The Conference on Combating Corruption took place from 29 May – 2 June 2023 in Luanda, Angola with the opening of the „High Level Segment”, where direction was provided by the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Marcy Cláudio Lopes. The High Level Segment is focused on the challenges of cooperation between SADC Member States. It brings together leaders of the Member States of the Community of Southern African Countries (SADC), top specialists from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), from partner organizations and countries. Mr. Nikola Naumovski, Senior Anti-Corruption Adviser of the RAI Secretariat, presented the work of the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative and participated in the panel: „Collective action in ensuring good governance: how the regional platform approach helps strengthening the prevention and fight against corruption”, with the representatives of UNODC, IACA, SADC, ASCE-LC Burkina Faso and CGU Brazil. RAI was recognized as a case of success of anti-corruption regional initiatives and has impacted the good governance within its Member States.

The first two days were dedicated to the Technical Segment. The event seeks to strengthen the fight against corruption, promote transparency, good governance and reinforce compliance with the established goals, within the scope of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). On the other hand, stems from the recognition of the urgent need to develop coordinated and cooperative actions within the scope of SADC to prevent and combat corruption, as a global challenge that negatively affects economic development, social justice and political stability. In the five day Conference, participants will discuss ways to share successful experiences and seek solutions to jointly face the fight against corruption. Among the main topics addressed, the following stand out:

• The challenges of regional cooperation in the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption;
• Current legal framework in SADC countries;
• Adoption of a SADC roadmap on priority areas for preventing and combating Corruption in the region.