# Barriers to Basics: Corruption and discrimination in education and health services URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/barriers-to-basics-corruption-discrimination-in-education-health-services Type: Publication or report Published: 2025-04-02 Updated: 2025-07-07 --- 02 April 2025 Corruption and discrimination are global threats that manifest in old and new forms across virtually all levels of society, and deny people access to essential services that they depend on for their future and wellbeing. However, the linkages between these phenomena remain underexplored. Transparency International and the Equal Rights Trust have engaged groups exposed to discrimination in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Madagascar, Rwanda and Zimbabwe to better understand how corruption and discrimination can impact a person’s access to quality education and health care services. This report – *Barriers to Basics* – presents their stories, experiences and insights, and speaks to the urgent need for action. Individuals must be protected against the harms of corruption and discrimination. Barriers to basic services must be dismantled. Everyone should have their basic needs met. ### Related publications ## [Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight: Key Findings and Recommendations from Multi-Country Assessments](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/strengthening-parliamentary-oversight) Publication • 30 October 2023 An assessment of the strength of oversight mandate, practice and impact of parliaments in ten countries. ## [Convention Evasion: Madagascar's plan to pull rosewood stockpiles out of CITES](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/convention-evasion-madagascar-pull-rosewood-stockpiles-out-of-cites) Publication • 07 March 2022 Environmental Investigation Agency and Transparency International call for transparent and accountable approaches to management of the Madagascar rosewood stockpiles. ## [Defying Exclusion: Stories and Insights on the Links between Discrimination and Corruption](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/defying-exclusion-corruption-discrimination) Publication • 06 July 2021 Corruption and discrimination are each major obstacles to the achievement of sustainable and inclusive development. This report identifies and explores the direct, causal… ## [Corruption fighters' toolkit: civil society experiences and emerging strategies](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/corruption-fighters-toolkit-civil-society-experiences-and-emerging-strategi) Publication • 15 August 2002 ## Countries - [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/democratic-republic-of-the-congo) - [Ghana](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/ghana) - [Madagascar](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/madagascar) - [Rwanda](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/rwanda) - [Zimbabwe](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/zimbabwe) ## Regions - [Sub-Saharan Africa](https://www.transparency.org/en/region/sub-saharan-africa) ## Projects - [All 4 inclusive service delivery Africa (ISDA)](https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/inclusive-service-delivery-africa) ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/Barries-to-Basics-Report-IMG.PNG?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) [Download](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2025_Report_BarriersToBasics.pdf)