Anti-corruption and Accountability


Building on the results achieved in the first phase, Switzerland will contribute to reduce corruption in Mozambique by (1) improving and strengthening legal institutions and the judicial framework (2) strengthening anticorruption institutions to effectively tackle corruption, economic crime and the recovery, management of stolen assets and (3) supporting civil society organisations at national and local level in the fight against corruption. 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Mozambique
Governance
nothemedefined
Anti-corruption organisations
Public sector policy
Legal and judicial development
01.04.2024 - 31.12.2027
CHF  8’900’000
Background According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, Mozambique ranks 142nd (out of 180) in 2023 compared to 111th in 2015. This represents a fall of 30 places in the ranking compared to 2015. Corruption is a cause of poverty and a constraint to successful poverty reduction.
With increased investment related to the exploitation of natural resources in northern Mozambique, general elections in 2024 and increased security spending due to the conflict in northern Mozambique, the risk of corruption is likely to increase as most of these funds are difficult to scrutinise.
Despite a challenging political and economic context, Swiss support has contributed to considerable improvements of the legal and institutional framework to fight corruption during phase one, through the establishment and operation of the Asset Recovery Office (ARO). The succesfull collaboration of Switzerland with the government is a solid foundation to continue putting the legal and institutional framework into practice building on a unique and trusted relationship between Switzerland and its partners within government and civil society.
Objectives Reduce the political, economic and social costs of corruption on development for Mozambique by creating an environment that deters engagement in corrupt practices by public servants, office holders, private companies and citizens.
Target groups

Public Ministry 
Through the International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR): The Asset Recovery Office, Central Office for Combating Organised and Transnational Crime, the Specialised Criminal Department, the Central Gabinet for the fight against Corruption, and the National Criminal Investigation Service.

Asset Management Institutions
Through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime: the Ministry of Economy and Finance and its Asset Management Office

Civil Society 
Through the Center for Public Integrity (CIP): Civil society organizations or coalitions of organizations at local, national and international level using CIPs work.

Medium-term outcomes

Outcome 1: Public Ministry:
Mozambican institutions responsible for combating corruption, money laundering and asset recovery use methods and techniques to combat corruption, investigate and prosecute financial crimes and recover stolen assets effectively.

Outcome 2: Asset management:
Mozambican asset management institutions use effective and transparent methods to preserve, manage and dispose of recovered assets.

Outcome 3: Civil society:
A critical mass of citizens and civil society organisations influence the public and private sectors towards greater transparency and integrity in the management of public affairs taking gender aspects into consideration.

Outcome 4: Improved legal and institutional framework:
Improved effectiveness of the legal framework and institutional structure in the fight against corruption, financial crime and asset recovery.

Results

Expected results:  

  • Improved capacity of judicial institutions in terms of combating corruption, money laundering, criminal investigation and asset recovery.
  • Improved technical and institutional capacity of the asset management office.
  • Periodic analyses and reports on irregularities in the management of public funds including the climate related funds and the impact of corruption on gender equality.
  • Training and sensitisation of citizens and civil society at local level on preventing and combating sectorial corruption.
  • Legislation on civil confiscation approved, regulated and put into practice.


Results from previous phases:  

  • Creation and operationnalisation of the Asset Recovery and Management Offices, CHF 20 mio. recovered
  • Increased capacity of law enforcement agencies to apply the new Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and anti-money laundering legislation.
  • Strengthened institutional capacity to investigate and prosecute cases of corruption and financial crime and to recover assets from illicit activities: 1’150 professionals trained.
  • Improved cooperation and trust between civil society organisations and judicial institutions involved in preventing and combating corruption.
  • Increased public awareness on the dimensions and the impact of corruption in Mozambique.
  • Legislation on asset recovery and management, and criminal code & procedures approved by the Governmemt and Parliament.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Private sector
Foreign state institution
Swiss Academic and Research Institution
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • Central State of South East
  • Other Swiss academic and research institutions
  • Other UN Organisation
  • Foreign private sector South/East


Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    8’900’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    1’680’105 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   10’770’000
Project phases Phase 2 01.04.2024 - 31.12.2027   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.07.2018 - 31.03.2024   (Completed)