CoST Malawi has been shortlisted for the Collective Action Inspirational Newcomer Award 2026 in recognition of its pioneering “Red Flags Algorithm” — a digital transparency and accountability tool designed to identify corruption and procurement risks in public infrastructure projects. 

Integrated into Malawi’s Information Platform for Public Infrastructure (IPPI), the algorithm automatically analyses infrastructure project data and flags unusual patterns, inconsistencies, and high-risk indicators that may signal fraud, misprocurement, or inefficiency. 

The nomination highlights Malawi’s growing role in strengthening transparency and accountability in the infrastructure sector through more proactive and data-driven oversight. Rather than responding to problems after they emerge, the Red Flags Algorithm helps identify risks earlier, enabling governments, civil society organisations, journalists, contractors, and citizens to scrutinise projects before issues escalate. 

The initiative also reflects Malawi’s broader efforts to improve public access to infrastructure information and increase participation in oversight processes. Through the IPPI platform, infrastructure data is made more accessible and easier to interpret, supporting greater public scrutiny and informed engagement around public investment decisions. 

The nomination comes as Malawi continues expanding its work on infrastructure transparency, open data, and climate finance monitoring. According to their CoST programme’s 2026 workplan, Malawi aims to increase the number of infrastructure projects published on the IPPI, strengthen civil society monitoring of public projects, and improve disclosure of climate finance investments.  

The programme is also working to build the capacity of civil society organisations and public officials to use infrastructure data more effectively, including through training on the Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standard (OC4IDS) and the use of the IPPI platform.  

By combining open data with practical oversight tools, Malawi’s Red Flags Algorithm demonstrates how digital innovation can help strengthen integrity, accountability, and public trust in infrastructure delivery. 

Winners of the Collective Action Awards 2026 will be announced later this year by Collective Action Coalition Against Corruption.