The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies Conference concluded in Lilongwe, Malawi, from 22-24 June 2026, with renewed commitments by Member States and strategic partners to strengthen regional cooperation in combating corruption, illicit financial flows, and related financial crimes.
The Conference, convened jointly by the SADC Secretariat, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Government of the Republic of Malawi, brought together Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies, policymakers, prosecutors, financial intelligence experts, development partners, and civil society representatives from across the region.
The meeting focused on strengthening public procurement transparency and beneficial ownership disclosure, enhancing asset recovery and financial investigations, advancing whistleblower protection frameworks, and leveraging digital technologies and innovation to improve anti-corruption systems.
Speaking during the Conference Official Opening, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs, Dr. Judith Kateera, underscored the importance of collective action in safeguarding public resources and strengthening governance institutions across the region.
“Corruption continues to undermine development gains, weaken public trust, and divert resources away from essential services. Our collective response must therefore be coordinated, innovative, and firmly anchored in regional cooperation and accountability,” said Dr. Kateera.
Dr. Kateera further highlighted the critical role of anti-corruption agencies in promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity, while emphasising the need for strengthened collaboration among Member States to effectively address emerging threats, including cyber-enabled corruption and illicit financial flows.
Discussions throughout the Conference highlighted persistent challenges facing the region, including weaknesses in public procurement systems, limited asset recovery outcomes, fragmented whistleblower protection mechanisms, and uneven adoption of digital tools for investigations and case management. Participants also exchanged experiences and best practices on strengthening financial investigations, improving inter-agency cooperation, and enhancing the use of technology in corruption prevention and detection.
The Conference acknowledged progress made under the SADC Strategic Anti-Corruption Action Plan (2023-2027) and reiterated the region’s commitment to implementing the SADC Protocol Against Corruption, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
Among the key outcomes of the Conference were commitments to strengthen the operational independence and capacity of Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACAs); accelerate the transition to digital public procurement systems and beneficial ownership registries; enhance regional cooperation on financial investigations, asset tracing and recovery; and promote the use of artificial intelligence and data analytics to detect corruption risks in procurement processes. Participants further called for the enactment and strengthening of comprehensive whistleblower protection legislation, the establishment of secure reporting mechanisms, and greater public awareness to encourage reporting of corruption.
The Conference also recommended increased investment in digital governance infrastructure, cyber-investigation capabilities, and digital forensic tools to address emerging forms of corruption, including those involving virtual assets and cryptocurrencies. Member States further committed to strengthening anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism frameworks, improving mutual legal assistance and extradition mechanisms, and deepening collaboration through regional platforms such as the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network of Southern Africa (ARINSA).
To ensure accountability and sustained implementation, the Conference agreed to institutionalise the SADC Regional Anti-Corruption Effort Index (SACEI) as a regional monitoring mechanism, designate national focal points to track implementation of commitments, and report progress at future regional conferences. The Outcome Statement will also be submitted to the SADC Anti-Corruption Committee for formal endorsement and integration into future regional anti-corruption strategies.
The Conference concluded with a shared commitment by participants to advance practical reforms and coordinated regional actions aimed at preventing corruption, strengthening accountability, promoting transparency and good governance, and supporting sustainable development across the SADC region. Participants also expressed appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Malawi, UNODC, and cooperating partners for successfully hosting and supporting the Conference.
