# Corruption in Urban Planning: A Guide for Professional and Trainee Planners URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/corruption-in-urban-planning-a-guide-for-professional-and-trainee-planners Type: Publication or report Published: 2023-04-06 Updated: 2025-04-29 --- 06 April 2023 Urban planners are entrusted with the power to make critically important, long-term decisions that determine the future development of cities and towns around the world. The decisions they take shape the urban environment and directly affect the lives and livelihoods of entire communities. Unfortunately, planning systems are particularly prone to corruption. With a focus on sub-Saharan Africa, this guide has been created to equip prospective and established urban planning professionals - from the public, private and civic sectors - with the necessary knowledge, tools and tactics to recognise and push back against corrupt practices in their day-to-day work, and within the planning and urban development sector more generally. ### Related publications ## [Monitoring political finance: Compendium of citizen initiatives and good practices](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/monitoring-political-finance-compendium-of-citizen-initiatives-and-good-practices) Publication • 18 August 2026 This compendium aims to provide ideas for stakeholders interested in monitoring political finance. It presents seven monitoring and disclosure solutions from around the world,… ## [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. ## [Opacity in Real Estate Ownership Index: Assessing data transparency and anti-money laundering rules in global markets](https://www.transparency.org/en/publications/opacity-in-real-estate-ownership-index-2025) Publication • 26 March 2025 The Opacity in Real Estate Ownership (OREO) Index reveals gaps that make global property markets vulnerable to corrupt money flows. ## Priorities - [Land corruption](https://www.transparency.org/en/our-priorities/land-corruption) ## Countries - [Angola](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/angola) - [Benin](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/benin) - [Botswana](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/botswana) - [Burkina Faso](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/burkina-faso) - [Burundi](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/burundi) - [Cameroon](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/cameroon) - [Cape Verde](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/cape-verde) - [Central African Republic](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/central-african-republic) - [Chad](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/chad) - [Comoros](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/comoros) - [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/democratic-republic-of-the-congo) - [Côte d’Ivoire](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/c%C3%B4te-divoire) - [Djibouti](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/djibouti) - [Equatorial Guinea](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/equatorial-guinea) - [Eritrea](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/eritrea) - [Ethiopia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/ethiopia) - [Gabon](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/gabon) - [Gambia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/gambia) - [Ghana](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/ghana) - [Guinea](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/guinea) - [Kenya](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/kenya) - [Lesotho](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/lesotho) - [Liberia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/liberia) - [Malawi](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/malawi) - [Mali](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/mali) - [Mauritania](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/mauritania) - [Mauritius](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/mauritius) - [Mozambique](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/mozambique) - [Nigeria](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/nigeria) - [Niger](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/niger) - [Namibia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/namibia) - [Rwanda](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/rwanda) - [Réunion](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/r%C3%A9union) - [Senegal](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/senegal) - [Seychelles](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/seychelles) - [Swaziland](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/swaziland) - [Sudan](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/sudan) - [Somalia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/somalia) - [Sierra Leone](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/sierra-leone) - [South Africa](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/south-africa) - [Sao Tome and Principe](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/sao-tome-and-principe) - [Togo](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/togo) - [Tanzania](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/tanzania) - [Uganda](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/uganda) - [Western Sahara](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/western-sahara) - [Zambia](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/zambia) - [Zimbabwe](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/zimbabwe) ## Projects - [Land corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa](https://www.transparency.org/en/projects/land-corruption-sub-saharan-africa) ![](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/Corruption-in-urban-planning.png?auto=compress&fit=crop&fm=webp&w=1200) [Download](https://images.transparencycdn.org/images/2023_Report_CorruptionInUrbanPlanning_English.pdf)