Skip to main content

Foreign Assistance: U.S. Anticorruption Programs in Sub-Saharan Africa Will Require Time and Commitment

GAO-04-506 Published: Apr 26, 2004. Publicly Released: May 17, 2004.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

In October 2000, Congress passed the International Anticorruption and Good Governance Act (P.L. 106-309). The purpose of this legislation is to promote good governance by helping other countries combat corruption and improve government transparency and accountability. U.S. agencies spent about $33 million per year in fiscal years 2001-2002 providing anticorruption assistance to 22 sub-Saharan African countries. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provided the majority of this assistance, along with the Departments of the Treasury, Justice, Commerce, and State. To help Congress oversee management of anticorruption programs in sub-Saharan Africa, GAO was asked to examine (1) what is known about the extent of corruption in the region, (2) the factors that give rise to corruption in this region, (3) the anticorruption assistance U.S. agencies have provided, and (4) the lessons about anticorruption assistance that U.S. agencies and other international organizations have learned.

Full Report

GAO Contacts

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

AccountabilityDeveloping countriesFederal aid to foreign countriesForeign aid programsInteragency relationsInternational cooperationInternational relationsCorruptionLaw enforcementPublic officials