Malawi
News and blog
Advancing Malawi’s efforts against corruption and environmental crime
Malawi’s forests and wildlife are under growing pressure from illegal exploitation, driven by rising demand for natural resources and enabled by corruption and illicit financial flows. From illegal logging to wildlife trafficking, environmental crimes not only threaten biodiversity and local livelihoods, but also weaken public institutions and deprive the country of vital resources for sustainable development. Charcoal illustrates the complex challenges involved: According to Malawi’s National Charcoal Strategy 2017–2027, 97% of households rely on illegally and unsustainably sourced charcoal and firewood for cooking and heating. In response to the resulting deforestation and forest degradation, the government has tightened enforcement against illegal wood harvesting and charcoal production while promoting alternative cooking fuels. Building on several years of collaboration with government partners in Malawi, the Basel Institute on Governance is launching a new project to strengthen the country’s response to environment-related financial crime and corruption. The three-year initiative, Mainstreaming Malawi’s progress in tackling environment-related financial crime and corruption , is funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs DEFRA and implemented through the Basel Institute’s Green Corruption programme. Activities have commenced on the ground and will run through to June 2028. A joined-up approach: enforcement and prevention The project supports Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Department of Forestry and Anti-Corruption Bureau in strengthening both enforcement capacities and corruption prevention systems linked to wildlife and forestry crimes. Rather than focusing solely on individual criminal cases, the initiative takes a broader institutional approach. It combines financial investigation techniques and case-based mentoring with efforts focusing on prevention to strengthen internal controls, improve inter-agency coordination and reduce corruption vulnerabilities within environmental agencies themselves. Among the planned activities are: mentoring investigators and prosecutors working on corruption and money laundering cases linked to wildlife and forestry crime; supporting the development of digital case registration and tracking systems to strengthen case management from investigation to prosecution; helping Institutional Integrity Committees and internal auditors identify and mitigate corruption risks; and developing training, practical guidance and knowledge products to support long-term institutional capacity. Dr Amanda Cabrejo le Roux, Deputy Director of Green Corruption and the project lead, said: “This project represents a significant step forward in our efforts to support environmental agencies in protecting Malawi’s wildlife and natural resources, while also reinforcing institutional integrity. By combining financial investigation techniques with robust prevention systems, we help our government partners create a sustainable framework for countering financial crime linked to the environment.” Building on proven partnerships The project expands on earlier DEFRA-funded work implemented jointly by the Basel Institute and the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, which helped strengthen anti-corruption responses to wildlife crime through a combination of enforcement support and corruption prevention measures. Through this and over a decade of engagement in Malawi, we enjoy strong working relationships with Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Department of Forestry and Malawi Police Service – partnerships that now provide the foundation for broader and more ambitious work on environment-related financial crime. The initiative also connects to the Basel Institute’s wider Green Corruption programme, which supports governments and partners around the world in addressing corruption linked to environmental crime, climate change and the global energy transition. As global demand for timber, minerals and other natural resources increases, corruption risks linked to environmental exploitation are becoming more complex and transnational. Through our work in Malawi and beyond, the Basel Institute aims to strengthen the governance systems needed to protect natural resources, safeguard communities and ensure environmental policies can be effectively enforced. Learn more Find out about the Green Corruption programme. Interested in corruption and governance in the environmental space? Join the Countering Environmental Corruption Practitioners Forum, a global community of practitioners jointly led by the Basel Institute on Governance, Transparency International, WWF and TRAFFIC.
More than Gantt charts: fighting financial crime as a Programme Manager
Misozi Samuti Chimbe, Programme Manager for Southern and East Africa at the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery ICAR , reflects on how her passion for public service has led her to pursue the bigger mission of protecting public resources, and how her work has become a deeply personal endeavour. This article is part of a series on careers in fighting financial crime and opportunities to learn and study with the Basel Institute. Financial crime has real, tangible effects on our everyday lives. And those of us with strong management skills can play a role in countering it. Like many young people, I had various ideas about what a fulfilling and impactful career could look like. My original goal was to follow in my father’s footsteps and become a biomedical practitioner. However, life and my faith have led me to believe that God had other plans. I ended up studying and excelling in accounting, a path that would later open unexpected and rewarding opportunities. An accountant with a passion for public service I began my professional journey as an intern at the Malawi Revenue Authority. From there, I moved on to TotalEnergies, gaining valuable private-sector experience as an accountant. Although a career in the private sector looked promising, my passion for public service continued to grow. This led me to join a Canadian non-profit organisation working to build healthy communities in Africa. Eventually, I transitioned into financial administration when I joined the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery ICAR in 2018 in support of the UK-funded Tackling Serious and Organised Corruption TSOC programme in Malawi. It was through this transition that I discovered the world of countering financial crime and asset recovery. I became Programme Manager for Malawi not long after joining the Institute. As the Basel Institute strengthened its regional hubs and its interactions between different teams and programmes, my role later expanded to that of Programme Manager for Southern and East Africa as a whole. Combining my background in financial management and compliance with programme management allowed me to connect technical skills to the bigger mission of protecting public resources. This journey has not only shaped my career but also given me a strong sense of direction and purpose. Having impact is fulfilling Financial crime can seem abstract and distant, but through my work, I have realised it has profound consequences and is deeply personal. It is not merely about money lost in complex systems. It is about hospitals that never get built, children who are denied quality education and communities that are robbed of opportunities to thrive. And I can do something about it. As a programme manager, I am naturally drawn to problem solving and to identifying unlikely connections between the work I do and the people I work with to create positive change. Working in countering financial crime takes this to another level. It means that my work contributes to safeguarding critical resources and making sure they benefit society, rather than being siphoned away through corruption and other forms of abuse. There’s never a dull moment in managing financial crime programmes – from balancing risks and designing activities that are feasible, sustainable and grounded in local context, to tailoring solutions to ensure partner buy-in and ownership for long-term impact. It’s the people Another aspect that truly fulfils me is the human side of this work. I have had the privilege of engaging in conversations that stretch from high-level policy rooms and international forums to discussions with young people, women in rural markets and public servants. Each interaction has reinforced for me how financial crime silently steals from our collective future and why our efforts truly matter. Through my work, I have come to appreciate the immense efforts of women and men in our law enforcement agencies, civil society and the media who work tirelessly to secure the future of our generation and those to come, often against great odds. Before my exposure to this field, I would not have recognised these efforts. Understanding financial crime and how it affects each and every citizen remains a work in progress in many regions and jurisdictions, including my country Malawi. A global community driven by a shared goal Working with diverse teams of experts from my country, the region and around the world – all driven by the same goal of fighting financial crime – has been one of the greatest sources of motivation and pride in my career. I have seen a South African expert advising on a European financial crime case, just as I have witnessed a Kenyan colleague leave his home to share his knowledge and experience in another country within our region. To me, this is the best demonstration of ubuntu – a deep sense of oneness and shared humanity that transcends all differences. It reminds me that this work is not only about protecting resources but also about standing together to safeguard our collective future. Being part of these collective efforts gives me a purpose beyond a paycheque. Every policy we review, every illicit asset we help recover and every case we support is a step towards restoring hope and opportunities for future generations. It is not just about Gantt charts and compliance, it is so much more A formal foundation and learning from the best While I began with a formal foundation in accounting, continuous learning has been critical in helping me evolve and remain effective. My accounting background has enabled me to handle tasks such as leading donor audits and ensuring compliance. But it is the on-the-job training and exposure to experts in financial investigation, asset recovery and policy that have truly shaped my professional growth. I have been fortunate to learn from some of the best practitioners in the field through the Basel Institute. Beyond technical knowledge, these mentors have taught me to see the bigger picture and understand where I can add value. I have also deliberately taken advantage of all ICAR-delivered training opportunities, both in-country and online. Today, I can analyse policy, discuss FATF ratings and justify best practices for case support – skills that have made me a valuable member of my team. Relationships built on trust and a common vision Equally important has been the power of networking and relationship building. Connecting with peers across government, civil society and international partners has shown me that success does not rely on technical expertise alone. Trust, collaboration and a shared vision are critical to achieving meaningful change. These relationships have been some of my greatest teachers, helping me grow not just as a professional but also as a person dedicated to service. In the end, working in financial crime has given me far more than I ever expected: a chance to contribute to national and global change, to protect future generations and to find deep fulfilment in a career that is about much more than numbers and compliance. Learn more Basel LEARN – our online training and learning hub with free eLearning courses and lots more Basel STUDY – our new postgraduate programmes on anti-corruption and asset recovery with the University of Basel
Malawi recovers Cashgate property using non-conviction based forfeiture
Congratulations to our partners at the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Malawi for achieving the final forfeiture of a house linked to the infamous Cashgate corruption scandal. A decision by the Supreme Court to reject an appeal against the forfeiture order sends an important message about ending impunity for high-profile corruption. It is also an important marker of the tenacity and determination of our partners at the Malawi Anti-Corruption Bureau and other agencies to use all available legislation to pursue corrupt individuals and recover assets for the benefit of the Malawian people. The case The house – valued at MK 690 million or just under USD 400,000 – had been put up as security for bail by former Ministry of Finance budget director Paul Mphwiyo after he was charged with money laundering and theft in relation to Cashgate. Mphwiyo’s shooting in 2013 marked the outbreak of the scandal, which involved the alleged embezzlement of around USD 25 million dollars from the public treasury. In addition to the house, Mphwiyo also paid MK 10 million in cash as part of the bail agreement and surrendered his travel documents. After Mphwiyo absconded to evade justice, the state made an application to have both cash and the house forfeited. The High Court’s ruling to forfeit the house was however appealed by Mphwiyo’s wife and a legal battle ensued. On 6 December 2024, Malawi’s Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal against the forfeiture order, ruling that the High Court’s decision to forfeit the property was lawful. The property now belongs to the Malawian State. The Supreme Court’s decision makes for strong jurisprudence, as it was taken by the Chief Justice and a full court of eight other judges. We expect this to translate into greater use of non-conviction-based forfeiture provisions in future corruption and asset recovery cases. The value of non-conviction based forfeiture In terms of asset recovery law, policy and practice, three important lessons can be drawn from this case. First, this case demonstrates the value of non-conviction based forfeiture in achieving the recovery of assets linked to corruption or other crimes, even when a criminal prosecution cannot be achieved. The forfeiture was achieved using non-conviction based forfeiture provisions in Malawi’s Penal Code. Expert advisors from the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery ICAR have been working with officers from the Anti-Corruption Bureau and public prosecutors to consider non-conviction-based forfeiture provisions in both the Penal Code and the 2017 Financial Crimes Act in relevant cases. The first successful use of non-conviction based forfeiture under the Financial Crimes Act by the Financial Intelligence Authority was in 2020 in relation to funds stolen from the Reserve Bank of Malawi. Inter-agency cooperation through a dedicated taskforce A second success factor was efficient inter-agency cooperation between the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and other agencies. Malawi set up a dedicated asset recovery taskforce in 2014 under the leadership of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The taskforce was mandated to investigate and prosecute Cashgate cases and to recover stolen assets. It has achieved this through a variety of means, ranging from criminal prosecutions to negotiated settlements. ICAR promotes the development of such multi-agency taskforces to improve the efficiency of investigations and boost asset recovery. It also promotes effective inter-agency cooperation through multi-agency training programmes, such as one conducted in November 2024 for practitioners from the ACB, Financial Intelligence Authority, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Judiciary. Raising issues of gender and asset recovery The case is also interesting in the context of debates about the gender-related impact of asset recovery. In this case, though the property belonged to Paul Mphwiyo, it was his wife who appealed as she and her children were living in the property. The Court’s decision disregarded any interest that the wife had in the property and took the view that only the legal owner, Mphwiyo, could challenge the forfeiture order. Consideration of the rights of women over assets that are legally owned solely by their husbands – as is still the case in many countries – is an issue in which jurisprudence is still to be developed. What next? The Anti-Corruption Bureau has indicated that the property may be used to house its offices, eliminating rental costs for the current premises and thus directly saving taxpayer funds. We look forward to continuing our support to the Government of Malawi in its efforts to prosecute and prevent corruption and to recover stolen assets for the benefit of the Malawian people. Our International Centre for Asset Recovery and other teams have been working in Malawi since 2015 under the Tackling Serious and Organised Corruption TSOC programme of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Southern Africa’s fight against corruption needs Collective Action
A high-level meeting of heads of anti-corruption agencies in the Southern African Development Community SADC last month was a chance to take stock of member countries’ efforts to tackle corruption. The meeting allowed for a reflection on many ongoing activities and discussions around Collective Action in the region this year. It was the perfect opportunity to reflect on how to galvanise joint efforts against the region’s biggest scourge. Speaking to delegates, Scarlet Wannenwetsch, Collective Action Specialist, highlighted the underused capacity of the private sector. Businesses are full of dynamism and talent, both of which are critical in fighting corruption and other transnational crimes. To harness the private sector’s potential, she emphasised the importance of building trust by fostering regional multi-stakeholder networks. Bringing together anti-corruption champions from the public sector, private sector and civil society helps to create “good” networks – ones powerful enough to fight the corrupt networks that are holding back development in the region. Appetite for engagement The Basel Institute has been a long-standing partner of the SADC Secretariat through the work of the Private Sector team. Our team has been impressed by the level of innovation in the region. Some feature in a publication capturing good practices that was created by, with and for anti-corruption agencies in Africa. We have also been training SADC corruption prevention officers on how to engage with the private sector through Collective Action approaches. Our partners consistently express a desire for more opportunities to engage and exchange with other stakeholders. They realise that no one group can tackle corruption alone. Working towards building a community of practice To sow the seeds for such a regional multi-stakeholder network, we launched the first Southern African Anti-Corruption Collective Action Forum earlier this year in collaboration with the Southern African Anti-Corruption Network SAACoN and The Ethics Institute. The event brought together participants from the private sector, civil society and government institutions to discuss concrete opportunities for learning and collaboration. For many, it was the first time they had met at the regional level. The event was also a chance to celebrate progress. CoST Uganda won our Southern Africa Anti-Corruption Collective Action Award for its outstanding achievements in tackling corruption and raising business integrity in the region. What’s next? In order to build on the momentum of the Forum and on the energy of the SADC region’s anti-corruption leaders, it is crucial that member states continue to prioritise collaboration and Collective Action. Government anti-corruption agencies needs close, sustained collaboration with the private sector and civil society if they want to develop a more inclusive strategy to prevent corruption – and if they want that strategy to actually work in practice. That applies not only at the country and sector level, but at the regional level too. And that’s what Collective Action can bring. We look forward to continuing our fruitful collaboration with the SADC Secretariat and wider partners to support anti-corruption Collective Action in the region. Learn more about our work on the B20 Collective Action Hub and find inspiration in its global database of initiatives.
Malawi: towards better corruption risk management to combat environmental crimes
Malawi has taken another positive step towards protecting the country’s wildlife, forests and other natural resources from illegal exploitation facilitated by corrupt practices. Senior officers from Malawi’s main environmental and law enforcement agencies came together on 15-17 February 2023 for a three-day workshop led by the Basel Institute’s Green Corruption team. Together, the officers explored how to conduct systematic corruption risk assessments and develop targeted corruption risk mitigation plans for their agencies. The 25 participants included public servants and officers from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Department of Forestry and the Malawi Police Service. How do corruption risk assessments support environmental protection? By assessing structural weaknesses in everyday operations and implementing targeted risk mitigation measures, agencies at the front line of fighting environmental crimes can be better placed to meet their own objectives. If opportunities for corrupt behaviours decrease, then it will be more difficult for criminals to carry on with their illegal operations – starting in the parks and forests of Malawi. Strengthening preventive anti-corruption measures also means reducing revenue losses and safeguarding law enforcement operations and human security. In addition, corruption can undermine effective law enforcement at every stage of the criminal justice chain – from detection through investigation, prosecution and sanctioning. That makes it all too easy for criminals who poach or traffic wildlife and timber to evade justice. The integrity of enforcement responses to environmental crimes is a systemic issue in practically all resource-rich countries, though too many still ignore the issue. Managing corruption risks therefore fits into the bigger picture of stopping corruption from undermining efforts against environmental crimes. Learning by doing Using interactive, participatory approaches with exercises, the training guided participants step by step through the corruption risk assessment process. Groups of participants were tasked to assess their agencies’ processes and main corruption risks and to develop corruption risk mitigation plans. One participant shared how he previously found it hard to know where to start to address corruption. But with this training, he saw that zooming in on the work processes helps to identify very precisely where things can go wrong. Then the methodology helps to prioritise risks in order to put concrete action in place and be strategic in the context of limited resources. “This is what we need ” he said. Though the exercises were tailored to Malawi’s national context and needs, participants also had the chance to learn about international approaches and standards for identifying corruption risks, plus experiences from other countries. Looking forward Corruption risk assessments are not mandatory for public agencies in Malawi. Participants were unaware of this type of assessment being done before in their agencies. However, they all appreciated this new tool, as they shared common awareness and concerns about corruption as a key challenge they face to efficiently fight wildlife and forest crimes. Many participants indicated they will advocate for a systematic corruption risk assessment process at their respective agencies, in order to expose any weak points and find solutions to strengthen their systems. Our team is committed to providing technical assistance for these concrete next steps. The training is an early milestone in a programme of the UK’s IWT Challenge Fund, implemented by the Basel Institute’s Green Corruption team together with local partners. Learn more See our topic briefs for the Targeting Natural Resource Corruption project on: Corruption risk assessments and the Basel Institute’s bespoke methodology How political economy analysis can complement corruption risk assessments Internal controls for environmental enforcement agencies See our 2020 blog: Want to stop illegal wildlife trade? Be more like Malawi.
Publications
Political economy in the weeds: Embracing complexity in anti-corruption work – lessons learned from anti-corruption programme in Malawi
In this joint paper with Adam Smith International, authors Claudia Baez Camargo and Renee Kantelberg show how anti-corruption efforts require more than mere technical fixes, such as capacity building for civil society alone, to drive lasting change.
Anti-corruption work is often embedded in complex, politically charged environments. This requires thinking and working politically. Engaging with complex social and economic systems also means recognising that change is not linear or even predictable. What to do then?
Our years of anti-corruption research have demonstrated the centrality of having local stakeholders be in the driver’s seat for identifying priorities and finding solutions. This is how we have worked in Malawi in the Malawi Anti-Corruption Civil Society Support (MACCSS) project, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and implemented with Adam Smith International.
This publication shares practical lessons and successes in applying this approach in the MACCSS project. It illustrates our joint efforts to navigate uncertainty and ground anti-corruption efforts in trust, resilience and local leadership. The key takeaways for practitioners who design or implement anti-corruption programmes (paraphrased) are:
- Embrace complexity. Change is adaption and pivoting to reality, which is not linear. In governance programmes, unexpected developments and temporary reversals are signs that systems are shifting.
- Local ownership matters. When partners are in the driver’s seat, impact and sustainability improve. This is true even if the route diverges from initial plans.
- Facilitation over funding. Hands-on mentoring and relationship brokering build deeper capabilities than unidirectional training, grants and results frameworks.
- Learning by doing. Regular reflection converts experience into strategy; failures become data for adaptation.
- Build trust and coalitions. Reform depends on a collective effort with credible institutions and sister anti-corruption programmes. It also requires nurturing emergent anti-corruption networks, rather than merely building the capacity of individual actors.
- Resilience grows from below. Sustainable accountability takes root when communities see anti-corruption as linked to livelihoods and services, not as an abstract governance agenda.
- Gender and inclusion strengthen legitimacy. Integrating gender and social inclusion (GESI) principles by addressing corruption in mining, infrastructure and agriculture – sectors critical for women and marginalised groups – broadens both the reach and credibility of anti-corruption efforts.
Ultimately, the MACCSS experience reinforces a simple but profound insight: anti-corruption work is not about perfect plans but about adaptive partnerships. Change happens through relationships, experimentation and persistence. The task is not to eliminate uncertainty, but to navigate it with integrity and learning at the core.
Engaging the private sector in Collective Action against corruption: A practical guide for anti-corruption agencies in Africa
This guidance seeks to capture and explore the innovative approaches that African governments have developed to address the demand and supply sides of corruption more effectively and sustainably. It is designed to help government institutions, in particular national anti-corruption agencies, engage with the private sector more effectively to prevent corruption.
The document highlights good practices identified through interviews, desk research and a 2021 Southern African Development Community (SADC) training on “Emerging anti-corruption issues and private-sector engagement for SADC anti-corruption agencies”.
Africa offers many examples of innovative, unique and context-sensitive approaches to engage the private sector in anti-corruption efforts. Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan, for instance, offers an award scheme and is looking into providing tax benefits to companies that enforce anti-corruption measures and demonstrate leadership in the fight against corruption. Other agencies and governments in the region, such as Morocco, are currently discussing implementing a reward system for compliant companies that can be considered when companies bid for public tenders.
These examples demonstrate how African governments proactively seek to tackle corruption and collaborate with the private sector.
From the initiatives captured, three common strategic approaches can be identified to underpin effective and impactful engagement:
- Raising awareness, guiding and working with the private sector to more effectively address corruption risks.
- Identifying and providing incentives to companies investing in their compliance programmes.
- Demonstrating leadership by actively participating in Collective Action and public-private partnerships.
This document is a follow-up of a practical global guide published in July 2022 and was produced with the support of the Siemens Integrity Initiative.
It is freely shareable under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence. Please credit the Basel Institute on Governance.
Gendered corruption: Initial insights into sextortion and double bribery affecting female businesswomen in Malawi
This report offers an initial insight into the problem of gendered corruption, including sextortion and so-called double bribery, based on interviews with 19 businesswomen in Malawi. Part of a wider research project into procurement corruption, the interviews aimed to explore the extent of gendered corruption as a coercive form of social exchange, as well as the role of informal corrupt networks in magnifying gender-specific inequalities.
Though based on a small sample in one particular context, the findings indicate that more research into this topic is urgently needed globally with a view to mainstreaming sexual corruption into anti-corruption programming. Initial findings indicate that:
- Sextortion, forced sexual favours, “double bribery” and other forms of sexual corruption are perceived to be widespread in Malawi.
- Women’s risk of being subjected to sexual corruption increases in informal network settings, such as those in which business takes place.
- Socio-economic factors and gender-imbalanced power dynamics play an important role in enabling sexual corruption to take place with impunity.
- Trustworthy reporting and support mechanisms for sexual corruption are said to be lacking.
- Existing female-only business self-help groups could provide a strong base for enabling women to address issues of sexual corruption and related gendered violence.
Overall, there is a great need for more research and policy attention globally to gendered corruption and related issues that still remain – tragically – hidden from view or considered as normal.
About this publication
The research underpinning this report has been undertaken in support of the Tackling Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) programme in Malawi, which is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Suggested citation: Stahl, C., 2021. Gendered corruption: Initial insights into sextortion and double bribery affecting female businesswomen in Malawi. Basel Institute on Governance, https://baselgovernance.org/publications/gendered-corruption-initial-in….