Good governance is central to a country functioning well – it means better health, education and services, stronger and more equitable economic growth, stability and security.

Corruption is the enemy of good governance. It is a serious crime that undermines social and economic development, and can even make fragile countries dysfunctional.

In a corrupt society, women especially are susceptible to discrimination, face multiple disadvantages and are affected disproportionately when it comes to taking part in decision-making, the protection of rights or the control over resources.
Fighting corruption is a global concern because it is found in both rich and poor countries, but evidence shows it hurts poor societies more.

Poor governance and corruption hinder the Millennium Development Goals which aim to halve extreme poverty by 2015. They undermine democracy and the rule of law, lead to human rights violations, distort markets, erode quality of life and encourage organised crime, terrorism and other threats to human security.

Some believe we shouldn’t give aid to countries that suffer poor governance and corruption because our efforts are wasted. But aid can help build sustainable government institutions, strengthen governance and target corruption, provide opportunities to stimulate economic growth, and help maintain the delivery of essential services.

What’s the answer?

Join us for this important forum on how we can help build good governance and put an end to corruption in the developing world.