The MoU was renewed on Wednesday during a side programme at the 18th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) held in Denmark, and is a renewal of an existing MoU, signed in November 2015.
Transparency International (TI) and the African Union (AU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to renew their commitment to fighting corruption across African countries.
The MoU was renewed on Wednesday during a side programme at the 18th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) held in Denmark.
The MoU is a renewal of an existing MoU, signed in November 2015, and which has been running for three years.
Speaking during the signing, the Chair, Transparency International, Delia Rubio, stated that the MoU will help strengthen the fight against corruption by the AU and the TI.
“Only together we can have impact and be effective in the fight against corruption. No one can do it alone,” she said.
Rubio stated also that regions are not performing well on the Corruption Perception Index, adding that people are exposed to corruption in their every day lives.
“Corruption is a problem of human rights. People are suffering, being victims in terms of lack of development. We are fighting for values and better lives for our people. We need action and implementation,” Rubio emphasised.
On her part, the Managing Director, Transparency International, Patricia Moreira, said the renewal is a step in the right direction, as the TI and AU would be taking one more step and making things happen. Moreira expressed hope that a lot more can be achieved working together.
“We will like to translate this MoU into specific actions for each year. It is a live document which will incorporate a number of new measures over the MoU.
“It is a new phase which we have started in terms of having a more specific work plan or road map, in terms of the much that we want to achieve and also obtaining the necessary financial resources to implement and then coming together to make that happen," she said.
In her address, the Executive Secretary, African Union Advisory Board on Corruption, Mrs. Charity Nchimunya, noted that the MoU contains a call for renewed collaboration. She stated that the Board is trying to come up with an African methodology for measuring corruption and that will trickle down to the people.
“As we assess the implementation of the convention in member states, we normally get in touch with the people on the ground through Civil Society Organisations, to find out their views in term of the extent to the implementation of the provisions of the convention. This MoU is going to really be a work that is based on getting the actual information from the people on the ground, the people affected by corruption,” Nchimunya said.
She also stated that the Board will work with every citizen of Africa, so that the impact of corruption can be eradicated.
The MoU is an additional instrument to help the AU and TI work together to make a difference.