On 4th July, the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) launched the new $5m programme Business Action Against Corruption (BAAC), awarded by the Governance and Transparency Fund, DFID. HE Ephraim Inoni, Prime Minister of the Republic of Cameroon, along with other senior officials from the private and public sector inaugurated the programme at the G8 CBC Africa Business Forum.

BAAC is a private–public initiative to tackle corruption in 15 African countries and to support growth and improved services for 200m citizens, benefiting the most vulnerable. Each national programme sets up consultative working structures to implement nationally defined strategies - especially improving public services, business climate, and standards of leadership behavior. BAAC was formed from previously independent initiatives by civil society (business, NGOs) organisations. BAAC will develop continental governance norms and implementation mechanisms, and aid to strengthen capacity. Demand led, it has political buy-in from governments, which ensures supply side impact and improvement in key governance indicators (Capability, Accountability and Responsiveness).

BAAC’s work is Pan African wide with country programmes Botswana, Cameroon, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia and expanding to 12- 15 countries.