AU ECHO 2018 ‘Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation’’

CALL FOR PAPERS

AU ECHO 2018
‘Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation’’

Corruption is an endemic affecting people’s daily lives. From poor infrastructure, unequal access to healthcare and medicine, crime and violence to political choices distorted by money and greed, corruption continues to serve as a deterrent towards Africa’s development.

A lot has been done over the last few years since the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) in 2003. Governments and non-state actors have been instrumental in raising awareness about the devastating effects of corruption on governance, service delivery, human rights and socio-economic development. Additionally, numerous campaigns have been organized to influence national, regional, continental and global agendas that seek to demand for systemic change. Despite the strides that have been made towards combating the culture of corruption, corruption still continues to erode people’s sense of equity and this is reflected by citizen’s general sense of despair, given the failure of governments to effectively address corruption from its roots.

In recognition of these challenges and the prevailing need to reinvigorate the fight against corruption, the African Union (AU) Assembly has declared 2018 the ‘African Year of Anti-Corruption’ with the theme ‘Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation’. The AU ECHO provides a platform for the 55 Member States of the African Union, and African citizens to profile the successes of Africa, and to impart knowledge and experiences born from African led initiatives, based in the instruments and decisions of the African Union. It is published on an annual basis by the Directorate of Information and Communication (DIC) of the AUC, with a key focus on content aligned to the AU’s Theme of the Year.

The scope of the 2018 edition of the AU ECHO calls for evidence based articles on the progress that has been achieved as well as innovative initiatives that are being undertaken at institutional, country and continental level, with regard to promote the fight against corruption and impunity on the continent as a sustainable path to a peaceful and prosperous Africa, guided by the relevant AU frameworks. View previous editions of the AU ECHO here

SUBMISSIONS
Contributions are being sought from organs and employees of the African Union, member states, academic institutions, think tanks, civil society organizations, women’s organizations and the wider public. The editors reserve the right to reject papers they deem to be inconsistent with the guidelines outlined in this call for papers.
• Languages: Articles for publication may be submitted in any of the AU working languages i.e. English, French, Portuguese and Arabic.
• Word count: Not more than 2000 words per article.
• Illustrations: Photographs and other illustrations that enhance the article are welcome, although these must be original to the author and/or under a creative commons license.
• All submissions must contain the full name and contact of the sender, his/her organization and job title (if applicable). • Send your manuscript to the Editor at MusabayanaW@africa-union.org with a copy to LeslieR@africa-union.org and Sehenemariamh@africa-union.org

DISTRIBUTION
The AU ECHO will be distributed to Heads of State and Government of the African Union and other delegates as well as to offices of the African Union. Soft copies will be posted online to reach partners, academic institutions, media, civil society organisations and African citizens.

IMPORTANT DATES
Manuscript submission deadline February 28 2018 Publication: May 2018