The U.S. Agency for International Development joins with changemakers around the world to mark International Anti-Corruption Day, which coincides with the start of President Biden’s Summit for Democracy. As I said on Tuesday, “where corruption flourishes, democracy withers.” And that is why world leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector are gathering today to collectively confront the scourge of global corruption.
The United States is contributing to this effort with the release, earlier this week, of the first ever U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption. The Strategy outlines a whole-of-government approach to elevating the fight against corruption, including by integrating anti-corruption considerations into U.S. foreign assistance, our multilateral diplomacy, our security partnerships, and our bilateral relationships.
We will not succeed in this fight unless we are guided by the ingenuity, expertise, and energy of those on the frontlines of this fight. Local actors are critical to diagnosing the root causes of corruption, exposing corrupt acts, shifting social norms, and mobilizing support for ambitious reforms. When anti-corruption efforts are locally rooted, they are more likely to be effective and sustained. At the same time, the transnational reach of corruption reinforces the need to build regional and global networks and advance international norms that encourage transparency and accountability.
With this in mind, USAID announced this week new initiatives to connect local anti-corruption change agents to regional and international efforts. The Empowering Anti-Corruption Change Agents Program will support civil society and media leaders in building the coalitions they need to effect change and engage in collective action. The Grand Challenge on Combating Transnational Corruption will crowdsource innovations that will stop corrupt actors from stealing their nation’s wealth and moving it across borders. And the Global Accountability Program will surge support to high-vulnerability countries and regions to help willing governments address the drivers and consequences of corruption. Throughout all these efforts, USAID will emphasize responsiveness, local ownership, and partnership. Additional details about USAID’s work, including our announcements from the Summit for Democracy, are available at this new webpage.