Corruption is a scourge that has to be combated if Africa is to achieve the laudable goal of leaving no one behind as enshrined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, says United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s (Uneca) deputy executive secretary, Giovani Biha.
Addressing the 31st Civil Society Pre-Summit Consultative Meeting on the theme Corruption and Governance: Impact and way out for Women, Children and Youths, Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Biha said corruption is a problem that Africa can do without.
“In this fight we need to be cognisant of the differing impacts that corruption has on different population groups, including women and men, when formulating, implementing and monitoring anti-corruption initiatives,” she said.
Biha said increasing the participation of women in political and public life would also help in shaping gender-sensitive policies, adding civil society organisations, working closely with governments, also have a crucial advocacy role to play in this fight.
“Continued and widespread corruption is one of the main challenges expected to undermine the ability of African countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals included in the 2030 Agenda,” she said.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development target five of Goal 16 calls on member States to substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
African Union Commission’s Social Affairs commissioner, Amira Eldadil, said there would be less corruption in the world if more women were allowed to participate in politics.
