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Select anti-corruption success stories

There are no magic bullets or one-size-fits-all remedies for curbing corruption. While there is a wide range of evidence contributing to the debate on what corruption is and what methods work in curbing the phenomenon, there is far less in terms of anti-corruption success stories that have been studied (due to several factors, including methodological challenges and what anti-corruption success actually means). Nevertheless, context is key in designing and implementing anti-corruption measures, as what works in country A does not necessarily work, or may even cause harm, in country B. Increasingly, experts suggest using targeted strategies that focus on particular sectors to employ anti-corruption measures that are both feasible and where most impact can be created.

27 March 2022
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Select anti-corruption success stories

Main points

  • There is limited systemic evidence for sustainable transitions away from endemic corruption and towards consistent integrity.
  • Context is key – and moving away from generic best practices to better practices targeted at a particular sector or challenge can be helpful
  • Success often comes from having feasible approaches that focus on areas where maximum impact can be created.
  • There are several types of success stories covering themes of curbing disinformation, changing attitudes and norms towards corruption, and involving vulnerable groups at the local level, among others.

Cite this publication


Rahman, K. (2022) Select anti-corruption success stories. Bergen: U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, Chr. Michelsen Institute (U4 Helpdesk Answer 2022:6)

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About the author

Kaunain Rahman

Kaunain is the business integrity specialist at Transparency International (TI), driving integrity in business as part of TI’s strategy. She strengthens business capacity for collective action, fosters integrity in value chains, and advocates for better regulatory frameworks. Her projects include Integrity Pacts and the Business Integrity Country Agenda, focusing on transparent procurement and national business integrity. Kaunain also leads TI’s efforts in addressing corruption through private sector sustainability reporting.

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All views in this text are the author(s)’, and may differ from the U4 partner agencies’ policies.

This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

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