Anticorruption conventions provide a legal basis for demanding legislative change to combat corruption. Regional efforts have focused primarily on the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Work in Africa has also focused on the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.

The AU Convention was adopted by African Heads of State and Government in Maputo, Mozambique in July 2003 and entered into force in August 2006. It provides a solid foundation for co-operation and collaboration among national governments, sub-regional organisations and institutions, civil society organisations, journalists and others. The Convention is expected also to assist African leaders in living up to their promises of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). TI's participation made an important contribution to the drafting and finalisation of the Convention. As of September 2008 the document has been signed by 43 counties; however, only 27 have so far ratified the document.

TI continues to lobby for further ratifications among signatory states. At the same time, TI has started to monitor the implementation of the convention. TI developed the brochure Understanding the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and related Offences (available in English and French) as an advocacy tool for National Chapters and other anti-corruption activists across Africa. Another TI publication, titled Anti-Corruption Conventions in Africa: What Civil Society Can Do to Make Them Work (available in English and French) focuses on accounts of civil society activity on multiple anti-corruption conventions.

Further information about the AU Convention, its obligations and provisions including the full text can be found here. To learn more about the implementation of anti-corruption conventions in Africa please read the relevant TI In-Focus Towards effective anti-corruption tools in Africa that includes detailed implementation report of one Middle-Eastern country (Algeria) and eight African countries (Burundi, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo and Uganda).

Two further instruments in the fight against corruption in Africa are the Southern Africa Development Community Protocol against Corruption (SADC Protocol) and the Economic Community of West African States Protocol on the Fight against Corruption (ECOWAS Protocol). The SADC Protocol provides both preventive and enforcement mechanisms and demonstrates a degree of political will in the region to combat corruption. It was adopted in 2001 and became operational in July 2005, 30 days after its ratification by two thirds of the SADC membership. For details about the protocol and its full text please visit the TI global priorities - conventions section. The ECOWAS Protocol on the Fight against Corruption of the Economic Community of West African States was adopted with the objective of strengthening effective mechanisms to prevent, suppress and eradicate corruption in each of the States parties through cooperation between the States parties. It was signed on 21 December 2001 and has not yet entered into force. Further details and the convention text can be found here.

The only applicable international anti-corruption instrument in the MENA region is the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Many countries including Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, United Arab Emirates and Yemen have ratified the convention. Yet, the actual process of putting commitments into practice, and introducing and adapting laws to create a legal foundation for an effective fight against corruption has not moved as quickly. For further details about the implementation of the UNCAC in the MENA region, a list of signed/ratified countries, country reports and National Chapter activities to promote national implementation of the UN Convention in their countries please read the TI In-focus.