Fighting Corruption:  Practices, Process and Progress

Posted on December 9, 2010 by Jolyne Sanjak, Managing Director, Technical Support

In 2010, MCC made significant progress in implementing its Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy and procedures to prevent, detect and remediate fraud and corruption in MCC-funded activities. Today, International Anti-Corruption Day, is a time to review progress made in 2010 and determine where MCC is headed in 2011.

In 2010, MCC rolled out a new training course to assist Millennium Challenge Account entities (MCAs) in effectively understanding MCC’s policy and their role as our partners in fighting fraud and corruption. The course trains MCAs in methods for recognizing corrupt acts, protecting the Compact against risks of fraud, and reporting wrongdoing. The training is mandatory for all MCAs and MCA staff. MCAs in Lesotho, Namibia, Tanzania and Senegal have already received this training; Mali, Mongolia and Morocco are slated for January and February 2011.

As part of a comprehensive, consistent and explicit approach to preventing, detecting and remediating fraud and corruption, MCC’s policy requires that the MCAs put in place project-specific Action Plans to reduce risk. The Action Plans detail project-appropriate methods and mechanisms by which the MCA will manage risks of corruption; each plan includes a detailed timetable and monitoring strategy. These Action Plans are also made public in accordance with MCC’s policy of transparency and accountability. An example of an Action Plan can be found on the MCA Burkina Faso web site. Others will be posted as the Action Plans are finalized and approved.

Corruption is difficult to eradicate. With commitment and perseverance, however, MCC and its partner countries can control and reduce the threat of corruption to achieving Compact goals of sustainable development, poverty reduction and economic growth. International Anti-Corruption Day reminds us that we can achieve this goal by working together with renewed resolve.