# Sustainable Development Goals URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/sustainable-development-goals Type: Priority topic Published: 2020-06-01 Updated: 2020-07-08 --- ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/Screen-Shot-2020-06-01-at-13.43.47.png?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) ## What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? The [Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)](https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) are a set of global ambitions agreed on by all United Nations (UN) Member States in 2015 as part of the UN’s 2030 Agenda. These 17 goals guide national efforts to end poverty, reduce inequality, provide healthcare and education to all, tackle climate change, and much more. In sum, they should lead us to a better world! *Externally hosted content may include ads. These aren't endorsed by or reflect Transparency International's views.* ## Why is anti-corruption important for SDGs? Corruption’s discriminatory nature means that the poor and marginalised are disproportionately affected by the way corruption restricts economic growth, increases inequality and skews resource distribution. With effective anti-corruption mechanisms, societies around the world can reduce poverty and reap the rewards of healthy, safe and educated citizens. Crucially, fighting corruption can ensure the success of the “leave no-one behind” principle embedded at the heart of the 2030 Agenda. The good news is that within the Agenda 2030, specific targets related to anti-corruption are included under Goal 16: “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.” To live up to the commitments made in 2015, governments around the world must fully implement the targets under SDG 16. ## What are we doing about it? Transparency International developed a [tool](https://knowledgehub.transparency.org/product/corruption-and-the-sustainable-development-goals-parallel-reporting-tool-for-16-4-16-5-16-6-and-16-10) that allows civil society groups to monitor the progress (or lack thereof) made under SDG 16 at national level. We have used this tool in more than 40 countries to hold governments to account for their performance in tackling corruption. We therefore now possess a wealth of information on the state of anti-corruption efforts worldwide and not surprisingly, we note there are some major shortcomings in many jurisdictions with regards to political integrity and dirty money. Additionally, we have also pioneered an innovative approach to monitor corruption’s impact across the SDG framework. Based on a [resource guide](https://knowledgehub.transparency.org/product/monitoring-corruption-and-anti-corruption-in-the-sustainable-development-go) and an [e-learning course](https://vimeo.com/channels/corruptionandthesdgs) we have developed, TI is piloting national indicator dashboards to track, prioritise and tackle corruption risks in specific SDG sectors. This involves conducting sectoral risk assessments, identifying suitable anti-corruption measures for the most critical risks, and developing framework, progress and impact indicators to assess how corruption affects SDG implementation in areas such as poverty reduction (SDG 1), health (SDG 3) and education (SDG 4). Finally, we have noticed that little research has been done around the distortionary effect corruption can have on the mobilisation of funds needed to meet the SDG targets, especially in areas such as domestic revenue mobilisation and development finance. For this reason, we conduct research on these topics, and recently published a working paper on corruption in blended finance. ## Find out more about our work ### News [+ More](https://www.transparency.org/en/search/filter?priority=sustainable-development-goals&type=newsPost) ## [CPI 2025: Findings and insights](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2025-findings-insights-corruption) News • 10 February 2026 As corruption worsens globally, a decline in bold, accountable leadership is undermining reform. ## [CPI 2024: Highlights and insights](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2024-highlights-insights-corruption-climate-crisis) News • 11 February 2025 While some countries are making progress, corruption still affects billions of people worldwide and leaders are doing too little to stop it. ## [Integrity Pacts: A blueprint for safeguarding public investments in sustainable development](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/integrity-pacts-blueprint-for-safeguarding-public-investments-sustainable-development) News • 17 December 2024 Discover how Integrity Pacts foster transparency, accountability, and good governance in public procurement, driving sustainable development worldwide. ## [Time to pick up the pace in the fight against corruption to safeguard democracy](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/international-anti-corruption-day-strengthen-uncac-commitments-safeguard-democracy) News • 08 December 2023 With the gathering of world leaders for the 10th UNCAC Conference of States Parties, there’s no better time to take decisive action to stop corruption in its tracks. ### Publications [+ More](https://www.transparency.org/en/search/filter?priority=sustainable-development-goals&type=publication) ## [Annual Report 2025](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/annual-report-2025) Publication • 17 July 2026 In 2025, Transparency International pursued its mission to stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society. ## [Breaking the Silos: A Practical Guide to Fighting Corruption with a Human Rights-Based Approach](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/breaking-the-silos-a-practical-guide-to-fighting-corruption-with-a-human-rights-based-approach) Publication • 25 June 2026 This guide seeks to equip human rights defenders and anti-corruption advocates with practical tools to promote accountability for corrupt acts. ## [Corruption Perceptions Index 2025](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/corruption-perceptions-index-2025) Publication • 10 February 2026 The Corruption Perceptions Index scores 182 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, according to experts and business people. ## [Clean contracting for sustainable development](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/sustainable-development-public-procurement-and-corruption) Publication • 24 July 2025 Corruption in public procurement harms services and slows progress. This paper calls for clean contracting to boost integrity and effective spending. ### Blog posts [+ More](https://www.transparency.org/en/search/filter?priority=sustainable-development-goals&type=blogPost) [## Making multilateralism great again: What we learned in Sevilla Maíra Martini 09 July 2025](https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/making-multilateralism-great-again "Making multilateralism great again: What we learned in Sevilla") [## Funding a fairer future: The role of transparency in financing for development Transparency Int'l 14 January 2025](https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/funding-fairer-future-role-of-transparency-financing-for-development "Funding a fairer future: The role of transparency in financing for development") [## Why corruption must take centre stage at the Summit of the Future Transparency Int'l 17 September 2024](https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/corruption-must-take-centre-stage-summit-of-the-future "Why corruption must take centre stage at the Summit of the Future") [## Benefiting people and the planet: Why we must prioritise gender in anti-corruption and climate efforts Transparency Int'l 04 November 2022](https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/we-must-prioritise-gender-in-anti-corruption-and-climate-efforts-maldives-zambia-brazil "Benefiting people and the planet: Why we must prioritise gender in anti-corruption and climate efforts") ### Press releases [+ More](https://www.transparency.org/en/search/filter?priority=sustainable-development-goals&type=pressRelease) ## [Transparency International Welcomes UN Climate Registration Updates, Calls for Further Reform](https://www.transparency.org/en/press/transparency-international-welcomes-un-climate-change-secretariat-updates-to-registration-system-urges-stronger-reforms-ahead-of-cop30) Press • 16 September 2025 ## [COP30 talks at risk: Transparency International calls for global pledge to block fossil fuel influence](https://www.transparency.org/en/press/cop30-talks-at-risk-transparency-international-calls-for-global-pledge-to-block-fossil-fuel-influence) Press • 09 September 2025 ## [Transparency International welcomes progress on development finance agenda, urges strong implementation](https://www.transparency.org/en/press/transparency-international-welcomes-progress-on-development-finance-agenda-urges-strong-implementation) Press • 20 June 2025 ## [Summit of the Future: Robust anti-corruption measures critical to Pact's success](https://www.transparency.org/en/press/summit-of-the-future-robust-anti-corruption-measures-critical-to-pacts-success) Press • 24 September 2024 ## Explore all priorities - [Asset recovery and the theft of public money](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/asset-recovery-and-the-theft-of-public-money) - [Business integrity](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/business-and-corruption) - [Climate crisis](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/climate-crisis) - [Defence and security](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/defence-and-security) - [Dirty money](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/dirty-money) - [Extractive industries](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/extractive-industries) - [Foreign bribery enforcement](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/foreign-bribery-enforcement) - [Gender](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/gender-and-corruption) - [Grand corruption](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/grand-corruption) - [Health](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/health-and-corruption) - [Judiciary and law enforcement](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/judiciary-and-law-enforcement) - [Land corruption](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/land-corruption) - [Political integrity](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/political-integrity) - [Public procurement](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/public-procurement) - [Right to information](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/right-to-information) - [Sustainable Development Goals](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/sustainable-development-goals) - [Whistleblowing](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/whistleblowing) Asset recovery and the theft of public money Business integrity Climate crisis Defence and security Dirty money Extractive industries Foreign bribery enforcement Gender Grand corruption Health Judiciary and law enforcement Land corruption Political integrity Public procurement Right to information Sustainable Development Goals Whistleblowing