Anti-corruption progress in Georgia, Liberia, Rwanda

Query

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Query

Please summarise what the existing literature has to say about why Georgia, Liberia and Rwanda are perceived to have made more progress than most other low and lower middle income countries on tackling corruption. 

 Purpose

Several country offices have asked for a better understanding of how countries other than Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea have managed to make significant progress on tackling corruption. They are particularly interested in more recent examples from low and lower middle income countries.Content

1.       Anti-corruption progress in Georgia

2.       Anti-corruption progress in Liberia

3.       Anti-corruption in Rwanda

4.       References

Summary

Countries like Georgia, Liberia and Rwanda are largely perceived as having achieved remarkable progress in the fight against corruption over the last few years.

In the aftermath of the 2003 Rose Revolution, Georgia has been particularly successful in eradicating petty corruption in a very short period of time through several high profile anti-corruption campaigns, including the prosecution of senior corrupt officials, police reform, deregulation and the liberalisation of the business environment as well as public sector reform. 

The case of Liberia illustrates the pro-active – and somewhat debated - role the international community can play in promoting anti-corruption reform in a post-war setting.

In Rwanda, anti-corruption efforts have focused on strengthening the legal and institutional framework, improving government effectiveness, building a strong and competent public service, reforming public finance management systems, prosecuting corrupt officials at all levels of the public sector, etc. 

In spite of their apparent diversity, these three countries have benefited from certain common conditions that may have contributed to their success in fighting corruption, including a radical regime change or post conflict context which created a momentum for reform, a strong political will to eliminate corruption; and wide public support and demand for anti-corruption reforms.

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