Red flags documentation





Understanding Red Flags

Definition: A red flag is a warning sign that a project may be at risk of delay, overspending, or other challenges. These indicators do not prove wrongdoing, but they show where closer review may be needed..

Disclaimer: The information presented here is for informational purposes only. The presence of a red flag does not automatically imply illegal activity or corruption. All findings should be independently verified.

Overview of Color Categorization

We categorize entities based on the number of red flags detected to provide a quick overview of potential risk levels.
  • Green: No red flags detected.
  • Yellow: 1 to 5 red flags.
  • Orange: 6 to 10 red flags.
  • Red: More than 10 red flags.

Flag Catalogue

Abandonment of project

Community-reported
How it's Detected
Check for inactivity on project site via public feedback
See Example

Absence of a clear feasibility study

Data-detected
How it's Detected
Check for availability of Feasibility Study documents
See Example

Change of scope

Data-detected
How it's Detected
Check for changes in project scope
See Example

Cost overruns and budget inflation

Data-detected
How it's Detected
Check for budget overruns
See Example

Environmental violations

Community-reported
How it's Detected
Check for environmental violations via public feedback
See Example

Frequent project delays (time overruns)

Data-detected
How it's Detected
Check for time overruns
See Example

Lack of maintenance plans

Data-detected
How it's Detected
Check for availability of maintenance plans
See Example

Limited assessment of economic impacts

Data-detected
How it's Detected
Check for Cost-Benefit Analysis documentation
See Example

Limited assessment of environmental impacts

Data-detected
How it's Detected
Check for availability of Environmental impact assessment documents
See Example

Limited assessment of social impacts

Data-detected
How it's Detected
Check for Social Impact assessment documents
See Example

Limited competition

Data-detected
How it's Detected
Check for number of bidders at procurement
See Example

Political interference

Community-reported
How it's Detected
Check for political interference via public feedback
See Example

Social violations

Community-reported
How it's Detected
Check for social violations via public feedback
See Example

Under-utilization of project

Community-reported
How it's Detected
Check for product usage after handover via public feedback
See Example

Unrealistic budgets

Data-detected
How it's Detected
Check for budgets of more than five billion which are in Malawi Kwacha for a project spanning more than one fiscal year
See Example

Unrealistic timelines

Data-detected
How it's Detected
Check for budget of more than K10 billion which is for less than one year in duration
See Example

Use of substandard materials

Community-reported
How it's Detected
Check for quality of construction materials via public feedback
See Example

Weak stakeholder engagement

Data-detected
How it's Detected
Check for proof of stakeholder engagement under social tab
See Example

Our methodology combines automated data analysis with community-driven reporting. We process large datasets from public records to identify patterns and anomalies that match predefined risk indicators. These automated flags are then supplemented by verified reports from citizens and watchdog groups.

What You Can Do

Civic engagement is crucial for transparency and accountability. If you encounter an issue or have evidence related to a potential red flag, you can help by reporting it.

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