Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), herein referred as the ‘Bureau’, in joint collaboration with National Statistical Office (NSO) implemented the 2017-2018 Integrity survey1 under pilot phase. The Integrity survey2 is a concept hinged on measuring integrity of specific institutions under scrutiny. Transparency International (2009) defines integrity as the behaviours and actions consistent with a set of moral or ethical principles and standards, embraced by individuals as well as institutions that create a barrier to corruption. As for this study, integrity is defined as stakeholders’ perceptions and experiences about the degree to which public officials distance themselves from corruption and bribery (Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission, 2007).
The Pilot Phase survey targeted two public institutions namely: Immigration and Citizenship Services (ICS) and Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS).
Through this report, ICS and DRTSS should be able to understand their level of integrity from the spectrum of perceived and potential integrity. These Departments are expected to work towards improving and enhancing their services through systematic correction and other engagements to embrace a meaningful change.
The report is also expected to provide the Bureau3 and the Government with reliable information on the conditions of service delivery and the prevalence of corruption in the country, as it is based on the first-hand experience of corruption and fraud.
The Bureau would like to adopt the Integrity survey-Integrity Assessment- by conducting such surveys every two years in more than 10 selected Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) using either donor funds or Malawi Government - Other Recurrent Transaction (ORT) funds, in partnership with National Statistical Office. This will continually measure integrity and evaluate the anti-corruption measures initiated by respective ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) based on survey findings.
The Government of the Republic of Malawi under ORT solely funded this Pilot Integrity survey. The survey was coordinated by Corruption Prevention Department of the Bureau with technical support from National Statistical Office. Other departments that facilitated the successful implementation of the survey through collaboration are ICS and DRTSS.