Corruption in humanitarian assistance: Risks, perceptions and prevention

Due to the pace at which aid agencies have to operate during a humanitarian emergency, the capacities of governments and agencies to assist affected people are often stretched. What is more, relief frequently has to be delivered amidst weak or absent rule of law, endemic corruption and immense needs. This makes humanitarian response particularly vulnerable to corruption.

How do staff in leading NGOs perceive risks of corruption in humanitarian operations? What strategies have they put in place to prevent and detect corruption? What can be learned from these strategies and what more can be done?

A forthcoming HPG Policy Brief, which draws on a larger report conducted in partnership with Transparency International and Tufts University's Feinstein International Center, explores these issues. It finds that aid agencies are aware of corruption risks and have developed strategies to prevent it. However, the humanitarian community has not yet addressed this problem jointly, shared information on these practices, or discussed ways to improve their effectiveness. The paper draws on a set of four cases studies (Afghanistan, Liberia, Northern Uganda and Sri Lanka) that look at how aid recipients are affected by corruption.

At this ODI event, Sarah Bailey will present the main findings of the paper and their implications for humanitarian action. Alex Jacobs, Director of MANGO, will respond with a focus on management and accountability, and a final discussant will provide a field prospective on the issues. The event will be chaired by a representative of Transparency International.