Welcome to the United Nations
There is a greater awareness of the need for ethics, accountability and transparency in public life today. This realisation has been supported by the emergence of a consensus that good governance and sound public administration underpin sustainable development. The impact of unethical and criminal practices in the public sector is unsupportable in the development of nations, resulting in a loss of confidence in public institutions and an erosion of the rule of law itself. Although the current concern with ethics and corruption is found around the globe, some regions are particularly interested in mitigating the damaging effects of unethical and corrupt practices on the development of countries. Africa currently faces enormous challenges in its efforts to achieve sustainable human development. The region is home to many of the world’s poorest countries and is associated with endemic diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS. Twenty percent of Africans live in countries experiencing severe conflict. Despite certain pockets of gains, the overall prospects for development for the region look dim. With declining export shares of primary commodities, a lack of viable manufacturing and service industries, capital flight, and “brain drain”, Africa is slipping from its place in the global economy. Among the many calls for urgent action, improving governance and resolving conflict are seen to be the pre-eminent preconditions to sustainable development.