Most of these goals are sadly vulnerable to corruption, whether in the realm of poverty eradication, access to health care or affordable energy.Įducation could be a valuable weapon in the continent’s fight against corruption. Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the poorest regions in the world and it, along with the rest of the globe, is now gearing up to meet the sustainable development goals. Africa is home to several of the most corrupt countries in the world, according to Transparency International’s corruption perception index.Ĭorruption also makes it difficult for societies and economies to develop. Research by the World Bank shows that about US $1 trillion is paid in bribes worldwide each year. This makes it almost impossible to definitively calculate its cost, though one estimate suggests that corruption amounts to more than 5% of the global GDP. Its influence reaches dangerously further, too: it directly threatens sustainable development.Ĭorruption takes many forms.
It happens across the private sector as well as the public service in the realms of housing, education, health and agriculture.
