ANTI-CORRUPTION TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP

The Anti-Corruption thematic area seeks to enhance Open Contracting and Beneficial Ownership transparency to reduce opportunities for procurement malpractice. The approach to achieving this lies in institutionalizing and operationalizing beneficial ownership transparency for all legal entities in Malawi engaged in public procurement.

Specific challenges to be addressed within this thematic area include.

a) Limited public oversight due to lack of incorporation of open contracting principles.

b) Non-disclosure of beneficial owners by business entities.

c) The need to strengthen mechanisms for reporting corrupt practices.

The interventions put forward to address the challenges outlined above are as follows.

a) Institutionalize and operationalize the Companies Regulations for beneficial ownership transparency for all legal entities in Malawi engaged in public procurement.

b) Issue a public notices on compliance requirements for all registered companies to submit a list of beneficiaries.

c) Assess and verify reporting of registered companies in compliance to Companies Regulations.

d) Bi-annual publication of the list of compliant companies.

e) Legislative mapping of legal provisions supporting transparency of beneficial ownership, public procurement policies, regulations and processes, access to information, and corrupt practices for developing public service announcement communication materials.

f) Review of whistle-blowing and corrupt practices reporting and response mechanisms available

g) Facilitate the development and revision of Public Procurement Guidelines,