Detailed Information :

Malawi

Year of Establishment: 2005

Project Phase: Implementation Phase

Participants:

Global Compact Network in Malawi, African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC), local companies, civil society, government agencies, media

Scope:

• A long-term initiative triggering a society-wide concerted effort to fight corruption, an issue which has impeded the country to accomplishing the Millennium Development Goals

Key Facts:

Description

• The Malawi Leaders Forum was initiated through a series of business- sponsored round tables which led to the organization of a multi-stakeholder “Leader’s Forum on Building Alliances to Eliminate Corruption”. The Forum brought together leaders from government, the business sector, civil society, the media and donors and was funded by private sector organizations. During the Forum participants agreed on consensual negotiations through a working group on the development of a Code of Conduct. Negotiations were facilitated by the African Institute for Corporate Citizenship of Malawi.
• The Malawi Leaders Forum, involving government, companies, civil society, donor agencies, and the media, initiated a Principle-based Initiative against corruption in Malawi in January, 2005. Forum participants developed a broad-ranging action plan to combat corruption in Malawi’s public and private sectors
• Based on these initial discussions, companies came together with the support of a third party to develop a Business Code of Conduct for Combating Corruption(see full case study for Business Code)
• The Forum’s Action Plan called for the establishment of an independent monitoring body to supervise the implementation of the Action Plan.
• The Code is targeted at institutions, organizations and companies operating in Malawi. By September 2006, the Code was completed.

Objectives

• This multi-stakeholder negotiation process is seeking to develop and implement a broad-ranging action plan which encourages all participants to abstain from corrupt practices.
• This initiative also attempts to advance the implementation of the 10 th Principle of the UN Global Compact in Malawi.

Key Learning:

• A strong political will is essential for a country in transition to encourage the private sector to fully participate in a collective action initiatives
• Developing an effective multi-stakeholder negotiation process is imperative to break the impasse, create cross-societal coalitions and to ensure that the issue of anti-corruption is highly politicized in the country.

Mechanisms:

• Cost: the Forum was funded by private sector participants to ensure their full engagement in the process.
• Role of the Monitor:The action Plan calls for the establishment of an independent body; this independent body is expected to drive the action plan forward.
• Political Will: with presidential support, many high-level government organizations fully participate in the Forum – a strong political will and commitment enables the business sector to participate in the Forum.

Benefits:

• One year after the forum was launched, the Business Code of Conduct for Combating Corruption was launched in Malawi.
• This initiative is historically significant as it enables the private sector to discuss corruption issues openly.

Links:

• Case Study: Business Case on Malawi: Business Action Against Corruption
• The African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC)
• UN Global Compact Local Network in Malawi

Source:

• Fitzgerald, Oonagh and Ngombe, James. “ Malawi Business Action against Corruption.” Business Fighting Corruption: Experience from Africa, Ed. Ellen Kallinowsky. 2007. Pretoria, South Africa: Global Compact Regional Learning Forum.