occasional-paper-9-fr-f2dfee1682b4e6e1.pdf

This research paper by Professor Awadi Sadiki Mawenya, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in August 2008, examines the nature, causes, and economic impact of corruption within public procurement in Africa. It argues that corruption is a primary driver of poverty on the continent and proposes a holistic strategy for mitigation involving political will, legal frameworks, transparency, and the engagement of non-governmental actors.

• Corruption in public procurement is identified as a primary cause of poverty in Africa, with estimates suggesting it could cost the continent up to 148 billion dollars annually.
• Public procurement is particularly susceptible to corruption because government purchases account for a significant portion of public spending, ranging from 50% to 80% across all government levels.
• Corruption in sub-Saharan African public procurement is estimated to occur in nearly 70% of contracts, typically increasing project costs by 20% to 30%.
• The document describes a cyclical relationship where 'grand corruption'—driven by greed for wealth and power—diverts public funds into private accounts, leading to national poverty, which in turn forces underpaid officials to engage in 'small corruption' for survival.
• A significant amount of wealth stolen through corruption in Africa is deposited in banks in North America and Europe; it is estimated that these foreign holdings exceed half of the continent's external debt.
• Combating corruption requires a simultaneous, holistic approach encompassing political will, public service reform, legal and regulatory frameworks, financial accountability, and non-governmental engagement.
• Key political milestones in the fight against corruption include the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Corruption.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (n.d.). occasional-paper-9-fr-f2dfee1682b4e6e1.pdf. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/Occasional-Paper-9-FR.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. occasional-paper-9-fr-f2dfee1682b4e6e1.pdf. n.d. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/Occasional-Paper-9-FR.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=occasional-paper-9-fr-f2dfee1682b4e6e1.pdf |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/Occasional-Paper-9-FR.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairsndoccasionalpaper9frf2dfee1682b4e6e1pdf, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{occasional-paper-9-fr-f2dfee1682b4e6e1.pdf}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/Occasional-Paper-9-FR.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }