Case study

The people beating corrupt practices around the world

From paying the right tax to keeping an eye on cowboy constructors - UK aid is helping people power to beat corruption.

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The Anti-Corruption Summit is taking place in London on 12 May 2016.

NIGERIA: Technology to make tax collection fair

Picture: Adam Smith International

Picture: Adam Smith International

바카라 사이트œWe call it the No Cheating Machine!바카라 사이트

Bridget Iyaji Odeh is a market trader in Cross River State, Nigeria. She바카라 사이트™s referring to an innovative new use of technology to stop corruption by local tax collectors.

Traders like Bridget used to pay in cash only and receive a hand written receipt. This made it easy for tax officials to keep a lot of what they collected off the books 바카라 사이트“ and that led to traders being overcharged and money going missing.

The new technology 바카라 사이트“ introduced with the help of UK aid and Adam Smith International 바카라 사이트“ re-purposes the bank card readers you would usually find in a shop.

The hand-held machines let traders pay by card or cash and the transaction is automatically logged centrally and a receipt printed as proof 바카라 사이트“ meaning there바카라 사이트™s no chance for the collectors to skim some hidden cash off the top.

Thanks to the project, over 20 local governments in Nigeria have adopted the new system. By June 2015, a total of Β£1.9 million had been saved by traders 바카라 사이트“ many of them women 바카라 사이트“ as a result of reduced bribery.

For Bridget and her fellow traders, it바카라 사이트™s made a big difference: now they pay 20 Naira in tax each week 바카라 사이트“ instead of up to 100 Naira a day. And it바카라 사이트™s had a wider knock-on effect: the market is busier now and, because they바카라 사이트™re paying the set flat rate rather than per item, they feel free to display all their goods without fear of the tax collector exploiting them.

Tax is just one arena where UK aid is helping Nigeria to beat unfair practices. With British backing, Nigeria is cracking down on corruption - recovering $6.2 billion of cash over the last 4 years and charging 338 people with corruption offences.

BANGLADESH: Widows win back their rights

Picture: DFID

Picture: DFID

바카라 사이트œI feel like I have got hope at the end of my life.바카라 사이트

Shahida Beowa is looking forward again, after winning a 10 year battle to claim the welfare that was rightfully hers.

Shahida lives in north-east Bangladesh, and had lost both her husband and her land. She was surviving off just one meal a day.

As an elderly widow with no home, she knew she was entitled to a government allowance to help her through 바카라 사이트“ but she was told by local officials that her name wasn바카라 사이트™t on the list.

That바카라 사이트™s when she contacted her community forum. The group 바카라 사이트“ backed by UK aid 바카라 사이트“ helps poor women to fight for their rights from local government, raises awareness and demands accountability.

They pressed the authorities into action. On investigation, it was revealed that Shahida바카라 사이트™s welfare card had actually been issued a decade earlier 바카라 사이트“ but no-one had told her.

Instead, it was wrongfully given to another woman entirely 바카라 사이트“ by the head of the local government. 바카라 사이트œI am totally shocked,바카라 사이트 she said. 바카라 사이트œHow can my allowance be given to someone else, but no one bothered to tell me? This is corruption against the poorest.바카라 사이트

After 9 more months of lobbying by her community forum, Shahida was finally issued a new card in November 2015.

It바카라 사이트™s a small amount, but it바카라 사이트™s the difference that puts her above the breadline. 바카라 사이트œI can buy a few things that I need with this money,바카라 사이트 she says. 바카라 사이트œI can also eat meat and fish.바카라 사이트

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KENYA: Keeping cattle safe from counterfeit medicines

Picture: Kenya Markets Trust

Picture: Kenya Markets Trust

Mzee Abdi Adan Bulle is a relieved man. He바카라 사이트™s a camel and cattle farmer in Wajir, Northern Kenya, who recently faced a serious threat to the very animals he depends on.

A local outbreak of a deadly camel disease could have wiped out his livelihood, but Mzee didn바카라 사이트™t lose one of his herd. In fact 바카라 사이트“ his livestock numbers are growing.

That바카라 사이트™s because he could get the proper medicines his camels needed. But other pastoralists in the area aren바카라 사이트™t so lucky, having to make do with counterfeit drugs that leave their livelihoods at risk.

The Kenya Market Trust 바카라 사이트“ funded by UK aid 바카라 사이트“ is helping to tackle the use of counterfeit animal products that often come across the border from Ethiopia or Somalia.

The project is joining up certified local vets with reputable and reliable suppliers to ensure the use of quality, effective drugs.

바카라 사이트œThanks to my close contact with the veterinary officer and availability of these quality drugs, I was able to respond to the camel disease outbreak recently and none of my camels died,바카라 사이트 explains Mzee.

바카라 사이트œMy livestock numbers have grown from 400 camels and 300 cattle to 500 and 400 respectively in one year,바카라 사이트 he continues. 바카라 사이트œThank you for coming to our rescue.바카라 사이트

On 12 May 2016, Prime Minister David Cameron is hosting an anti-corruption summit in London. It will bring together world leaders, business and civil society to tackle corrupt practices across the globe Find out more.

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Published 12 May 2016