History of TI’s ALACs global spread/ALACs /other thematic issues/global priorities

History of TI’s Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres’ global spread

The first Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres were founded in 2003, on a pilot basis, by three TI national chapters in Eastern Europe – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Romania. Surpassing early expectations, the ALAC model has since taken off and is one of the most dynamic elements of the global TI movement. There are now over 20 ALACs in over a dozen different countries, the majority still in Eastern Europe.

ALACs have handled tens of thousands of calls, visits and letters from citizens. The core purpose of the ALACs is to inform citizens about their legal rights and equip them to take action on cases of corruption that they have witnessed or been victim of. This can involve legal action, filing complaints with responsible anti-corruption or other agencies, ‘blowing the whistle’ within institutions or bringing media attention to the issue.

In Europe, where anti-corruption policies have been a key governance condition for accession to the European Union, ALACs are seen as constructively mobilising both direct citizen action, as well as broader civic participation through the advocacy of the ALACs.

In the Caucusus, Azerbaijan features one of the most dynamic ALAC operations with five regional ALACs reaching out beyond the capital Baku.

In Asia, TI Bangladesh operates mobile or so-called ‘satellite’ advice and information desks that empower citizens across the country. In Sri Lanka a hot-line focused on abuses in the education sector is offering citizens an opportunity to actively engage in the fight against corruption.

Satellite Advice and Information Desk in front of a hospital in Gazipur, Bangladesh. Photo: Angela Keller-Herzog

In Africa, Kenyan and Zambian ALACs were launched in 2007.

In the Americas, Guatemalan and Haitian ALACs have been ramping up throughout early 2008.

Watch promotional videos of ALAC in Guatemala

TI has learned – and continues to learn – valuable lessons about how the citizen-based ALAC approach can be adapted to these very different national environments.

The Secretariat of Transparency International provides support for a global community of practice for the TI ALACs run by its many chapters and has bold plans for rolling out this successful model for citizen mobilisation against corruption in 2008 and beyond.