African anti-corruption commissions
- methodological issues

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Approach and the Challenges | The information gap | Methodological issues

Approach and the Challenges

This First Report is based on a systematic literature review, (the Final Report will contain a select bibliography), utilising an extensive database search for ACC-related material using ZETOC, ASSIA, British Library, Ebsco, IBIS, SSCI and Westlaw. All multilateral and donor agency and other relevant websites (including CMI, TI) have been consulted. All European donor agencies have been contacted for information concerning their support for and involvement with African ACCs.
The aim has been to access all available literature on;

• ACCs around the globe but especially African ACCs; their varying structures, approaches and practices
  
• Performance measurement and success criteria in corruption and economic crime
  
• Donor funding reports on ACCs
  
• Annual reports of ACCs and other official reports, including business plans.

The researchers have, frankly, been surprised by the volume, the sheer quantity of material that has needed to be assessed. Equally frankly, they have been disappointed by the quality and relevance of much of what has been assessed.

The Information Gap

We note that we are not alone in registering our disappointment in the currently available literature on ACCs in particular and on corruption in general. The Development Assistance Committee of the OECD recently observed that 'anti-corruption information is difficult to find. When it is found, most of the available information is descriptive. There is little synthesis or analytical work done and very little documented evaluative material'.

On ACCs specifically, a recent World Bank review observed that our present understanding of ACCs is so limited that 'no hard and fast conclusions' are possible. Its major recommendation identifies a need to improve the information and research base substantially as a prerequisite for launching a 'serious research effort...to address the issue of impact'.

We intend that our Final Report will contribute to closing the gap in the information and research base and help to address the question of impact.

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Methodological Issues

Those who seek the Holy Grail of 'what works' in reducing corruption encounter some intractable methodological problems:

1. how to measure the incidence and seriousness of corruption;
   
2. how to monitor and assess changes in the incidence and seriousness of corruption;
   
3. how to assign credit for any reduction in the incidence and seriousness of corruption to any specific factor or combination of factors.

Present knowledge of corruption in general, and ACCs in particular, suggests that we are some way short of being able to offer robust or precise answers to these problems.

But this is not an acceptable reason for abandoning the effort. Given the dynamic character of ACCs, the variety of institutional and political contexts and the contingencies of circumstance, it is proper to be cautious about what can be achieved. This research project is, however, one step toward a more evidence based approach to the problems of assessing the impact of ACCs on corruption.

But ACCs are never the only means used to combat corruption and we share the prevalent view that corruption reduction requires a holistic approach and the DAC report's conclusion that 'it is increasingly understood that sustainable reductions in corruption will only come from comprehensive approaches that attack a range of key governance reforms. It is possible to support specifically focused activities but they should be part of this more comprehensive approach'.

The more comprehensive the anti-corruption strategy, the more difficult it becomes to isolate the impact made by any one element of the strategy such as an ACC. But the first step in any journey requires both a sense of direction and place. You need to know where you are before you can plan a route to the next point of the journey and the next part of this report considers where we are in the study of ACCs.