INTRODUCTION
Corruption is a serious challenge that severely impacts domestic resource mobilisation, limiting the financial means available for development while impeding economic growth. Further to this, it threatens the integrity of markets and undermines fair competition. Corruption also erodes public trust, deepens inequality, and can contribute to conflict. The evolving complexity and forms of corruption can destabilise coordinated efforts by governments and undermine the global fight against corruption if left unattended. The establishment of the Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) in 2010 thus presented a significant development in G20 cooperation on this issue.
The ACWG’s work is guided by the St. Petersburg Strategic Framework of 2013, which provides a foundation for the ACWG’s Action Plans. The G20 Anti-Corruption Action Plans are periodically updated with fixed timeframes, identifying priorities for actions focused on practical and valuable contributions to international efforts to combat corruption and demonstrating the leadership and commitment of G20 countries. South Africa’s Presidency will be guided by the G20 ACWG Action Plan 2025-2027.
South Africa will use the opportunity presented by its Presidency of the G20 to advance the priorities of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, in particular, Aspiration 3: An Africa of Good Governance, Democracy, Respect for Human Rights, Justice, and the Rule of Law, which corresponds to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
In line with the theme of its Presidency and the G20 ACWG Action Plan 2025-2027, South Africa’s Presidency will focus on the following four key priorities:
- Strengthen the public sector by promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability
- Increase efficiency of asset recovery measures
- Enhance and mobilise the inclusive participation of the public sector, private sector, civil society, and academia to prevent and combat corruption
- Enhance whistle-blower protection mechanisms.
PRIORITY 1: STRENGTHEN THE PUBLIC SECTOR BY PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY, INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
DELIVERABLES
- Compendium of good practices in promoting a transparent, ethical, and accountable public sector.
- Ministerial declaration.
PRIORITY 2: INCREASE EFFICIENCY OF ASSET RECOVERY MEASURES
DELIVERABLES
- High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets.
- Follow-up report on impact of technical assistance support by G20 ACWG countries.
- Side event on Efficiency of Asset Recovery Measures.
PRIORITY 3: ENHANCE AND MOBILISE THE INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR, PRIVATE SECTOR, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND ACADEMIA TO PREVENT AND COMBAT CORRUPTION
DELIVERABLES
- A compendium of good practices on the role of multi-stakeholders in preventing and combatting corruption.
- Side event on the role of the public sector, private sector, civil society, and academia in preventing and combating corruption.
PRIORITY 4: ENHANCE WHISTLE-BLOWER PROTECTION MECHANISM
DELIVERABLES
- Accountability report with a focus on effective protection of whistle-blowers.
- Side event on effective whistle-blowers protection mechanisms.
