"Corruption, the greatest single bane of our society today" - Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria from May 1999 to May 2007.

The annual total of bribes paid worldwide is US $1 trillion - This is considered to be a conservative estimate of actual bribes paid worldwide in both developed and developing countries - World Bank News & Broadcast

The cost of corruption in Africa – is estimated at more than US$ 148 billion a year. This is thought to represent 25% of Africa’s GDP and to increase the cost of goods by as much as 20 percent -  BBC News

400% GDP gain from fighting corruption - A one standard-deviation increase in any one of a number of governance indicators in a World Bank study causes between a two-and-a-half and four-fold increase in per capita incomes, a reduction in infant mortality of the same magnitude and a fifteen to twenty-five percent increase in adult literacy - World Bank Policy Research Working Paper.

Corruption is the abuse of public office for private gain. It not only stifles growth, but it deepens inequality as the few amass power and wealth at the expense of the many. The combined effects of decreased income growth and increased inequality means that corruption hurts the poor more than the rich. It retards long-term foreign and domestic investment, enhances inflation, depreciates national currency, reduces expenditures for education and health, distorts markets and the allocation of resources, reduces tax revenue, and undermines the legitimacy of governments.

Those most vulnerable to corruption often have little means of making their voice heard. Justxt.org is a mobile platform that aims to empower victims of corruption by giving them the ability to anonymously report demands for bribes via cell phone using a simple SMS. Among the factors found to increase corruption are low levels of law enforcement, as well as a lack of transparency and accountability in public actions.

The Justxt data, collected in real time, will enable an enhanced overview of the patterns of corruption which can be analyzed and presented in a variety or ways: geographical, temporal, thematic, per capita, ratios, totals, averages, etc - allowing for a multi-faceted and in-depth analysis that has hitherto been difficult to carry out.

By making it easy and safe to report corruption, we hope to provide a means for the many to demand accountability from the few.