The Report of the Commission for Africa (CFA, 2005) diagnosed poor governance as the single most significant developmental challenge besetting the region. ‘Without progress in governance,’ it stressed, ‘all other reforms will have limited impact.’ The report also identified corruption as a central concern: the widespread prevalence of corruption undermines efforts to improve governance, and yet improved governance is essential to reduce the scope for corruption to begin with.
How can African countries break away from this vicious circle?

An Opinion written for a high level policy forum bringing together senior DFID and NGO staff, MPs, private sector representatives, Africanists, development academics, and key journalists for discussion on the future of Africa in the run-up to the G8 meeting in Germany (6-8 June). The Forum was held on May 2nd, 2007 in London.