Corruption is a critical impediment to sustainable development, good governance and economic growth. When the Sustainable Development Goals were being developed, corruption was recognized as a cross-cutting issue, with the UN's own analysis identifying that “[c]orruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion cost some US$1.26 trillion for developing countries per year; this amount of money could be used to lift those who are living on less than $1.25 a day above $1.25 for at least six years”.

This report has been developed to inform discussions across the Pacific region and at national levels regarding the strategies, approaches and mechanisms that could be utilized to most effectively and sustainably address corruption, with a focus on the role that non-State actors can play.