Transparency International released their Corruption Perceptions Index 2017 on 22 February 2018. Whilst historical trends in CPI index scores for 2012-2017 for each country are also presented, the 2012-2017 historical scores have not been separately presented on a regional basis to allow a quick comparison of country corruption scores within each of the six regions used in the analysis (Americas, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa and Western Europe).

We have reorganised the spreadsheet provided by Transparency International to provide a listing of the reported historical trends in index scores for 2012-2017 for countries in each of the six regions. Our spreadsheet is available here.

Background

Last year the Commonwealth Secretariat commissioned PFMConnect Ltd to undertake an independent evaluation of its Africa Anti-Corruption Programme.

Stakeholders consulted

Views were obtained through discussions with officials from Commonwealth Africa countries, the Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Centre in Botswana (http://www.thecaacc.org/) and at the Secretariat in London (http://thecommonwealth.org/). Online interviews were held with others that there was not time to visit. In addition, past participants of the Africa Anti-Corruption Centre capacity-building programmes were asked to complete an online survey giving their impressions of the training they had received, including its subsequent effectiveness back in the workplace.

Future programme development

Those interviewed produced an array of interesting ideas for the future development of the Commonwealth’s Africa Anti-Corruption Programme and attested to the value of the training offered. The evaluation report can be obtained here.

Amongst other things, the evaluation report suggests that anti-corruption agencies in Commonwealth Africa could be even more effective in their work if they formed a broader alliance with other national governance units possibly including auditors, procurement authorities, competition agencies and financial system administrators. Greater use of digital technology is advocated in support of regional collaboration and training. Proposals are also made for extending such support elsewhere within the Commonwealth with priority being given to smaller states.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is now considering the report with its various stakeholders before decisions are taken about the best way to develop the Commonwealth’s anti-corruption agenda.