CORRUPTION ASSESSMENT: MOZAMBIQUE - World Bank

Support local governanceLocally elected municipal governments are a recent phenomenon in Mozambique andthey offer important new opportunities for developing a greater culture of democraticparticipation and government accountability in the country.• Local elected officials – Mayors and municipal assembly members representa group of elected leaders who are accountable to the electorate. As such, theymay be more amenable to pursuing anti-corruption initiatives that demonstratetheir commitment to the voters. Several donor programs are currentlydeveloping the capacity of local elected officials and administrators togenerate local revenue, provide services to residents, manage finances,organize participative planning processes, and other activities that promotelocal transparency and accountability. There may be potential to expand anddeepen existing anti-corruption efforts in the targeted municipalities, perhapsby working in other sectors, such as health and education, or as national orregional organizations of local elected officials (for example, the newlyestablished Association of Municipalities) gain experience and credibility.Since municipal and local government institutions and their officials arerelatively new, they can learn from shared experience of localities in othercountries.• District Consultative Councils – These new councils, which encouragepublic participation in decentralized planning, may be another target for futureanti-corruption action. USAID and other donor programs are expanding manyof their local programs to work with these councils and develop their capacity.Transparency activities and accountability controls can be made a part ofthese programs.Identify, work with and bolster potential champions of reformTo motivate new anti-corruption programs, it is often useful to identify the forceful, butrare, personalities who are willing to advocate for transparency and accountabilityreforms. This assessment has identified several possible candidates who are worthy offurther exploration based on their past actions and statements. Because of the risky andsensitive issues involved in fighting corruption, it is important for donors to remainsteadfast and visible supporters of these champions throughout the course of theirinitiatives. Potential champions that can serve as points of entry for anti-corruptionprograms can be found among:• Ministers – As they are new to their posts, controlling low level pettycorruption within their domains of authority may be seen as very attractive –their initiatives would be viewed as progressive while, at the same time, notimpacting higher level vested interests. The Health Minister, in particular, hasbeen outspoken and committed in his opposition to petty corruption. OtherFINAL REPORT 51