LATEST FROM SOAS-ACE
The 1-11 government and the consequences of ‘big bang’ anti-corruption in Bangladesh 2007–2009
Authors: Mushtaq Khan, David Jackman, Pallavi Roy, A K M Zakir Hossain, Shamael Ahmed
Publication date: March 2026
This working paper examines Bangladesh’s 2007–2009 anti-corruption drive — one of the most ambitious attempts to tackle corruption in a high-corruption context. It explores why the ‘big bang’ approach not only failed but ultimately contributed to a more concentrated and authoritarian political settlement, and lessons for future reform.
Corruption in health systems: context, incentives and the political economy of reform
Authors: Alan Hudson
Publication date: March 2026
This synthesis of 40 studies examines corruption in health systems as a systemic feature shaped by incentives, power and informal practices. It highlights the limits of conventional approaches and outlines more politically feasible pathways to effective reform.
Addressing health worker absenteeism in Nigeria: design, implementation and rollout of interventions in Enugu State
Authors: Obinna Onwujekwe, Okechukwu Ozo, Onochie Eze, Ifunanya Agu, Pamela Ogbozor, Aloysius Odii, Chukwudi Nwokolo C, Izuchukwu Ndukaihe, Chinelo Obi, Mystery Ojiakor, Paul Onu, Kingsley Ude, Chinyere Mbachu, Pallavi Roy, Dina Balabanova
Publication date: March 2026
This progress report documents the design, implementation and rollout of a pilot intervention to reduce health worker absenteeism in primary healthcare facilities in Enugu State, Nigeria. The project approach shifts the focus from punitive enforcement to absenteeism as a governance challenge, using the Power-Capabilities-Interest framework.
AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH
The SOAS-ACE approach represents a comprehensive methodology for understanding and addressing policy-distorting corruption, developed through years of rigorous research and practical application. It is marked by its commitment to crafting politically feasible reforms that can be effectively implemented within specific political economies.
Rather than merely advocating for stricter enforcement mechanisms, it prioritises a systemic perspective that aligns incentives and reinforces relationships essential for sustainable solutions. By employing a theory-driven framework, the approach acknowledges that the behaviours and relationships of actors are significantly influenced by their relative powers, capabilities, and interests.
Through its systemic lens and commitment to political feasibility, the SOAS-ACE approach stands poised to support sustainable development initiatives that address the root causes of corruption.
CASE STUDIES
Case Study: Mini-Grid Solution to Corruption in Nigeria’s Electricity Sector
Nigeria’s electricity sector, plagued by inefficiency and corruption, poses a daunting reform challenge. This case study demonstrates how an analysis of the sector’s political economy dynamics led to a solution to bypass the current corruption-ridden power network and establish a reliable electricity supply for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Case Study: Reducing Corruption in Bangladesh’s Climate Adaptation Projects
This case study delves into Bangladesh’s political settlement and sectoral dynamics to identify opportunities for reducing corruption in climate adaptation investments. It highlights how ‘dual-use’ climate adaptation projects offer opportunities for reduced corruption through stronger monitoring by influential actors.
FEATURED RESEARCH
Bangladesh Student Uprising: Successful Collective Action against State Capture
The 2024 student-led uprising in Bangladesh was the first successful Generation Z-led political movement that resulted in a successful overthrow of a repressive and corrupt autocracy. This research documents and analyses the factors that enabled a successful popular collective action to overthrow a highly repressive regime that had engaged in state capture over fifteen years.
Tracking Research to Policy and Implementation in the Pharmaceutical Sector in Bangladesh
SOAS-ACE research on pharmaceutical sector overpricing and health workers’ absenteeism has been adopted by a multi-partner coalition pushing for health sector anti-corruption in Bangladesh The coalition is implementing our recommended strategies, and we are tracking this process to produce lessons on converting research into practice.
Electricity in Nigeria: Finding Feasible Solutions to a Complex Challenge
This project investigates the complex story of corruption that straddles the entire electricity value chain Nigeria. It seeks to identify pockets of the sector where coalitions could be built to reduce corruption and increase reliable electricity supply.
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