The African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABAC), in collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and Stellenbosch University (SU), convened a workshop from 9-11 May 2023 in Arusha, Tanzania on the formation of the African Anti-Corruption Research Network (AACRN). 

The workshop forms part of a memorandum of understanding between the AUABAC and SU, which will contribute to good governance against the backdrop of Agenda 2063, the AU's development vision for the period until 2063.

SU was represented by Prof Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, and Profs Pregala (Solosh) Pillay and Evangelos Mantzaris from the Anti-Corruption Centre for Education and Research at SU. Prof Zwelinzima Ndevu, Director of the School of Public Leadership, attended the workshop online.

Workshop participants included representatives from research institutions, consortiums, national anti-corruption agencies and networks of anti-corruption, who discussed the establishment and the modus operandi of the AACRN. Discussions revolved around the existing research body on anti-corruption, identification of the linkages between research and the fight against corruption and public policy-making, and the identification of critical programmatic elements towards the development of an actionable research agenda.

The establishment of the AACRN was formally adopted at the end of the workshop and will be hosted in the Anti-Corruption Centre for Education and Research at SU, which falls under the auspices of the School of Public Leadership in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

The Centre has a history of training several doctoral candidates across the continent, collaborating with national and international universities and has published over 50 articles on the subject matter including books co-authored by some of the leading African scholars who form part of the Network. 

Commenting on the formation of the AACRN, Ndevu said: “Networks such as the AACRN are what we need to be able to fight corruption within society. Corruption can have crippling effects on the livelihoods of individuals and, as institutions committed to learning, teaching, and research, we can contribute positively to advances in the anti-corruption sector and the development of public policies centred around transparency and equity."   

Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Prof Ingrid Woolard, said: “As a Faculty committed to the development of the rich human potential of the entire spectrum of the South African population, it is important to ensure that our public and private institutions are guided by integrity and equality. As part of the AACRN, we believe that our world-class research expertise in public policy and the business sector will benefit the Network and society at large."