Fighting Corruption with Theater, TV and Radio

Today, December 1^st Transparency International (TI) published its Corruption Perception Index (CPI). Since 1995 the CPI scores and ranks countries from all around the world according to perceptions of the extent of corruption in the public sector. TI argues that the index shows a clear link between high levels of corruption and the weak political and administrative institutions that result from prolonged periods of conflict. New Zealand is perceived as the least corrupt and Somalia the most.

SFCG’s programs approach corruption by contributing to an open and transparent environment. We create platforms where people can access unbiased information, to better protect themselves from manipulation and where citizens can address their authorities directly and hold them accountable. The TV soap opera The Team airs in several countries, and often addresses issues of corruption. Another example can be found in Rwanda, where SFCG has organized participatory theaters in the countryside. The production had actors portray four common conflicts and then allowed the audience members to come on stage, where they offered ideas on how local officials could solve problems between neighbors and corruption. In Cote d’Ivoire interactive theater performances triggered discussions on corruption and officials emphasized the importance of impartiality especially when mediating community conflicts. Another powerful example is the actions youth take in Burundi, a country ranked among the most corrupt. Burundian youth are frequently manipulated into violence by politicians, who dangle promises of employment before them. SFCG has a long working record in Burundi and recently organized a music festival for youth. Young musicians from the provinces gathered in the capital and contributed to the festival’s key theme: “together we are strong”. Young people need to be excited by peace, to get the same visceral reaction they get when pulled together for more nefarious actions. Music is one of the most effective ways to build that visceral reaction. In Sri Lanka, projects engage young people in connecting the more isolated Tamil plantation communities with wider Sri Lankan society. In making their voices heard, young people can help to undermine the pervasive barriers of language, culture and corrupt politics. The radio programs SFCG is producing, seek to create awareness about civic participation and empower youth living on the plantations to become agents of positive social change by promoting community responsibility and facilitating service delivery without corruption.

Corruption and conflict are often intrinsically linked and SFCG contributes to fighting corruption by developing local capacities to address corruption and empowering society in order to overcome its challenges.

For 2011 TI has used 17 different surveys and other assessment tools to measure the perception of corruption in 183 countries. According to TI the perceptions data has been shown to correlate very well with other indicators that use a more evidence based approach such as the corruption barometer. Furthermore, the CPI is especially useful in comparing perceived corruption in different countries and regions of the world.

Ranking of countries SFCG works in (higher numbers indicate higher perception of corruption):

USA (24)

Israel (36)

Rwanda (49)

Macedonia (69)

Tunisia (73)

Morocco (80)

Sri Lanka (86)

Liberia (91)

Indonesia and Madagascar (100)

Kosovo (112)

Niger, Lebanon and Pakistan, (134)

Nigeria and Timor-Leste (143)

Ukraine (152)

Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Guinea (154)

Nepal (154)

Angola and DRC (168)

Burundi (172)

Sudan (177)