The Fish Rots from the Head: Gender and Corruption in Niger and Zimbabwe

Transparency International runs Advocacy and Legal Advice Centers (ALACs) which provide free and confidential legal advice to witnesses and victims of corruption as a way to empower individuals in the fight against corruption. ALACs also play a critical role in identifying corruption hotspots that demand reform or official action. Harnessing the powerful, real-life data gathered by ALACs on the consequences and mechanisms of corruption, Transparency International’s national chapters engage in strategic advocacy to bring about systemic change in public policy and practice.  However, a closer look at the data that the ALACs have gathered during the last decade shows that there is a significant inequality between the number of female and male complainants: women in many parts of the world are less likely to report an incident of corruption than men. This report analyzes gendered experiences of corruption in Niger and Zimbabwe for the purpose of designing strategies to increase women’s involvement in Transparency International (TI)’s Advocacy and Legal Aid Centers.