Shally Baloch, Thulani Mswelanto, Fayyaz Yaseen
Current anti-corruption measurement tools are unable to accurately assess local corruption realities because they are disconnected from, and driven by, experts who are far removed from the contexts in which they must be used. In this chapter, we argue that, due to the variable definition of corruption, those best positioned to monitor it are the citizens impacted by it. We examine how and why citizens can be incentivised to participate in monitoring efforts, while also looking ahead to novel methods, such as blockchain and crowdsourcing, to create pathways for reporting, participation, and accountability. We highlight that, with robust protections for citizens and capacity building, citizen-led anti-corruption measurement can be a sustainable method for building transparency and trust.