Transparency International: Fighting corruption to support global aid efforts
At illuminAid, we know that corruption can greatly hamper efforts to bring help to those in need. This can be as simple as a local official who demands a bribe before allowing trucks to pass or as deeply rooted and sinister as a major power structure appropriating and reselling the aid. That's why we applaud the work of Transparency International. They are an international, grassroots organization whose vision is to one day see a corruption-free world.
On Transparency.org, Transparency International's official website, you'll find the organization’s mission statement: "To stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society." Transparency International’s diligent efforts have helped expose numerous corruption cases and resulted in many significant prosecutions worldwide. For instance, their work helped cover the Petrobras scandal in Brazil (2014 - 2018), ultimately leading to the imprisonment of influential politicians and businesspeople, including the country’s former president, Lula da Silva. Additionally, one feature of the website is its annual Corruption Perception Index, which ranks the world's governments by their current levels of corruption. As part of our routine preparation for our workshops, we consistently refer to the Corruption Perception Index. Its insights are integral to our internal protocol.
As their name implies, Transparency International works tirelessly to expose corruption at every level and hold people accountable for their crimes. Their members are directly responsible for dozens of prosecutions worldwide. The organization has been in operation since 1993 and currently has chapters in 100 countries. Transparency International’s recognized by — and partners with — other international support groups like the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization.
The work Transparency International does directly impacts organizations like illuminAid and our partners. Our collective efforts can impact corrupt governments as we also promote transparency and accountability through our community-led development programs. We recognize that graft, profiteering and fraud are often rooted in poverty and lack of services. But we also know that groups like Transparency International are making a difference. Check out their website and consider how you might get involved in the fight for a corruption-free world.