PARI’s State Reform programme aims to reduce the influence of corruption and patronage on the public administration so that it better serves its democratic mandate. The programme provides evidence-based recommendations for reforms in key regulatory and administrative institutions with the aim of strengthening them. The programme currently focuses on:
- Reform to the public procurement system – to improve its integrity and ensure it plays a stronger role in socioeconomic development.
- Appointment reform and wider professionalisation of the public administration.
- Institutional reform – to ensure it is appropriately embedded in anti-corruption efforts, including initiatives flowing from the work of the State Capture Commission.
The programme advocates for reforms through research and its dissemination, submissions on legislation, participation in government task teams and working with civil society partners to build momentum for change. We also contribute to scholarly and wider public discussion on topics such as state capture, public procurement and development, anti-corruption and politics, state capacity, and more.
Lead: Dr Sarah Meny-Gibert
Programme Team: Devi Pillay, Ryan Brunette, Professor Jonathan Klaaren (Wits), Dr Thokozani Chilenga-Butao (Wits), and Waseem Holland.