AfDB and South Africa’s SIU sign MOU to boost anti-corruption collaboration

The African Development Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (PIAC) and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of South Africa have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation in tackling corruption and promoting integrity across the African continent. The signing took place on July 3, 2025, at the SIU headquarters in Pretoria, South Africa, and was attended by senior officials from both organizations.

The agreement sets out a framework for collaboration in key areas including technical assistance, research, capacity building, and training programs. Paula Santos Da-Costa, Director of PIAC, represented the African Development Bank, while Advocate Andy Mothibi signed on behalf of the SIU.

Strengthening integrity in development initiatives

During the signing ceremony, Da-Costa emphasized that the MOU provides both organizations with a valuable opportunity to ensure that resources are used for their intended purposes, thereby supporting developmental goals across the continent. She highlighted the positive results of PIAC’s ongoing project integrity reviews in collaboration with AfDB project managers and national implementation units, pointing to this as an area ripe for immediate joint action. Da-Costa also praised the SIU’s progress in asset recovery and stressed the mutual learning opportunities between the two entities.

Enhancing accountability through joint action

Advocate Mothibi expressed strong support for the partnership, emphasizing the importance of operationalizing the MOU through clear workplans that outline the collaboration. He noted that the timing aligns with South Africa’s chairmanship of the G20 governance framework for 2025, which presents new opportunities to address issues such as public integrity, asset recovery, border management, immigration, and integrity in the health sector. Both leaders underscored the importance of protecting whistleblowers as a key element of their joint efforts.

The agreement underscores both organizations’ shared commitment to advancing transparency, strengthening governance, and enhancing the effectiveness of development initiatives through coordinated action.