Author: Accountability Lab | Share
Introducing the anti-corruption coalition readiness scorecard – Part 1
This is the first in a series of three blogs produced by a team of four delegates who participated in the World Bank’s International Corruption Hunters Alliance 2023 in the Ivory Coast. The team consists of Viva Pizzaro Seidu (Ghana), Sabrina Nassih (Morocco), Eze Edith Oluchi (Nigeria) and Martha Asire (Uganda).
They have developed the Anti-Corruption Coalition Readiness Scorecard (ACCRS), an integrative scorecard that seeks to enhance anti-corruption coalitions’ impact by assessing readiness and challenges, at the various stages of coalition development.
Setting the Stage
The chosen theme for ICHA 2023 couldn’t be more pertinent and timely. It acknowledges the African continent’s rich heritage of collective practices, which have long served as an ancestral governance approach. By focusing on “Collective Action in an Era of Crises,” ICHA recognizes the significance of these collective practices, particularly during challenging times. This theme holds even greater significance as it marks the first time ICHA is hosted in an African country.
The coalition model is a prominent approach to combating corruption locally and globally. However, coalition building with those working on the theme of corruption is generally the result of a top-down approach, with governments, international organizations, and development groups leading the efforts.
While these top-down initiatives are important, they suffer from several challenges, including a lack of coordination and synergy among member organizations, limited resources, and dependency on donors. To address these challenges, our team developed the Anti-Corruption Coalition Readiness Scorecard as a tool to assess and enhance the readiness of coalitions to sustain their impact and reinforce their effectiveness in combating corruption.
Understanding the Challenges
Coalitions play a crucial role in driving change, particularly in the fight against corruption. They bring in a diversity of resources that are very useful in tackling corruption. Pooling knowledge, resources, and influence allows for a strengthened and well-rounded approach to addressing corruption.
Suffice to say that the strength of every coalition lies in their collective power, ability to present a united front, and, most importantly, capability to sustain their coalition(s) and objective(s). That said, anti-corruption coalitions often encounter several challenges that can hinder their effectiveness. Two significant challenges faced by these coalitions are donor dependency and lack of synergy. Let’s discuss each of them.
- Donor Dependency: Many anti-corruption coalitions rely heavily on external funding and support from donors. While this financial assistance is essential for their operations, it can create a dependency that poses challenges that ultimately dampen coalitions’ momentum and lead to fragmentation. Some common issues include:
- Sustainability Concerns: Reliance on external funding makes coalitions vulnerable to changes in donor priorities or the availability of funds. This uncertainty can impact the long-term sustainability of their initiatives.
- Donor Influence: Donor funding may come with specific agendas or conditions that influence the coalition’s activities, diverting attention away from critical issues and limiting their autonomy.
- Project-Based Approach: Donor funding often focuses on short-term projects rather than long-term systemic change. This can hinder coalitions’ ability to address deep-rooted corruption issues and sustain their impact beyond project lifecycles.
- Lack of Synergy: Collaboration and synergy among diverse stakeholders are crucial for the success of anti-corruption coalitions. However, several factors can impede the development of effective synergy, including:
- Absence of a Cohesive and Cooperative Environment: Despite sharing a common goal, anti-corruption coalitions often struggle to foster effective collaboration and knowledge-sharing. This absence of a cohesive and cooperative environment often hinders the coalition’s ability to leverage the diverse strengths and expertise of its members.
- Fragmented Efforts: Lack of coordination and communication among coalition members and partner organizations can result in duplicated efforts, inefficient resource utilization, and a fragmented approach towards combating corruption.
- Competing Agendas: Different organizations within the coalition may have varying priorities, strategies, and mandates, leading to conflicts and challenges in aligning their objectives and actions.
- Power Dynamics: Power imbalances, both within the coalition and with external actors, can hinder effective decision making, collaboration, and the equitable distribution of resources and responsibilities.
Related Content
From Our Library
Subscribe
Join our community
Subscribe for updates on new programs, stories of change, and upcoming events from across our global, translocal network.
