regional (southern Africa) study on the effectiveness of anti-corruption bodies (ACBs) was launched this year with representatives from anti-corruption bodies throughout southern Africa and the SADC and African Union. The report investigates the in-depth nature and character of anti-corruption agencies in the SADC region and looks at the reasons for their success and failures.
Given the growing nature and sophistication of corruption, the study also sought to understand the relevance of existing legal frameworks for ACBs, their roles and how their performance can be increased. The study also provided specific and actionable leads. It heightened the momentum for OSISA’s work on transparency and accountability to expand its footprint in selected countries and selected themes in the anti-corruption and illicit financial flows (IFF) sector.
That virtually all ACBs have largely accepted the thrust of the report, including the diagnosis of these institutions’ place in the anti-corruption ecosystem, provides scope for coordinated support on both the demand and supply sides of the equation. Specific work streams are being developed, starting with establishing a regional whistle- blowers’ network–as informed by the study. The recent in-country launches of the report in Malawi and Zambia were supported by the two countries’ respective Ministers of Justice, anti-corruption bodies and CSOs.
OSISA should take full advantage of this political capital and invest in innovative initiatives in both countries.
Inclusive participation
DRC at cross-roads
By law, President Kabila’s second term should have ended on 20 December 2016, with elections for his successor due three months before the end of his term. Yet, there was no indication that preparations for elections were in progress. If anything, the last two years have been calculated to create conditions that make it impossible for elections to take place.
OSISA has, through its country office in Kinshasa, supported several democracy- and governance-related projects, including civic education, transparency and accountability and pushing for media freedom and access to information. Some of the initiatives supported include:
à Supported the capacity building of a number of civil society organisations so that they could engage with the electoral commission CENI (Commission Electorale Nationale Independante)
à Support to Institut des Droits de l’Homme (IDH) to develop and strengthen guidelines on electoral disputes.
à Support Ecole de Formation Electorale en Afrique Centrale (EFEAC) for a capacity building project for election observers.
à Support to Fondation Hirondelle to encourage youth participation in elections
à Support to Agir pour des Elections Transparentes et Apaisees (AETA) for work on consolidating the dem- ocratic process by promoting peaceful and compre- hensive completion of the Congolese electoral cycle
à Support for Collectif’s advocacy for the right of ac- cess to information.
à Building regional and international support, sol- idarity and pressure through advocacy work at carious policy centres including but not limited to the South African government, SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, US State Department and the United Nations System. This has also included supporting Congolese civil society participation in the SADC Peoples’ Summit ahead of the SADC Heads of State and Government
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OPEN SOCIETY INITIATIVE FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA – 2017 REPORT