Anti-Corruption Youth Essay Competition:“Fighting Corruption in Africa: a Youth Perspective”

• Posted by Ikubaje John Gbodi on May 24, 2012 View Blog

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA		African Union ADVisory board on corruption

                                                                                  

Anti-Corruption Youth Essay Competition:

“Fighting Corruption in Africa: a Youth Perspective”

Are you an African youth concerned about corruption on the continent?
Have you or anyone close to you been a victim of corruption?
Do you believe your future is in any way threatened by corrupt practices?
Would you want your voice to be heard on the issue of corruption?
And do you have a passion for writing?

Then you should seriously consider participating in this year’s ‘Anti-Corruption Youth Essay Competition,’ co-organized by the Governance and Public Administration Division (GPAD) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the Secretariat of the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption (AU-ABC). This is within the framework of annual festivities to mark the International Anti-corruption Week, which is a major item in the Regional Anti-corruption Programme for Africa, developed by the UNECA, in collaboration with the AU-ABC.

The Regional Anti-corruption Program for Africa aims at up scaling the fight against corruption on the continent with a view to ensuring a corruption free, better governed and economically prosperous African continent.

As you are well aware, corruption negatively affects all segments and groups in society, particularly the youth, who constitute the majority in many African countries. This essay competition is therefore intended to serve two main purposes: firstly, to establish the level of awareness, among African youths of the manifestations and impact of corruption; and secondly, provide a platform for African youths to present their perspectives on the causes, manifestations and impact of corruption and corrupt practices.

This year’s theme is “Fighting Corruption in Africa: A youth Perspective” If you have a story or an experience to share relating to this theme, this is a wonderful opening for you – make your submission and let your voice count.

The authors of the best three essays will be flown to the host city for the 2012 International Anti-corruption Week, to directly take part in the festivities. More significantly, the five leading authors will participate in a final competition, during which they will make oral presentations (of their essays) to a panel of judges, who will select the three top winners who will then receive special awards from African dignitaries and officials from the two convening institutions.

Eligibility Criteria:

-       Applicants must reside in an African country
-       Applicants must be currently attending secondary or high-school
-       Essays must be between 4-7 pages long (single line spacing)
-       Submissions must be the unaided work of applicants
-       Submissions should be either in English or French
-       Applicants must be willing and fit to travel

To submit an entry:

Email your essay with your name, age, school, country of origin, and contact information (email address, telephone number) to: John I Gbodi (e-mail: Gbodij@africa-union.org) and copy Francis Ikome (e-mail: fikome@uneca.org.

The deadline for submission is: 15^th August 2012­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­____________________

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA		African Union ADVisory board on corruption

                                                                                  
Concours d’ Essai de Jeunes sur  la Lutte contre la Corruption:
“La Lutte contre la corruption en Afrique: La Perspective des Jeunes”

Etes-vous jeune Africain concerné par la corruption sur le continent?
Avez-vous personnellement ou un proche de vous , été une fois victime d’un acte de corruption?
Pensez-vous que votre futur est de quelque façon menacée par des actes de corruption?
Voudriez-vous que votre voix soit entendue sur le problème de la corruption?
Avez-vous de surcroît la passion d’écrire?

Alors, vous devriez sérieusement envisager de participer au Concours d’Essai de Jeunes sur la lutte contre la corruption, organisée cette année, par le Département de la Gouvernance et l’Administration Publique (DGAP) de la Commission Economique des Nations Unies pour l”Afrique (CEA) et le Secrétariat du Conseil Consultatif de l’Union Africaine sur la Corruption(CCUAC). Ce concours s’inscrit dans le cadre de la commémoration annuelle de la Semaine Internationale de Lutte contre la Corruption, qui constitue une activité majeure du Programme Régional de Lutte contre la Corruption, développé par la CEA en collaboration avec le CCUAC.

L’objectif du Programme Régional de Lutte contre la Corruption est d’accélérer la lutte contre la corruption sur le continent aux fins de bâtir une Afrique épargnée de corruption, une Afrique mieux gouvernée et une Afrique économiquement plus prospère.

Comme vous le saviez certainement, la corruption affecte négativement, plusieurs secteurs et groupes de la société, et plus particulièrement la jeunesse, qui constitue la majorité de la population dans plusieurs pays en Afrique. Ce concours d’Essai a donc pour but d’une part de s’enquérir du niveau de prise de conscience des jeunes sur l’existence et les conséquences  de la corruption et d’autre part, de fournir une plate-forme aux jeunes aux fins de présenter leurs perspectives  quant aux causes, manifestations et conséquences de la corruption et de ses pratiques.

Le Thème choisi pour l’Essai cette année, est: “La Lutte contre la Corruption en Afrique: La Perspective  des Jeunes”. Si vous avez une histoire ou une expérience sur ce thème et que vous voudriez partager avec les autres, voici alors une occasion propice. Faites votre contribution et faites entendre votre voix.

Les auteurs des trois (3) meilleurs essais feront le voyage en avion sur la capitale Africaine qui a été choisie pour la commémoration,  cette année 2012,  de la Semaine Internationale de Lutte contre la Corruption, pour y participer. Auparavant,  les auteurs des cinq (5) meilleurs essais, participeront ā une compétition finale, oū ils seraient priés de faire une présentation orale de leurs textes, devant un jury qui sélectionnera les trois meilleurs, qui recevront ensuite divers prix de la main de hauts dignitaires Africains membres des deux organes organisateurs.

Critères de selection:

• Les participants doivent résider sur le continent Africain;
• Les participants doivent être inscrits au premier degré du Collège (entre les classes de sixième et troisième);
• Les essais doivent être entre 4 et 7 pages (espace d’une ligne simple);
• Les textes proposés doivent être écrits de façon indépendante (par leurs auteurs);
• Les textes doivent être écrits en Anglais ou en Français;
• Les participants doivent vouloir et pouvoir voyager.

Textes ā envoyer avec noms, prénoms, âge, adresse de l’école, pays d’origine et contact par E-mail (courriel) ā:

Mr John I. Gbodi: Gbodij@africa-union.org et Mr Francis Ikome: fikome@uneca.org

Le dernier délai pour l’envoi du texte est fixé au: 15 August 2012.

AU-ABC met on her Report to AU Summit

Graft costing Africa dearly

By Lusekelo Philemon

Comments

AU-ABC chairman Dr Edward Hoseah

The African Union Advisory Board on Anti-corruption (AU-ABC) has expressed dismay over the continuing “rampant corruption” in the continent, blaming some leaders for abusing their offices and condoning the practice.

AU-ABC chairman Dr Edward Hoseah made the remarks here yesterday when addressing the Board’s members who are in Arusha to prepare the annual report to be presented at the AU summit scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia next month.

Dr Hoseah said Africa has been losing billions of dollars through corruption annually, revealing: “On yearly basis Africa loses more than USD148 billion due to the practice, and perpetuators of corruption are taking the money from the continent to banks based in the developed world.”

Citing the African Development Bank (AfDB) recent report, Dr Hosea said: “It is estimated that 50 per cent of tax revenue and USD30 billion in aid for Africa ended up in corruption. Today, the scenario has not changed as some African leaders have become “thieves in government houses, while petty corruption continues to ravage the continent.”

The high-ranking official of the Africa’s anti-corruption watchdog explained that there were mechanisms, which are in place to track the money from the banks in Switzerland and other countries and some of it be brought to Africa, the continent whose millions of its people are languishing in poverty.

“Despite the efforts taken by African governments and international organisations to scale down the magnitude of the problem, corruption remains a challenge that thwarts socio-economic development in the region,” he said, adding: “It is time for the continent’s strategic collaboration with all relevant stakeholders in addressing corruption, which has reached an unbearable proportion in many African countries.”

He noted that working in isolation will not eliminate the practice, stressing: “We need to work as one team” to end the menace in the continent, which is endowed with a wide-range of natural resources.”

Earlier, the UN Resident Coordinator, Alberic Kacou commended the AU efforts in fighting corruption through its various instruments and bodies including the African Court for Human Rights and the AU Convention for Preventing and Combating Corruption and related offences.

He stated that the fight against corruption is crucial to eradicating poverty, protecting Africa’s natural resources and ensuring sustainable development on the continent.

Kacou however said that despite all the efforts to arrest the situation, corruption remains a major obstacle to sustained economic growth, social progress and political development in Africa.

“The impact of corruption on the investment climate, poverty reduction, public service delivery and social and economic development is profound…corruption is a costly vice. And corruption affects poor more.

“If Africa is to wrestle the evil of corruption and succeed, we must address the problem in a holistic and comprehensive way, and not to lose sight of the big interests, big money and vested social forces profiteering from it,” he said.

The meeting which brought on board different expertise on anti-corruption and development partners is aimed at enriching members of the board in understanding contemporary dynamics of corrupt practices in Africa and chart ways of tackling the vice. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

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Terms of Reference

INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION WEEK,

DAKAR, SENEGAL, DECEMBER 5-9, 2011

Fight against Corruption and Strengthening Integrity in Africa for the New

Millennium: Challenges and Opportunities

African Union Advisory Board on Corruption

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I. Introduction and Justification

1. The United Nations Convention on Corruption was adopted by the General

Assembly resolution no. (58 / 4), of October 31, 2003. December 9th has been

declared International Day of Fight against Corruption by the Convention in

order to increase awareness on corruption.

2. The African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (The

Convention) was adopted by the Second Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the

Union in Maputo, Mozambique in July 2003. The African Union Convention on

Corruption is the only legally binding instrument on the continent, constituting

as such a powerful tool to strengthen mechanisms for integrity and combat

corruption within the Member States of the Union.

3. The provisions of both conventions reinforce each other even if the convention of

the African Union precedes that of the United Nations. In order to harmonize and

to create synergies in the implementation of these legal instruments, a

partnership between the global and regional levels, was necessary. In

accordance with Article 22 (5) of the African Union on Preventing and Combating

Corruption, the main mandate of the Board is to promote and encourage the

adoption of measures and actions by State Parties to prevent, detect, punish and

eradicate corruption and related offences in Africa as well as to follow-up on the

application of those measures. In this context, the African Union Advisory Board

on Corruption and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa decided

to establish their collaboration to commemorate the International Day against

corruption, the 9

4. In order to complete its mandate, in accordance with Article 22 (5) of the

Convention and implement the Strategic Objectives, as outlined in its five year

strategic plan (2011-2015)

Council, at its Eighth Ordinary Session- held from May 16-20, 2011 at the African

Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia- has decided to hold

its next regular session from December 5-8, 2011, and celebrate the International

Day of fight against Corruption on December 9, 2011 in Dakar, Senegal.

th of December of each year."to increase the visibility of the Council "the

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC

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II. Activities and Objectives

The International Week of fight against corruption will have two activities:

1) The Tenth Ordinary Session of the Advisory Board will be held from 5 to 8

December 2011 (This is a statutory meeting, so restricted);

2) The Commemoration of the International Day against corruption on December 9,

2011. We will proceed this way:



African Union Commissioner in charge of Political Affairs, the representative

of the Government of the Republic of Senegal, and the United Nations

Resident Representative;

An official opening ceremony by the President of the Advisory Council, the



in Africa for the New Millennium: Challenges & Opportunities"

Roundtable on the theme "Fight against Corruption and Enhancing Integrity;



Press Conference



It will consist of exhibition and distribution of documents among other products

by the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption, ECA and AGI. Sweaters and

caps with slogans against corruption will also be distributed to participants.

The main objective of these events is to increase public knowledge, also to initiate

a dialogue between researchers, policy makers and practitioners in the field of

fight against corruption and to enhance integrity mechanisms at the continental

level. These activities will provide an opportunity to review issues related to the

fight against corruption and the enhancement of integrity in the light of past

experience, good knowledge acquired and the methods to make innovations for

the future in order to design issues more constructively.

This meeting occurs at a particular moment, with regard to the project of African

integration, the establishment of the African Governance Architecture and the

debate on shared values currently in progress.

The specific objectives of the Week of fight against corruption are:

Exposition

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

recommendations for the fight against corruption on the continent;

Celebrate the International Day against corruption in order to update the



Nations Conventions in the fight against corruption and prevention of corruption

in order to eradicate it all over the African continent;

Raising the awareness of corruption in Africa and the role of the AU and United



offenses on the continent;

To facilitate a high-level dialogue in the fight against corruption and similar



Increase the visibility of the Board and its work;



Collaborate with other stakeholders in the fight against corruption;

III. Participants:

- Advisory Board Members

- Members of the Advisory Board Secretariat

- Members of the ECA Department of Governance and Public Administration

- Representatives of the Government of the Republic of Senegal

- Representatives of international organizations accredited in Senegal

- Representatives of public and private sectors organizations

- Representatives of development partners

- Representatives of civil society

- Experts, academics, researchers

-

IV. Secretariat

1. Prof. Adolphe Lawson, Executive Secretary, Addis Ababa

2. Prof. Said Adejumobi, UNECA/GPAD

3. Dr. Francis Ikome, UNECA/GPAD

4. Mr. John Ikubaje, Senior Governance Officer, Addis Ababa

5. Mrs. Maty Ndiaye Cisse, Project Associate, AGI, Dakar

6. Ms. Kankemwa Zakariya, Admin Assistant, Addis Ababa

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V. Products:

The main products of the International Week of fight against corruption will be the

report of the Tenth Ordinary Session of the Advisory Council, the press conference and

the report of the expert panel and recommendations.

VI. Results:

1. Visibility of the Advisory Board in the continent;

2. Increased awareness of the AU Convention on the fight against corruption and the

work of the Advisory Board;

3. Increased collaboration between the Advisory Council, AGI and the ECA in the

implementation of their continental and global mandate in the fight against

corruption.