3.6 million lives could have been saved annually, if we were able to stop all kinds of corruption. Costs related to corruption worldwide are annually more than 1,000 billion USD.

– Corruption is a huge problem, not only in our partner countries, but also in Norway. Corruption eats up the society, and it is the poorest who bear the biggest impact, says Margrethe Lia.

She is working for Wycliffe, partly as project manager for a new anti-corruption course that Digni and Wycliffe launched last week.

Simple and interactive

– What makes this course special is the grassroots approach, says Lia.

Digni and Wycliffe’s goal has been that everyone can participate in the course.

– The language is simple and the method interactive. The main idea was to create a course for project staff in aid projects, a course that includes everyone, including the driver, the chef and the village women, says the project manager.

The course uses drama and group discussions to raise awareness of corruption.

– This makes the course useful even for people who cannot read or write, and is unique for this course.

• Read more and download the course here!

– Popular

The course consists of a PowerPoint, a manual, and four short films. The material is now launched in the third edition, and the previous editions has been very well received.

– It has been used in Africa, Asia, Middle East, South America and Europe, and received good feedback. “This is something we need to talk about”, is among the statements we often hear from the participants. The interactive method is being well received and people are saticfied for the opportunity to talk about difficult topics. Several organizations have also begun work on anti-corruption policies in their organization, and some have begun to hold courses for other organizations and local authorities, says Lia.

She believes the course can help to prevent corruption.

– We’re not going to eradicate corruption through a grassroots courses, but we hope to create a movement of people who know what corruption is and take action in their daily lives, says Margrethe Lia.

Has held 37 courses

One of the organizations that have used the course is Wycliffe Norway’s partner organization KCDA in Pakistan. Program Director Huma Sadaf tells that they have held the course for 37 different groups since 2013.

– This has been very challenging for us because the course has given us a new view of what corruption is. It involves not only organizations but also personal life and what to do in your life. Previously we thought that corruption was only misuse of money, but now we understand that it’s about our everyday lives, she says now.

The organization has held the course for a number of different groups, such as women’s groups, Hindu leaders, Muslim leaders, Christian leaders and governmental leaders.

– We are already very much looking forward to start using the new course with the new films. We have translated previously issued course to local languages, and it has been important. It is important that everyone understands the content in their own language.

• Read interview with Huma Aslam: – I’ve never heard of anyone who offers training in anti-corruption work here in Pakistan.

Hopes to raise competence

Lillian E. R. Våje is responsible for Anti-Corruption work in Digni. She says that the course is part of a wider commitment to focus on anti-corruption.

– We know that corruption is a challenge, especially in the countries were we fund work. Therefore, it is our mission to stop it. We have in recent years worked systematically to prevent corruption, explains Våje.

Examples include developing information about best practices, develop checklists and cooperate with other organizations in anticorruption efforts. Digni also publishes  an annual list of corruption cases on our website.

– Now our hope is that this course can help to raise competence on corruption, tells Våje.