Yaounde — How deep is corruption in post-conflict countries in Central Africa, how effective are Governments of these countries as well as sub-regional institutions in trying to fight this ill, and what can all concerned stakeholders do to improve on governance in affected countries?

These and more of such questions are the reason the Economic Commission for Africa and the Government of Chad are convening a forum from 9 to 10 December 2013 at the Hôtel Novotel in the Chadian capital N'Djamena.

The forum will bring together key figures from national institutions charged with fighting corruption, sub-regional and regional organisations as well as experts in the domain.

They will share ideas on the nature of corruption within countries recovering from conflict situations and exchange notes on lessons as well as good practices across contexts.

Recommendations made at the forum would dispose the stakeholders to performing better in the pursuit for governance in countries within the sub region recently affected by conflict.

The forum will also equip the participants with techniques for optimal collaboration between organisations involved with law making and enforcement, judicial authorities, the media and other stakeholders involved in post-conflict reconstruction and governance.

It would be recalled that as the UN's regional arm in Africa and key player in the regional institutional landscape in Africa, ECA places the fight against corruption on its priority lists of actions to facilitate the continent's socioeconomic development.

The N'Djamena forum therefore falls within the Commission's mandate to help African countries improve their institutional capacities to deal with corruption. Recommendations stemming from the forum will enrich ECA's portfolio of specific programmes in the area of the fight against corruption.

Corruption is more prevalent in post-conflict countries which are characterised by weak political institutions and budgetary constraints.

Meanwhile during post-conflict periods, there is a high tendency for foreign aid to flow into affected countries but much of such aid is often siphoned at the detriment of the populations in need. Corruption in post-conflict countries can equally increase the probability of a relapse into hostilities which could further destabilise the countries concerned.