Putting civil society at the heart of the fight.
Fighting Hidden Flows, Strengthening Accountability
The Off the Books Illicit Financial Flows Project is a groundbreaking regional initiative dedicated to tackling illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Sub-Saharan Africa. These hidden streams of money — from tax evasion, trade misinvoicing, money laundering, and terrorist financing — cost the region billions annually, undermining development, governance, and public trust.
We put civil society at the heart of the fight, equipping activists, journalists, researchers, and communities with the tools to uncover, report, and disrupt financial corruption.
Why This Project Matters
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Economic Impact: Africa loses an estimated $88.6 billion every year to IFFs, draining resources from healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
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Governance & Accountability: Weak oversight enables corruption, eroding democratic institutions and public confidence.
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Civil Society Empowerment: Many communities lack the tools and knowledge to hold decision-makers accountable.
Our Objectives
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Strengthen Civil Society Capacity – Equip NGOs, journalists, and researchers to monitor and report IFFs.
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Drive Evidence-Based Policy Reform – Advocate for stronger laws and enforcement mechanisms.
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Promote Transparency & Public Awareness – Mobilise citizens to demand accountability.
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Foster Regional Collaboration – Unite stakeholders across borders to fight cross-national financial crimes.
Key Features & Activities
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Regional Research & Baseline Studies – Comprehensive mapping of IFF trends and vulnerabilities.
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Civil Society Monitoring Toolkit – Practical resources for tracking financial flows.
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Capacity-Building Programs – Training workshops, mentorship, and e-learning modules.
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Policy Dialogues & Advocacy Campaigns – Engaging governments, regulators, and international bodies.
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Knowledge Hub – A digital repository of research, case studies, and guidelines.
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Annual Off the Books Reports – Flagship publications with actionable recommendations.
Impact & Vision
Our goal is to create an Africa where financial transparency is the norm, where stolen resources are recovered for public good, and where citizens have the power to hold leaders to account.
Expected Outcomes:
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Strengthened governance frameworks
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Increased accountability in public and private sectors
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Sustainable monitoring systems led by civil society
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Stronger cross-border anti-corruption cooperation
Get Involved
The Off the Books Illicit Financial Flows Project welcomes partnerships with:
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Civil society organisationsInvestigative media.
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Academic institutions
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Governments and regulatorsDonors, philanthropists, and development partners
Join us
... in shining a light on hidden money and building a future free from financial corruption.
📧 Contact Us: forthepublic@publicinterest.org.za