[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":330},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-gemma-aiolfi039s-quick-guide-to-integrity-and-anti-corruption-compliance-for-smes-902":3,"news-gemma-aiolfi039s-quick-guide-to-integrity-and-anti-corruption-compliance-for-smes-902-similar":61,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":325},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"date":12,"topic":13,"slug":15,"activity":16,"nid":18,"topics":19,"activities":21,"programme":22,"area":22,"websites":23,"language":22,"image":25,"translation_of":22,"countries":35,"tags":36,"authors":37,"images":58,"translations":59,"content":60},9866,"published","2022-05-26T22:56:49.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:00.000Z","Gemma Aiolfi's quick guide to integrity and anti-corruption compliance for SMEs","Blog","Anti-corruption compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. Even small and mid-sized companies can easily build the basics of an effective anti-corruption compliance programme. Start by asking yourself: are you doing these five things?\n\n### 1. Do you take every opportunity to talk about your company’s values to your employees? \n\nAs the CEO, senior manager or board member, talking about what doing the right thing means to you and the company is a great way to develop the company’s culture of integrity. Providing that you mean it – and you’re prepared to lead by example. A quick start to get the ‘anti-corruption compliance programme’ going is to invite discussion. As a leader, you have a unique responsibility that can turn the company into an example for other companies and make integrity a competitive advantage when it comes to attracting customers, employees and access to finance. \n\n### 2\\. Are you really listening to the concerns, ideas, innovations and expectations of your managers and employees? \n\nCompanies that have a strong speak-up culture, where discussion, constructive criticism and questioning are welcome, are more likely to have a good grasp of their strengths and weaknesses. This can help in identifying where efforts and energy need to be focused when developing the anti-corruption compliance programme. Companies that encourage discussion tend to have employees willing to collaborate – and this can result in new ideas, innovations and increased productivity. Try it!  \n\n### 3\\. Does your recruitment procedure include background checks and tests for values and behaviours?\n\nYour employees are the company’s most valuable asset. Investing in excellence will pay off in the long run. Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is looking, so when you hire new employees, make sure their values and behaviour match the high standards you expect. Making sure you have the right personnel is key!\n\n### 4.  It’s not old-fashioned to do the right thing always: obey the law, don’t pay bribes, don’t accept or ask for bribes, pay taxes on time, and treat employees fairly and with respect.\n\nBeing trapped in legal disputes is a waste of money and diverts attention away from your business. It also damages reputations, which can ruin a business. An attractive workplace where acting with integrity is rewarded will create loyalty and make your company into a sought-after employer – especially with generation Z.   \n\n### 5\\. Do you _really_ know your business partners? \n\nDon’t let anyone, whether a customer, supplier, agent or anyone else working on your behalf, ruin your business or reputation through their poor decisions or bad behaviour. Invest time and money in training your employees to ask the extra questions before signing a contract or paying for a service. Get the right documents, conduct proper due diligence and don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ when things don’t look right.\n\n### Looking for more advice on anti-corruption compliance?\n\n*   View Gemma Aiolfi's book: _[Anti-corruption compliance – a guide for small and mid-sized organizations](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fgemma-aiolfi-publishes-new-book-anti-corruption-compliance-guide-smes)_. It was published by Edward Elgar in 2020.\n*   The Basel Institute's [compliance advisory services](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcompliance\u002Fadvisory-services) and [custom-designed training programmes](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcompliance\u002Fcompliance-training) are tailored to the needs of organisations of all types and sizes – including small and medium-sized businesses with few resources.\n*   [Download a PDF of this quick guide.](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-08\u002Fqg3_integrity.pdf)","2019-05-03",[14],"Compliance","gemma-aiolfi039s-quick-guide-to-integrity-and-anti-corruption-compliance-for-smes-902",[17],"Insights",902,[20],"Business Integrity Ethics and Compliance",[17],null,[24],"Main page",{"id":26,"storage":27,"filename_disk":28,"filename_download":29,"title":30,"type":31,"created_on":7,"modified_on":7,"charset":22,"filesize":32,"width":33,"height":34,"duration":22,"embed":22,"description":22,"location":22,"tags":22,"metadata":22,"focal_point_x":22,"focal_point_y":22,"tus_id":22,"tus_data":22,"uploaded_on":7},"912a4ba3-bf90-47d6-85d7-6fe811c2e453","local","912a4ba3-bf90-47d6-85d7-6fe811c2e453.webp","tmp.webp","Gemma Aiolfi's quick guide to integrity and anti-corruption compliance for SMEs","image\u002Fwebp",27692,800,567,[],[],[38],{"id":39,"news_id":40,"authors_id":54},906,{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":41,"date_created":7,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":26,"date":12,"topic":43,"slug":15,"activity":44,"nid":18,"topics":45,"activities":46,"programme":22,"area":22,"websites":47,"translation_of":22,"language":22,"countries":48,"tags":49,"authors":50,"images":51,"translations":52,"content":53},"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6",[14],[17],[20],[17],[24],[],[],[39],[],[],[],{"id":55,"name":56,"position":22,"image":57},289,"Gemma Aiolfi","4845fe89-9b82-4bd6-8249-94cda837f72b",[],[],[],[62,94,122,147,171,196,222,247,277,302],{"id":63,"body":64,"status":6,"type":10,"date":65,"slug":66,"title":67,"image":68,"countries":69,"topic":22,"activity":22,"tags":70,"nid":22,"topics":71,"activities":75,"authors":78,"images":80,"websites":81,"area":82,"programme":85,"language":87,"translations":88,"translation_of":22,"user_created":89,"date_created":90,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":91,"content":92,"link":93},10590,"This feature appears in the 2025 Basel AML Index Public Edition report. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Findex.baselgovernance.org\u002Fdownloads\">Download the full report and related resources\u003C\u002Fa>.\n\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Ch3>Key takeaways\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Understanding national risks linked to virtual assets is now essential\u003C\u002Fstrong>, as their use has moved from niche to mainstream and is increasingly exploited for financial crime. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Risk assessments are inherently challenging \u003C\u002Fstrong>as (a) virtual assets are borderless by design, (b) large parts of the ecosystem fall outside regulation and (c) reliable national-level data remains limited. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Illicit activity involving virtual assets does not take place in isolation\u003C\u002Fstrong>: offenders exploit the same weaknesses – corruption, fraud, weak supervision and poor enforcement – that already undermine the wider financial system. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The Basel AML Index provides valuable indicators to assess both a jurisdiction’s structural vulnerabilities and its capacity to counter threats \u003C\u002Fstrong>related to financial crimes in general, including those related to virtual assets, even though it does not include a dedicated virtual assets risk indicator. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\u003Cem>Note: in this article we use the term virtual assets in line with the FATF’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fatf-gafi.org\u002Fen\u002Ftopics\u002Fvirtual-assets.html\">definition\u003C\u002Fa> of “any digital representation of value that can be digitally traded, transferred or used for payment”. The terms crypto, cryptoassets, digital assets, digital currencies, etc. form part of this loose family, though they are often defined differently in different contexts – a factor that also complicates risk assessments and data analysis.\u003C\u002Fem>\n\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cstrong>Why assessing risks related to virtual assets matters \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\nGovernments and private firms alike are under growing pressure to understand the risks associated with virtual assets. What was once a niche is becoming a mainstream part of financial markets and a common feature in all forms of financial crime.\n\nAs the virtual assets industry continues to mature, national authorities that lack a clear understanding of the risks find themselves on the back foot when drafting legislation, supervising market participants or countering financial crime.\n\nFor financial institutions, a clear picture of jurisdiction-level risk is essential for customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, calibrating controls and taking strategic decisions about where or where not to operate. Financial institutions that misjudge these risks leave themselves exposed to illicit finance, reputational harm and potential regulatory action.\n\n\u003Ch3>Why jurisdiction-level risk assessments are difficult\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\u003Ch4>1. A borderless system by design\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\nUnlike bank accounts or trust funds, virtual asset wallets or addresses do not have a meaningful jurisdictional location. There is no crypto equivalent of “a bank account in Switzerland”. A wallet can be accessed anywhere and may be controlled by a person or entity whose location is unknown or easily obscured. Large parts of the virtual asset ecosystem also fall outside the boundaries of traditional financial regulation. Self-hosted wallets, peer-to-peer transfers, decentralised finance (DeFi) protocols and informal over-the-counter (OTC) brokers create pockets of activity that are largely invisible. Any jurisdiction-level assessment will inevitably be incomplete.\n\nThe activities of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) further complicate matters. A VASP may be established in one jurisdiction while primarily serving customers in another. In the absence of harmonised legislation or cooperation among supervisors, many operate across numerous markets with minimal physical presence or regulatory engagement.\n\n\u003Ch4>2. Data is limited, patchy and uncertain\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\nReliable quantitative data on financial crime risks related to virtual assets at the national level is scarce. In addition to the issue of contrasting definitions and the technology’s borderless nature, several factors contribute to this lack.\n\nFirst, commercial blockchain analytics providers publish broad indicators of virtual asset adoption and estimates of illicit usage. These can be helpful for spotting trends but require careful interpretation. They rely on estimates and proxies, including web traffic to exchanges or intermediaries, and do not provide precise amounts or reliably distinguish licit from illicit activity.\n\nSecond, it is reasonable to assume that where adoption rises, illicit activity will also increase, simply because criminals use the same infrastructure as legitimate users. However, such relationships cannot be measured with confidence.\n\nThird, at the government level, many jurisdictions still lack a coordinated approach across authorities to collect, share and analyse statistics on money laundering and related financial crimes. In many jurisdictions, data on virtual assets is either not gathered consistently or not collected at all.\n\nWithout reliable data on virtual assets usage and risks, national risk assessments may become detached from real-world threats. The result: regulation and supervision that is either insufficient or unnecessarily burdensome.\n\n### How the Basel AML Index can be used\n\nFor the above reasons, the Basel AML Index does not offer a dedicated indicator for virtual assets. Nevertheless, the Index data is still useful because illicit activity involving virtual assets typically exploits the same underlying weaknesses that enable money laundering, corruption, fraud and other financial crimes in the traditional financial system. Where protections against fraud are weak, for example, where supervision is lacking or where enforcement of regulations is inconsistent or politically compromised, opportunities to misuse virtual assets for illegal purposes tend to expand.\n\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cstrong>Two components of risk \u003C\u002Fstrong>\n\nIn line with the holistic methodology of the Basel AML Index and most AML\u002FCFT risk assessment frameworks, evaluating jurisdiction-level risk related to virtual assets centres on two elements:\n\n\u003Cp>a) \u003Cem>vulnerability \u003C\u002Fem>to the illicit use of virtual assets; and b) \u003Cem>capacity to mitigate \u003C\u002Fem>and respond to these threats. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n### Relevant indicators\n\nThe following graphic highlights indicators of the Basel AML Index that are relevant for assessing either \u003Cem>structural vulnerabilities \u003C\u002Fem>that illicit actors may exploit, or a jurisdiction’s \u003Cem>capacity to counter \u003C\u002Fem>threats. These can be viewed individually in the Expert Edition.\n\n![](https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F7f446525-136f-4018-a322-8a4e8872f23b) *Indicators visible in the Basel AML Index Edition that are particularly relevant to assessing national risks relating to virtual assets.*\n\n\n#### FATF data\n\nUsing the Expert Edition Plus subscription and its quantitative analysis of the latest FATF mutual evaluation and follow-up reports, Basel AML Index users can gain rapid insights into whether a jurisdiction’s AML\u002FCFT framework provides it with the capacity to \u003Cem>counter threats \u003C\u002Fem>related to financial crimes generally, including those involving virtual assets. FATF Recommendations that may be highly relevant for this include:\n\n- R.15 (new technologies)\n- R.16 (payment transparency)\n- R.26 & 27 (regulation and supervision)\n- R.29–31 (law enforcement)\n- R.36–40 (international cooperation)\n\nAn additional useful source of information for jurisdiction-level risk assessments is the FATF’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fatf-gafi.org\u002Fen\u002Fpublications\u002FFatfrecommendations\u002Ftargeted-update-virtual-assets-vasps-2025.html\">\u003Cem>2025 Targeted Update on Implementation of the FATF Standards on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>. This report summarises progress in implementing FATF Recommendation 15 by FATF members and additional jurisdictions with materially important global virtual asset activity. “Materially important” refers to the presence of large VASPs (accounting for more than 0.25 percent of global trading) and\u002For a large virtual asset user base.\n\n### Where to start\n\nFor jurisdictions at an early stage of assessing national risks related to virtual assets, the World Bank’s \u003Cem>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fopenknowledge.worldbank.org\u002Fentities\u002Fpublication\u002Fbb5a7475-ac52-4697-afdc-5f618a550623\">AML\u002FCFT National Risk Assessment on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers: Guidance Manual\u003C\u002Fa> \u003C\u002Fem>(published in October 2025) is a strong starting point. It covers both threats and vulnerabilities, as well as the effectiveness of mitigation measures.\n\nAdditional useful resources include:\n- \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002F9crc-crypto-regulation\">\u003Cstrong>Practical recommendations from regulators and supervisors\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>, developed at the 9th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets, on understanding financial crime risks linked to virtual assets and designing effective regulatory and supervisory frameworks.\n- \u003Cstrong>Structured public–private partnerships\u003C\u002Fstrong>, such as the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fefippp.eu\u002F\">Europol Financial Intelligence Sharing Public Private Partnership\u003C\u002Fa>, which offer opportunities to learn from peers and obtain early insights into emerging threats and financial crime typologies involving virtual assets.\n","2025-12-08","assessing-national-risks-related-to-virtual-assets","Assessing national risks related to virtual assets","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F78f8a1ec-bf8d-469a-ab92-228e79ddd8f2?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[],[72,73,20,74],"Anti-Money Laundering","Asset Recovery and Enforcement","Corruption Prevention and Public Governance",[76,77],"Basel AML Index","Research",[79],1365,[],[76],[83,84],"Asset Recovery & Enforcement","Business Integrity & Governance",[86],"International Centre for Asset Recovery","English",[],"545a204d-e41b-4882-afda-481ecf3fd971","2025-12-05T11:43:36.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:39.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fassessing-national-risks-related-to-virtual-assets",{"id":95,"body":96,"status":6,"type":10,"date":97,"slug":98,"title":99,"image":100,"countries":101,"topic":107,"activity":110,"tags":111,"nid":112,"topics":113,"activities":114,"authors":115,"images":116,"websites":22,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":87,"translations":117,"translation_of":22,"user_created":41,"date_created":118,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":119,"content":120,"link":121},10563,"_A joint blog by Vanessa Hans, Director, Private Sector, Basel Institute on Governance, and Elodie Beth, Senior Manager, Anti-corruption, Global Relations, Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The post is also published on the [OECD website](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fen\u002Fblogs\u002F2025\u002F06\u002Fboosting-business-integrity-in-asia-the-power-of-public-private-co-operation1.html)._\n\nClean, ethical business practices build trust, attract investors and create healthier markets. For the OECD, business integrity is key to levelling the global playing field and enhancing national competitiveness.\n\nAmid global regulatory uncertainty, countries like Indonesia and Thailand are stepping up. Both are taking meaningful steps to strengthen their anti-corruption frameworks as they move towards joining the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention – a critical milestone and prerequisite for future OECD membership.\n\nTheir actions reflect a broader shift: governments across Asia increasingly recognise that corruption undermines competitiveness, deters investment and jeopardises sustainable, long-term growth. A 2024 [regional study](https:\u002F\u002Flink.springer.com\u002Fchapter\u002F10.1007\u002F978-981-99-9303-1_3) confirms it: Asian countries that have improved their control of corruption are far more likely to attract foreign direct investment and foster long-term growth.\n\n### Regional co-operation and the role of Collective Action\n\nRecognising that no single actor can tackle corruption alone, public- and private-sector actors are joining forces at the regional level through the [Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fen\u002Fnetworks\u002Fanti-corruption-initiative-for-asia-and-the-pacific.html) (ACI), co-led by the OECD and Asian Development Bank.\n\nThe ACI, jointly supported by the OECD and the Asian Development Bank, launched a business integrity workstream in 2019, initiated by the Government of Viet Nam as the host country. Last year, the Government of Bhutan held business integrity seminars, and in 2025, Indonesia is expected to host the Regional ACI Conference.\n\nThese Collective Action efforts are underpinned by the OECD’s 2021 Anti-Bribery Recommendation, the first global standard to formally recognise the role of Collective Action and partnerships between the public and private sectors against foreign bribery.\n\n### Spotlight on innovation: Promising business integrity initiatives across the region\n\nFrom risk mapping to regulatory reform, here are standout examples of how countries are taking action through public-private initiatives:\n\n*   Australia: The [Bribery Prevention Network](https:\u002F\u002Fbriberyprevention.com\u002F) brings together business, civil society, academia and government to help small- and medium-sized enterprises prevent, detect and address bribery and corruption while promoting a culture of compliance.\n*   India: The [Maritime Anti-Corruption Network](https:\u002F\u002Fmacn.dk\u002Findia\u002F), a global initiative, set up a HelpDesk in India serving as a real-time resolution mechanism that bridges the gap between the shipping industry and local authorities. It collects anonymous reports by shipping companies of bribe solicitation in ports and uses this data to map out risk areas and tailor its strategies to engage with local government authorities.\n*   Hong Kong, China: The [Independent Commission Against Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fcpas.icac.hk\u002FEN\u002FInfo\u002FNews_List?cate_id=26) is engaged in several sector-specific Collective Action initiatives, particularly in construction and banking. It collaborates with chambers of commerce and industry associations such as the Construction Industry Council.\n*   Thailand: In 2024, the Thai government amended its procurement law to recognise certification by the [Thai Collective Action Against Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thai-cac.com\u002Fen\u002F) (CAC) initiative as proof of a company’s anti-corruption controls. This enables CAC-certified firms to qualify for public contracts above a certain threshold, incentivising private-sector compliance.\n\nThese experiences illustrate how government authorities are increasingly participating in Collective Action initiatives to enhance their awareness-raising efforts, gather better evidence and develop tailored solutions that reflect the realities of different sectors and companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises.\n\nBy engaging in such initiatives, government authorities can increase their overall outreach, lend greater legitimacy to private-sector anti-corruption efforts and effectively promote the adoption of business integrity policies.\n\n### Building a regional community of practice\n\nTo sustain momentum, the OECD and the Basel Institute on Governance have launched a regional community of practice.\n\nIn 2023, the [Asia-Pacific Collective Action Forum](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Fasia-pacific-anti-corruption-collective-action-forum-2023\u002F) was held in Manila, Philippines, bringing together 50+ practitioners from diverse stakeholder groups across the region. The Asia-Pacific Anti-Corruption Collective Action Award recognised the growing number of initiatives in the region and celebrated their achievements. The Thai CAC received the inaugural award.\n\nEncouraged by the Forum’s success, participants expressed strong interest in sustaining and deepening exchanges among practitioners. A follow-up Collective Action workshop was held in 2024 in Bangkok, in collaboration with the Thai CAC. The workshop further strengthened the emerging community of practice and provided a valuable platform for peer learning.\n\nThis regional community has created a meaningful space for peer learning and experience sharing. It has also contributed to greater alignment with international standards.\n\n### Looking ahead: co-operation as the path forward\n\nThese developments show that business integrity reforms are not only possible but already underway.\n\nIn 2025, the OECD will release a policy paper examining the link between business integrity frameworks and competitiveness. The paper underscores how public-private cooperation is not only advancing reform, but also makes countries more attractive to investment and resilient to shocks.\n\nAlthough still in their early stages, the emergence of Collective Action and partnerships between the public and private sectors in Asia offers a promising path forward to advance integrity. Sustained cooperation will be crucial to fully realising the potential of these initiatives.\n\n### Learn more and get engaged\n\n*   OECD work on [fighting foreign bribery](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fen\u002Ftopics\u002Ffighting-foreign-bribery.html)\n*   OECD and ADB [Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific](https:\u002F\u002Feur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\u002F?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.oecd.org%2Fen%2Fnetworks%2Fanti-corruption-initiative-for-asia-and-the-pacific.html&data=05%7C02%7CAmelia.GODBER%40oecd.org%7C6fd37eac8a904a45c14a08ddb79ccb32%7Cac41c7d41f61460db0f4fc925a2b471c%7C0%7C0%7C638868606248663645%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=f3iuWN%2F79tnGhdt3SdwKbaUixtckXB6wTGm2vb%2BocG4%3D&reserved=0)\n*   [B20 Collective Action Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F) by the Basel Institute on Governance\n*   [Working Paper 48: A collaborative approach to improve business integrity in ASEAN](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fpublications\u002F2316\u002F) by Lucie Binder, Vanessa Hans and Anna Stransky, Basel Institute on Governance\n*   [Working Paper 56: Anti-corruption Collective Action: A typology for a new era](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fpublications\u002F2397\u002F) by Scarlet Wannenwetsch, Basel Institute on Governance","2025-06-30","boosting-business-integrity-in-asia-the-power-of-public-private-cooperation-2825","Boosting business integrity in Asia: the power of public-private cooperation","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fc2ae4699-b971-41c8-bba9-47e7fadb6c5e?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[102,103,104,105,106],7783,7784,7785,7786,7787,[108,109],"Collective Action","Private Sector",[17],[],2825,[108,109,20],[17],[],[],[],"2025-07-13T11:42:46.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:37.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fboosting-business-integrity-in-asia-the-power-of-public-private-cooperation-2825",{"id":123,"body":124,"status":6,"type":10,"date":125,"slug":126,"title":127,"image":128,"countries":129,"topic":130,"activity":131,"tags":133,"nid":134,"topics":135,"activities":136,"authors":137,"images":140,"websites":141,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":87,"translations":142,"translation_of":22,"user_created":41,"date_created":143,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":144,"content":145,"link":146},10550,"With increasing geopolitical and regulatory volatility, the need for companies to develop resilience to market shocks and uncertain conditions is critical. One of the most effective ways to do this is by embedding strong compliance programmes into their operations that not only ensure adherence to laws and regulations, but also support positive, ethical work environments. \n\nEffective compliance programmes provide a foundation for businesses to act ethically by helping them to identify and manage risks early, and promote accountability and transparency. Ethical businesses are more resilient because they create trust with investors and customers, reduce the likelihood of legal or reputational crises, and are better able to motivate their staff to adapt to change when they are committed to their company’s purpose and values.\n\nThe OECD’s recently published [_Companies’ Assessments of Anti-Corruption Compliance_](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fen\u002Fpublications\u002Fcompanies-assessments-of-anti-corruption-compliance_977ed5a8-en.html) offers perspectives on how companies currently evaluate the effectiveness of their anti-corruption compliance programmes. Behind it lies months of consultation with the private sector; work that the Basel Institute on Governance was pleased to lead on behalf of the OECD.\n\nThrough a series of in-depth interviews and facilitated roundtables with multinational enterprises and SMEs from across sectors and regions, we helped capture the real experiences, challenges and innovations of corporate compliance leaders. The findings from this engagement shaped the OECD’s recommendations for improvement.\n\nWhat we heard from companies aligns strongly with the OECD’s message: that effectiveness can’t be defined by counting the number of compliance activities alone. What matters is whether those activities actually prevent misconduct and promote ethical business in practice.\n\n### Culture first: compliance starts with behaviour\n\nEvery company we spoke to, regardless of size or sector, emphasised the central role of organisational culture in achieving their compliance goals. Companies described good organisational cultures as those that empower people to act properly to prevent misconduct, but also feel safe to speak up when they see wrongdoing or feel unsure about how to proceed in a tricky situation.\n\nThis supports the behavioural focus in the OECD’s report, as well as our previous work on developing [indicators for company reporting](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fmeasuring-effectiveness-anti-corruption-programmes-indicators-company-reporting) supported by Norges Bank Investment Management, in which we concluded that:\n\n> An organisation’s culture is the key to the effectiveness of an anti-corruption programme. Not only does it influence staff attitudes and behaviour, but it also affects all aspects of the programme’s effective implementation.\n\nIt affirms that a compliance programme’s success hinges less on the written documents – although, these are critical as “guardrails” for behaviour – and more on how people feel and act in everyday decision-making. Good leaders and middle managers are essential for modelling integrity and turning principles into practical action, supported by open communication mechanisms where staff feedback is encouraged and acted upon.\n\n### Measuring what matters: outcomes over activities\n\nCompanies broadly agree that meaningful evaluation of compliance effectiveness must go beyond simply counting the number of policies developed or training sessions conducted. Leading firms are investing in innovative methods for evaluating impact. These range from in-depth employee opinion surveys, risk mapping and data analytics, to engaging behavioural scientists to explore how interventions affect behaviour and prevent harm. As one respondent put it to us:\n\n> Continuous improvement is a direct outcome of assessing effectiveness.\n\nStill, many note the difficulty of defining or measuring effectiveness in comparable ways. SMEs, in particular, struggle to keep pace with evolving expectations. The need for clear yet flexible guidance is a recurring theme.\n\n### Opportunities for better public-private interactions\n\nAll of the companies we interviewed as part of this process emphasised the influence of government legislation and guidance on the design of their compliance programmes. This isn’t surprising – governments make the rules that companies must follow. Companies, though, are now asking governments to make progress in two main areas. First, to consistently implement and enforce the laws and regulations they already have in order to ‘level the playing field’ for companies:\n\n> Enforcement is the best prevention\n\nSecond, to provide clearer articulation of the desired goals and outcomes of compliance programmes within the context of improved alignment, standardisation and consistency. Whether this also leads to more detailed government guidance on how to achieve these outcomes is still up for discussion. It may also differ depending on the industry and on the size of companies targeted:\n\n> Go to the question of why: why do compliance programmes exist? What are we trying to accomplish? \\[We\\] understand that \\[this approach\\] makes it difficult from a standards perspective. \\[But as the business environment becomes\\] more global; more complex... we’re going to need flexibility; risk mitigation for one company might look different than for another, and that’s ok.\n\nIn the first area, companies contextualised their backing for consistent enforcement with a request for a more supportive, flexible approach from governments. This approach should ideally be focused on dialogue and collaborative learning, and take into account if companies act in good faith when imposing penalties, even when wrongdoing occurs.\n\nIn the second area, and reflecting the complexity of the issue, companies themselves do not have simple definitions of effective anti-corruption compliance programmes. However, those with the most advanced programmes have a particular focus on: \n\n*   achieving the goals of widespread _prevention_ of misconduct within the context of an ethical culture;\n*   robust _detection and remediation_ processes; and \n*   _transparency around sanctions_ applied for wrongdoing.\n\n#### Collective Action initiatives\n\nCompanies are also willing to collaborate with governments to further develop definitions. They have demonstrated that they are an important source of compliance innovation which governments can leverage, including in the application of advances in the behavioural and data sciences. \n\nHowever, trust between companies and governments is variable. Companies have said that formal approaches specifically designed to build trust – such as Collective Action initiatives – would help to foster a more collaborative and positive culture around anti-corruption compliance and business integrity.\n\n#### International forums\n\nCollaboration between different jurisdictions would also be welcomed by companies in order to decomplexify the jigsaw of laws and regulations that companies have to abide by when operating globally. While acknowledging that identical laws would be unrealistic, companies are requesting greater alignment in the spirit of the law and a greater focus on functional equivalence. \n\nInternational organisations and anti-corruption conventions such as the OECD Convention on Bribery and its Working Group have been cited as possible forums to discuss improved alignment.\n\n### Co-creating behavioural-led compliance for resilient, ethical business\n\nThe insights gathered in this process point to a powerful opportunity for public and private actors to co-create more consistent, outcomes-focused definitions of effective compliance. In other words, definitions that prioritise behavioural change over box-ticking and reflect the realities companies face in conducting business globally.\n\nBy shifting the focus from documentation to demonstrable integrity in decision-making, both sectors can help move the needle on what meaningful compliance looks like. This is especially important at a time when the need to follow established rules is often being questioned. \n\nIt is a moment for innovation: through joint learning and dialogue, governments and companies can leverage each other’s strengths to build smarter and more adaptive compliance frameworks that transfer best practice from paper to action. \n\nAt the core of this effort must be a shared recognition that effective compliance programmes underpin ethical business conduct, and ethical businesses are more resilient. There is both a strong moral imperative and a clear commercial case for investing in this work, supporting the creation of financial and societal value in the long term.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   See the OECD report: [Companies’ assessments of anti-corruption compliance](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fen\u002Fpublications\u002Fcompanies-assessments-of-anti-corruption-compliance_977ed5a8-en.html)\n*   See a related [Quick Guide to business integrity and ethics](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fqg39)\n*   Learn more about [anti-corruption Collective Action](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F)","2025-05-12","why-ethical-business-and-behaviour-are-key-to-resilience-in-volatile-times-2808","Why ethical business and behaviour are key to resilience in volatile times","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F7d2ef844-cf67-475d-812f-923f2dd4ea51?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[108,109],[77,132,17],"Reports",[],2808,[108,109,20],[77,132,17],[138,139],1338,1339,[],[24,108],[],"2025-05-13T10:01:35.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:36.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fwhy-ethical-business-and-behaviour-are-key-to-resilience-in-volatile-times-2808",{"id":148,"body":149,"status":6,"type":10,"date":150,"slug":151,"title":152,"image":153,"countries":154,"topic":155,"activity":156,"tags":158,"nid":159,"topics":160,"activities":161,"authors":162,"images":164,"websites":165,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":87,"translations":166,"translation_of":22,"user_created":41,"date_created":167,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":168,"content":169,"link":170},10543,"> “Strong and productive partnerships across diverse sectors were everywhere in evidence at the OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum. Such solidarity and collaboration are critically important, particularly in the face of the headwinds confronting the anti-corruption movement today.\" – Elizabeth Andersen, Executive Director, Basel Institute on Governance\n\n_This blog by Lucie Binder, Senior Specialist, Governance and Integrity, reflects on the [2025 OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd-events.org\u002Fgacif\u002Fen) and the challenges and opportunities facing all who are committed to promoting high standards of ethics and integrity._\n\nAmong the many thoughtful discussions at this year’s Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum, one quieter note resonated: the reduced presence of civil society organisations. \n\nThese groups – traditionally at the forefront of driving transparency and accountability – were fewer than in previous years. In part this was due to mounting funding pressures, especially those linked to recent changes in United States foreign assistance policy. \n\nWhile their absence was not the main story, it was a reminder of the broader reality: those working to uphold integrity are operating in a more constrained global landscape.\n\nYet the tone of the Forum was far from defeatist. In fact, one of its most striking insights was that constraints can drive clarity and innovation. Nowhere was this more powerfully illustrated than in the sessions on Ukraine. \n\nAmid the pressures of wartime, Ukraine’s business integrity and anti-corruption efforts have not been put on hold – they have become more focused. Faced with existential challenges, the priorities are clear: uphold transparency in decision-making, ensure the ethical use of public and private resources, and reinforce the integrity of institutions and businesses alike.\n\n[Innovating for integrity during wartime: Ukraine’s developments since 2022 (click to view recording)](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd-events.org\u002Fgacif\u002Fen\u002Fonlinesession\u002F6edbc934-63f3-ef11-90cb-6045bda07d25)\n\n### A chance to make integrity work better for all\n\nThis clarity of mission offers a valuable lesson for others. Even in times of political uncertainty and institutional fragility, there are opportunities to innovate and strengthen business integrity – not simply to maintain compliance, but to leverage it as something core to an organisation’s purpose, resilience and long-term value.\n\nRather than treating compliance as an afterthought or a legal checkbox, companies can design operations, decision-making processes and incentive structures that align with ethics and integrity from the outset, helping to build long-term trust with stakeholders, and reduce risk by creating more stable operating environments.\n\nEmerging technologies offer tools to identify risks earlier and act proactively, even in contexts where external oversight is weak or politicised. (Here again, our Ukrainian colleagues shared inspirational approaches.) Such tools can help business decisions to be both commercially sound and ethically grounded, independent of shifting regulations and political priorities.\n\n### Cooperation for fair competition\n\nAcross industries, there is renewed incentive to build shared standards and mutual accountability. Collective Action can establish a level playing field and protect against the risks of regulatory backsliding. \n\nOur Knowledge Partner session on anti-corruption Collective Action and sustainable development revealed that companies do appreciate tangible benefits from participating in Collective Action initiatives, such as integrity certification or visibility from participation. But what they are ultimately seeking is a reduction in corruption, both nationally and globally. That leads to fairer, more predictable market conditions, especially across complex supply chains. Our new working paper [presenting a typology of Collective Action](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fpublications\u002F2397) initiatives provides a roadmap for companies to work together toward such meaningful change.\n\n[Anti-corruption Collective Action as an enabler for sustainable development (click to view recording)](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd-events.org\u002Fgacif\u002Fen\u002Fonlinesession\u002Fc8290b16-63f3-ef11-90cb-6045bda07d25)\n\n### Showing leadership, scaling solutions\n\nAt the national level, particularly in countries where democratic institutions are under strain, companies and public actors alike have the opportunity to lead by example. Even when enforcement is inconsistent, adherence to recognised standards can demonstrate a clear commitment to integrity and build public trust.\n\nThese themes were explored in depth during the Asia-Pacific regional session on disclosures for public integrity. The session highlighted how reporting tools and digital mechanisms can be leveraged to promote transparency, accountability and the development of effective public integrity policies. The role of emerging technologies in this space – from data platforms to digital dashboards – is becoming increasingly central to how national systems build resilience and respond to integrity risks. \n\nWe also had the opportunity to moderate a session on the role of public-private partnerships in promoting a clean environment for sustainable business growth in Southeast Asia, where the panel discussed how a clean business environment can be a catalyst for sustainable development across the region. The conversation built on previous Collective Action initiatives and emphasised the value of cross-sector collaboration, while underscoring the role of innovation and technology in enabling effective, scalable solutions to integrity challenges.\n\nAsia-Pacific regional session on disclosures for public integrity\n\n### Fighting corruption means challenging threats to anti-corruption\n\nWhat emerged most clearly from this year’s Forum is that this is a time to focus, consolidate, leverage partnerships, and act with purpose. The challenges are real — shrinking resources, political pushback, and unstable governance environments. But they also underscore why integrity must remain at the centre of sustainable development. \n\nWithout accountability and ethical governance, efforts to advance economic, environmental and social goals risk being undermined by mismanagement and corruption. Integrity provides the foundation for fair institutions, efficient use of resources and inclusive growth — all of which are vital for development that is truly sustainable and resilient.\n\nIn this context, innovation is not only possible but essential. It enables new tools, partnerships and approaches to uphold integrity where traditional mechanisms may be under strain.\n\nAnd we must also remember that the broader international framework for integrity remains largely intact:\n\n*   Transnational regulation and enforcement continues to apply pressure on corporate misconduct. \n*   Multilateral organisations, including the OECD, continue to provide stable platforms for cooperation and standard-setting. \n*   Global companies continue to invest in business integrity. \n\nWhether through international frameworks or local initiatives, standing up for integrity remains one of the clearest pathways to restoring public trust and strengthening the foundations for long-term peace and prosperity.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   [OECD 2025 Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd-events.org\u002Fgacif\u002Fen#bl-7d0b3f5b-c3a6-4b40-8749-390d707a7040)\n*   See the Basel Institute's [Quick Guide to business integrity and ethics](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fquick-guide-39-business-integrity-and-ethics)\n*   Learn more about [anti-corruption Collective Action](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F)","2025-04-03","staying-the-course-business-integrity-in-a-fragmented-political-climate-2791","Staying the course: business integrity in a fragmented political climate","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F0cc9a79d-2d22-41d5-8df6-d630c62b85b6?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[108,109],[157,17],"Events",[],2791,[108,109,20],[157,17],[163],1085,[],[24,108],[],"2025-04-03T10:01:36.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:35.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fstaying-the-course-business-integrity-in-a-fragmented-political-climate-2791",{"id":172,"body":173,"status":6,"type":10,"date":174,"slug":175,"title":176,"image":177,"countries":178,"topic":180,"activity":181,"tags":182,"nid":183,"topics":184,"activities":185,"authors":186,"images":189,"websites":190,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":191,"translation_of":22,"user_created":41,"date_created":192,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":193,"content":194,"link":195},10441,"Paris is known as the city of love. But once a year, during the [OECD Global Anti-Corruption Forum (GACIF)](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd-events.org\u002Fgacif2024), it also becomes the beating heart of integrity – at least for the anti-corruption community.\n\nUnder the theme “Designing our future with integrity”, this year’s Forum brought together anti-corruption experts from business, government and civil society from around the world to explore trends in the fight for integrity and against corruption.\n\nAmid the global upheavals of the past year, how did this year’s Forum differ from previous editions? And how is the private sector adapting to these evolutions? A few takeaways from our Private Sector team are below.\n\n### 1 – Celebrating the OECD Convention’s relevance for business\n\n2024 marked the 25th anniversary of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, which recognises Collective Action as a best practice through its complementary [2021 Recommendation](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fdaf\u002Fanti-bribery\u002F2021-oecd-anti-bribery-recommendation.htm).\n\nIn the presence of the French and Ukrainian Ministers of Justice, the Convention’s anniversary provided impetus to reflect on its many notable successes, as well as the challenges ahead. [Discussions](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd-events.org\u002Fgacif2024\u002Fonlinesession\u002Ff5b9e920-3f94-ee11-8923-6045bd9869bb) recalled the unprecedented importance and relevance of the Convention in ensuring equitable and sustainable global trade.\n\n### 2 – Major evolutions in integrity and compliance\n\nThis GACIF also saw the [launch of the OECD Anti-Corruption and Integrity Outlook](https:\u002F\u002Foecd-events.org\u002Fgacif2024\u002Fsession\u002F0035cced-3d94-ee11-8923-6045bd9869bb), which assesses the effectiveness of Member States’ integrity efforts, and highlights key developments and trends in anti-corruption. These include the emerging risks in the energy transition, the increasing use of technology in corruption schemes and the growing threats of foreign interference.\n\nSpeakers discussed the evolving functions of compliance officers and the need to strengthen their role. A key message was the need for compliance roles to evolve from operational to strategic positions within companies.\n\n### 3 – Participation in shaping business integrity\n\nMultiple global crises are impacting the way business is done internationally, reinforcing the role companies play in global anti-corruption efforts. As a result, this year’s GACIF saw a strong private-sector presence, both in terms of attendance and topics discussed.\n\nWe already saw this trend at the last major anti-corruption event in December 2023 – the 10th session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) – where the private sector showed a strong appetite to participate in [shaping the global business integrity agenda](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fnews\u002Fsticks-and-carrots-new-un-resolution-calls-on-governments-to-provide-incentives-for-companies-to-implement-anti-corruption-measures-2594\u002F).\n\n### 4 – Collective Action is crucial for integrity and fair competition\n\nThe increased business presence at this year’s GACIF meant that Collective Action was at the centre of many discussions. It was consistently presented as a crucial tool to raise standards of business integrity and level the playing field. [The Basel Institute’s session](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd-events.org\u002Fgacif2024\u002Fsession\u002Fce6d8090-f0d6-ee11-85fa-000d3a2d90a9\u002Faddressing-governance-and-corruption-risks-in-infrastructure-development-through-collective-action-presented-by-basel-governance-) (as a GACIF Knowledge Partner) on enhancing transparency in the critical infrastructure sector highlighted that:\n\n● Collective Action allows for tailored solutions for each industry. This is demonstrated by the World Economic Forum's [Partnering Against Corruption Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.weforum.org\u002Fcommunities\u002Fpartnering-against-corruption-initiative\u002F) (PACI), whose approach acknowledges that corruption-related challenges differ across industries.\n\n● [Integrity Pacts](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fintegrity-pacts) can provide strong incentives for business integrity and create a learning platform for smaller actors in the infrastructure sector to improve their compliance capacity.\n\n● Initiatives such as [CoST – the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Finfrastructuretransparency.org\u002Fabout-us\u002F) are driving long-term policy reform and providing evidence for better decision making, leading to higher-quality infrastructure.\n\n### 5 – Leaders call for harmonised standards\n\nPublic-private cooperation was a focus of the OECD’s [Anti-Corruption Leaders Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fcorruption-integrity\u002Fgetinvolved\u002Fprivate-sector\u002Fanti-corruptionleadershub\u002F) annual meeting at the forum. This multi-stakeholder community of chief compliance officers and integrity leaders from government and civil society facilitates dialogue on pressing challenges and opportunities.\n\nIn one of her last public events before her tragic [passing](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fgretta-fenner-1975-2024-message-president) on 6 April 2024, Gretta Fenner, the Basel Institute’s Managing Director, moderated a roundtable discussion on bridging the implementation gap between international anti-corruption standards and national policies.\n\nPrivate-sector participants shared how they are responding to the practical challenges of operating globally under misaligned standards, and called on governments to harmonise expectations of businesses.\n\n### 6 – Opportunities for peer learning and dialogue\n\nIn a session on innovative peer learning programmes, Vanessa Hans, Head of the Basel Institute’s Private Sector team, highlighted the importance of creating safe spaces for open communication and constructive criticism when dealing with sensitive topics such as corruption.\n\nThere are many opportunities for anti-corruption and compliance professionals to exchange with each other in a neutral, mutually supportive way. These include dedicated Collective Action initiatives that focus on peer learning and jointly raising standards, such as the [Wolfsberg Group](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Finitiatives\u002F1385), [Metals Technology Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Finitiatives\u002F1484) or many of the other initiatives included in our [global database](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Finitiatives). \n\nAn interesting current programme for compliance officers initiated by the OECD and Basel Institute on Governance is [Compliance without Borders](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fcorruption-integrity\u002Fgetinvolved\u002Fprivate-sector\u002Fcompliance-without-borders\u002F). The programme matches compliance professionals from private companies and state-owned enterprises to exchange experiences, build expertise and discover new anti-corruption systems, techniques and solutions.\n\n### What’s next? Business integrity is touring Europe\n\nAfter Paris, lovers of business integrity are heading east, to Vilnius, Lithuania, before ending their tour in Basel, Switzerland.\n\nTransparency International’s flagship International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) will come to Vilnius from 18 to 21 June 2024 with a dedicated track on “[Building a Global Ethical Economy: Advancing Business Integrity and Its Leaders](https:\u002F\u002Fiaccseries.org\u002Fiacc-2024\u002Flithuania-theme\u002Fbuilding-a-global-ethical-economy-advancing-business-integrity-and-its-leaders\u002F)”.\n\nA week later, the Basel Institute will convene the global Collective Action community for its [5th International Collective Action Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2024). The in-person event will showcase Collective Action as a holistic approach to fighting and preventing corruption, and highlight the Basel Institute’s role in building a global community of practice for Collective Action. The draft agenda is available [here](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2024\u002Fagenda). Our annual Anti-Corruption Collective Action Awards will also be presented at the conference – keep an eye out for the public vote [here](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fawards).","2024-05-13","paris-vilnius-basel-business-integrity-goes-on-tour-2625","Paris, Vilnius, Basel: Business integrity goes on tour","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F4d11a6c6-86fc-4c80-b9bd-66616db5beea?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[179],7127,[108,109],[157,17],[],2625,[108,109,20],[157,17],[187,188],1114,1115,[],[24,108],[],"2024-05-13T16:01:28.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:29.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fparis-vilnius-basel-business-integrity-goes-on-tour-2625",{"id":197,"body":198,"status":6,"type":10,"date":199,"slug":200,"title":201,"image":202,"countries":203,"topic":204,"activity":205,"tags":206,"nid":211,"topics":212,"activities":213,"authors":214,"images":215,"websites":216,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":217,"translation_of":22,"user_created":41,"date_created":218,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":219,"content":220,"link":221},10352,"_Business entities wishing to implement projects funded by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs, also referred to as International Financial Institutions) will be interested to know that six major MDBs have agreed and published new General Principles for Business Integrity Programmes. Such programmes play an important part in the MDBs’ efforts to fight fraud and corruption in the projects they finance or otherwise support._\n\n_These General Principles provide non-exhaustive, non-binding guidance for business entities that implement such projects. Notably, they recommend engagement in Collective Action to encourage other business entities to implement integrity programmes as well._\n\n_In this guest blog, Lisa Miller of the World Bank Group and Duncan Smith of the European Investment Bank explain, especially for businesses seeking to implement MDB-financed projects, what the General Principles are and the role business integrity programmes play in MDBs’ anti-fraud and anti-corruption efforts._\n\nSix major Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)—the African Development Bank ([AfDB](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.afdb.org\u002Fen)), Asian Development Bank ([ADB](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.adb.org\u002F)), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ([EBRD](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.ebrd.com\u002Fhome)), European Investment Bank ([EIB](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.eib.org\u002F)), Inter-American Development Bank ([IDB](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.iadb.org\u002Fen)), and [World Bank Group](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.worldbank.org\u002Fen\u002Fhome)—have agreed and published new General Principles for Business Integrity Programmes.\n\nThe MDBs provide essential support for development projects in countries seeking assistance, in particular financial support. They are public, not commercial, multilateral lending institutions. The MDBs, among other things, lend money to their member countries (public borrowers) to carry out key development projects, which the borrowers implement.\n\nThe projects often involve the purchase of goods, works, and services through public procurement systems in which private entities seek to win contracts under the MDB-supported projects.\n\nUnfortunately, some entities seek to improperly influence (e.g., via bribes) or otherwise distort the process, such as through the submission of fraudulent information in a bid for such contracts. The potential for misconduct also exists throughout the project lifecycle.\n\n### MDB expectations and control mechanisms\n\nIt is essential that the funds provided by the MDBs are used for their intended purposes and are not misused, whether by borrowers or by the entities that compete for or win contracts under MDB-supported projects. The MDBs therefore expect entities participating in such projects to maintain the highest standard of integrity.\n\nThe MDBs’ expectations in that regard are set out in financing agreements with borrowers and contracts entered into between borrower agencies and the contractors and consultants that work under such projects. The MDBs also have in place mechanisms to monitor related procurement processes and contract performance.\n\nIn addition, each MDB has an integrity function, to which any suspected misuse of funds or other prohibited practices under such projects should be reported. In this respect, the MDBs have adopted harmonised definitions of fraud, corruption, collusion and coercion (commonly collectively referred to simply as “fraud and corruption”) which are set out in the [International Financial Institutions Uniform Framework for Preventing and Combating Fraud and Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.eib.org\u002Fen\u002Fabout\u002Fdocuments\u002Fifi-anti-corruption-task-force-uniform-framework.htm) (the Framework).\n\nIf an allegation has been investigated by an MDB (or MDBs if the project is co-financed) and a finding of misconduct has been substantiated, each MDB has an internal administrative process to sanction those who have engaged in such misconduct (e.g., debarment or exclusion). \\[1\\]\n\nMoreover, some MDBs have signed an Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions among Multilateral Development Banks, commonly referred to as the [Cross-Debarment Agreement](http:\u002F\u002Fcrossdebarment.org\u002Foai001p.nsf\u002FHome.xsp?SessionID=CWO0W588ZO), under which an entity that is debarred by one MDB for an initial period exceeding one year also generally is debarred by the other MDBs. \\[2\\]\n\n### The role of business integrity programmes\n\nA business integrity programme should clearly articulate an entity’s values, as well as the policies and procedures used to prevent, detect, investigate and remediate misconduct in the entity’s operations.\n\nAs set out by the MDBs in their respective policies and procedures, an entity’s business integrity programme is often relevant in connection with the MDBs’ frameworks for investigating and sanctioning fraud and corruption. For example, the business integrity programme of a company that is accused of misconduct may be considered in an MDBs’ investigation and sanctions proceedings, such as in determining an appropriate sanction.\n\nIn addition, when an entity is sanctioned by an MDB, the MDB may impose conditions for the entity’s reinstatement or release from sanction that require the entity to develop and implement a business integrity programme. In such cases, whether the entity has put in place and is effectively implementing a programme designed to prevent, deter, detect, investigate and remediate prohibited practices will be considered by the MDB in its assessment of the entity’s application for reinstatement or release from sanction.\n\nAs effective business integrity programmes become more common among the entities that participate in MDB-supported projects, it is hoped that the risk of misconduct in such projects will decline. As Principle 29 of the document makes clear, Collective Action can help to encourage the widespread adoption of effective business integrity programmes.\n\nBusiness integrity programmes therefore play an important part in MDBs’ efforts to fight fraud and corruption in the projects they support.\n\nThe General Principles are intended as non-exhaustive, non-binding guidance relating to business integrity programmes in the context of MDB-financed projects. Companies also may wish to refer to the General Principles as guidance for their programmes in other contexts. Indeed, it is a good business practice to have such a programme in place, and to implement the programme consistently and effectively, as a standard approach to doing business.\n\nIn addition, the General Principles are intended to be adaptable to entities of all types and sizes that are operating in various environments. The policies and procedures comprising a business integrity programme should be based on a comprehensive risk assessment of the entity’s operations and should be tailored accordingly. The programme should address and include provisions intended to minimise the occurrence of the identified risks, and it should be structured such that it will accommodate changing circumstances and evolve over time.\n\n### Core elements of a programme\n\nWhile a programme should reflect an entity’s own circumstances and integrity risk profile, key features, such as those set out in the General Principles, should be incorporated into the programme as appropriate.\n\nThe General Principles cover the following core principles, among others:\n\n*   Risk Assessment\n*   Prohibited Misconduct\n*   Management Roles\n*   Integrity Function\n*   Internal Controls\n*   Reporting, Investigation, and Remediation\n*   Training, Communication, Advice, and Accessibility\n*   Business Partners\n*   Collective Action\u002FExternal Engagement\n\n### In conclusion\n\nThe General Principles set out important guidance relating to the MDBs’ efforts to ensure the funds they lend to states are used only for development purposes. The General Principles are intended as guidance relating to the prevention of fraud and corruption and can be adopted and implemented by entities in all sectors and of all sizes.\n\nThe General Principles may be found at [Cross Debarment (adb.org)](https:\u002F\u002Flnadbg4.adb.org\u002Foai001p.nsf\u002FContent.xsp?action=openDocument&documentId=E89FC5403A8D0B654825896E0017FAD9) including an Appendix that sets out additional guidance relating to the core principles.\n\n### Notes\n\n\\[1\\] MDB investigation teams also may refer suspected criminal conduct to relevant law enforcement agencies that have the full range of criminal investigation tools (e.g., search and arrest warrants).\n\n\\[2\\] For legal reasons, EIB did not sign the Cross Debarment Agreement but recognizes that the debarment should be identified and disclosed under the EIB Covenant of Integrity ([EIB Guide to Procurement](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.eib.org\u002Fen\u002Fpublications\u002Fguide-to-procurement), Annex 3).\n\n### About the authors\n\nLisa Miller is the World Bank Group Integrity Compliance Officer and heads the Integrity Compliance Office in [the World Bank Group's Integrity Vice Presidency](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.worldbank.org\u002Fen\u002Fabout\u002Funit\u002Fintegrity-vice-presidency\u002F). She previously was a Senior Counsel in the World Bank's Legal Vice Presidency, focusing on sanctions and legal procurement matters. Prior to joining the World Bank, she was in private legal practice in Boston and Washington, DC, where her practice focused on integrity compliance, sanctions, public procurement, and corporate matters. \n\nDuncan Smith will soon retire as Deputy Head of Investigations at EIB. After passing the English Bar, he prosecuted corporate fraud & corruption cases at the UK’s DTI & SFO. He then spent 7 years at World Bank Investigations (as Team Leader, later Policy Adviser); he moved to EIB in 2007 to investigate large cases and address prevention\u002Fdeterrence\u002Foutreach & negotiate settlements. He co-authored the International Financial Institutions Anti-Corruption Uniform Framework Agreement (2006) & MDB harmonization documents (e.g., General Principles on Settlements). He has written many articles on the subject, including for Basel Institute on Governance & FCPA Blog and has authored two books: [Promoting Integrity in the Work of International Organisations: Minimising Fraud and Corruption in Projects](%20Minimising%20Fraud%20and%20Corruption%20in%20Projects) (2021) and [Fraud and Corruption: Cases & Materials](https:\u002F\u002Flink.springer.com\u002Fbook\u002F10.1007\u002F978-3-031-10063-5) (2022).","2023-03-27","business-integrity-programmes-multilateral-development-banks-harmonise-their-guidance-2417","Business integrity programmes: Multilateral Development Banks harmonise their guidance ","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F0e0e8557-bb5a-4596-ac88-4a6e910bc584?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[108,14],[17],[207],{"tags_id":208},{"id":209,"name":210},830,"Business integrity",2417,[108,20],[17],[],[],[24,108],[],"2023-03-27T08:29:43.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:25.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbusiness-integrity-programmes-multilateral-development-banks-harmonise-their-guidance-2417",{"id":223,"body":224,"status":6,"type":10,"date":225,"slug":226,"title":227,"image":228,"countries":229,"topic":230,"activity":231,"tags":232,"nid":235,"topics":236,"activities":237,"authors":238,"images":240,"websites":241,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":242,"translation_of":22,"user_created":41,"date_created":243,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":244,"content":245,"link":246},9536,"_Key takeaways and perspectives_ _on how to “step up global action for business integrity” from_ _the 9th_ _Conference of the States Parties (CoSP 9) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption_ _at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt._\n\nThe United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with Siemens AG, organised a [side event](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unodc.org\u002Fdocuments\u002Ftreaties\u002FUNCAC\u002FCOSP\u002Fsession9\u002Fspecial-events\u002F14_Stepping_up_Global_Action.pdf) at this year’s Conference of the States Parties to discuss recent trends, challenges and shared experiences on how to strengthen integrity in global business practices.\n\nHeld on Tuesday 14 December, the event brought together representatives from a mix of ministries, international organisations, businesses and – moderated by our Managing Director – non-state actors. By gathering together such a diverse group of stakeholders, the event itself illustrated the concept of Collective Action.\n\nMulti-stakeholder approaches to business integrity through Collective Action is something that Siemens AG has been promoting for many years, including through its funding of organisations such as UNODC, our own [Collective Action team](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcollective-action) and many courageous civil society and business organisations around the world.\n\nThe benefit of this joined up, collective approach was stressed by all panelists. Opening the event in a pre-recorded video statement, Dr. Andreas C. Hoffmann, General Counsel and Head of Legal and Compliance at Siemens, together with his colleagues Annette Kraus (Chief Compliance Officer) and Sabine Zindera (Head of Collective Action & External Affairs), highlighted the importance of building sustainable Collective Action networks to enable fair market conditions.\n\nThis is a message that Siemens lives up to not only by funding projects projects across the globe through the [Siemens Integrity Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fnew.siemens.com\u002Fglobal\u002Fen\u002Fcompany\u002Fsustainability\u002Fcompliance\u002Fcollective-action.html), but also by including Collective Action as a prevention tool in its compliance system.\n\nMr El-Bagoury, CEO of Siemens Egypt, shared examples of how the company lives up to this in its day-to-day work. It consists of a combination of tangible Collective Action tools – in Egypt in the form of an Integrity Pact between Siemens and its respective business partners – and significant investment in building the capacity of the workforce, partners and intermediaries. Originally developed for a large infrastructure project to build the third-largest powerplant in the world, the model is now being replicated for a big mobility project in Egypt.\n\nOther panelists also highlighted the importance of education and training, within companies but also across society as a whole, in order to significantly shift the business environment towards a culture of integrity. This concept is at the heart of the work presented by UNODC which, over the past years and with support from Siemens, has reached over 7,000 students worldwide. The UNODC programme also makes an important contribution to mainstreaming integrity across all types of businesses, with its Collective Action project providing tailored support and training to small and medium-sized businesses.\n\nThis need to reach out to all types of businesses was strongly supported by H.E. Mr. Wagner de Campos Rosário, Minister of the Office of the Comptroller General, Brazil. Sharing some of the lessons learned by the Brazilian government from the Lava Jato\u002FOdebrecht case, he underscored the importance of regulating state-owned enterprises (SOEs) similarly to the rules applicable to privately owned enterprises. He also emphasised the need to invest in the development of SOE compliance systems, as SOEs form an integral part of the business environment in many countries.\n\nThe value of constantly reviewing and, if needed, amending the applicable regulatory framework was supported by the representatives from the Egyptian Ministry for Electricity and Renewable Energy. As part of Egypt’s desire to open up the country’s energy sector while also ensuring transparency and fair competition, significant efforts were made to strategically amend and develop relevant laws, reduce red tape by establishing e-platforms, and set up accountability mechanisms.\n\nMs. Shirazi, Head of Legal at construction company Orascom, the first Egyptian multinational corporation, agreed that a clear regulatory framework is important. This is because when the rules are clear, companies like Orascom can focus on embracing business integrity and compliance as an asset and not a cost. When openly declared and unequivocally supported from the top, ethics and integrity are a protective shield for companies, even in high-risk sectors. These “soft factors” are extremely important, and should also include harnessing business integrity as a currency to build trust with other stakeholders.\n\nPedro Gomez Pensado, the Head of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF)’s [Partnering against Corruption Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.weforum.org\u002Fcommunities\u002Fpartnering-against-corruption-initiative) (PACI), confirmed that he observed similar trends in the WEF community as previous panelists have noted. In particular, he stressed the increased emphasis of the next generation on integrity and broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics. Gomez Pensado expects this to have a significant impact on the labour market of tomorrow, where a company’s commitment to integrity is increasingly seen as a decisive factor in employment decisions taken by young entrants to the labour force.\n\nThis momentum is likely to be bolstered by a growing recognition that ESG is about more than “just” the environment. Indeed. strong ESG momentum will inevitably shift its emphasis on establishing a culture of integrity as a foundation for all other ESG requirements. New technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain bring new opportunities but also potential ethical risks. Companies and governments should get ahead of this development.\n\nOverall, panelists agreed that business integrity was a fast-developing concept, and that rapid progress has been made in recent years.\n\nTo wrap up, the panel moderator Gretta Fenner, Managing Director of the Basel Institute on Governance, noted that the discussion was almost a recipe for how business integrity can and will work: through a joined-up effort tackling corruption at every level and from every angle, bringing together culture and laws, spanning the smallest and largest enterprises, uniting competitiveness and integrity, and building on awareness, understanding and trust. Or, in two words: Collective Action.\n\nFind out more about Collective Action for business integrity on the [B20 Collective Action Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub).","2021-12-23","stepping-up-global-action-for-business-integrity-takeaways-from-a-cosp-9-side-event-2152","Stepping up global action for business integrity – takeaways from a CoSP  9 side event","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F4eaf1358-5c0b-4505-8128-27ff22f60411?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[108,109],[157,17],[233],{"tags_id":234},{"id":209,"name":210},2152,[108,109,20],[157,17],[239],1176,[],[24,108],[],"2022-05-26T22:52:09.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:40.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fstepping-up-global-action-for-business-integrity-takeaways-from-a-cosp-9-side-event-2152",{"id":248,"body":249,"status":6,"type":250,"date":251,"slug":252,"title":253,"image":254,"countries":255,"topic":256,"activity":257,"tags":259,"nid":266,"topics":267,"activities":268,"authors":269,"images":270,"websites":271,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":272,"translation_of":22,"user_created":41,"date_created":273,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":274,"content":275,"link":276},9612,"The Basel Institute on Governance has joined forces with the Alliance for Integrity and more than 60 partners from 12 countries to raise awareness of the importance of business integrity – and the challenges it can present to individuals, their families, business partners and society.\n\nThe [Alliance for Integrity](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.allianceforintegrity.org\u002F) is a global business-driven, multi-stakeholder initiative seeking to promote transparency and integrity in the economic system. Its global #United4Integrity campaign, which launches today, features an [interactive video](http:\u002F\u002Fbit.ly\u002FWWYDGlobal) as its centrepiece.\n\nThe protagonist in the video is faced with an integrity dilemma that small business leaders all over the world will recognise. Should she cheat to win that contract? What would _you_ do? Choose whether you would say yes, say no or look away.\n\nThe video encourages viewers to engage in debate about the challenges of doing business with integrity and the potential consequences when things go wrong. There are no easy answers but viewers can visit the campaign website, [what-would-you-do.org](http:\u002F\u002Fwhat-would-you-do.org\u002Fgb\u002Fhome-4\u002F), to find out how engaging in Collective Action can help.\n\n### Sparking debate towards the Global Conference\n\nThe Basel Institute’s [Collective Action team](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcollective-action) has been working closely with the Alliance for Integrity almost since its inception. Our Head of Compliance and Collective Action Gemma Aiolfi, who sits on the Alliance’s Steering Committee, praised the leadership’s initiative in sparking debate:\n\n> It’s easy to forget that at heart, anti-corruption compliance is not about paperwork, checklists and toolkits – it’s about people, values and knowing when and how to do the right thing. This unique campaign by the Alliance for Integrity encourages workers, managers and business leaders alike to openly talk about corporate values and listen to one another’s concerns.\n> \n> I strongly encourage you to take this journey and to connect with the Alliance for Integrity to find out how you can join this vibrant global partnership.\n\nVisit the [campaign website](http:\u002F\u002Fwhat-would-you-do.org\u002Fgb\u002Fhome-4\u002F) and [interact with the video](http:\u002F\u002Fbit.ly\u002FWWYDGlobal) here. We invite you to share this important message with your networks using the campaign hashtag #United4Integrity.\n\nThe campaign culminates in the Global Conference of the Alliance for Integrity on 27-29 April 2021. It is open to all and free of charge. Register via the [event platform here](https:\u002F\u002Fallianceforintegrity.plazz.net\u002F#dashboard.html?).\n\n### More insights on business integrity and Collective Action\n\n*   See this recent Q&A with Susanne Friedrich, Director of Alliance for Integrity, on [how Collective Action can help SMEs overcome the pandemic](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fhow-collective-action-can-help-smes-overcome-pandemic-qa-alliance-integritys-susanne-friedrich).\n*   Susanne Friedrich also appears in a short video filmed at the Basel Institute’s 2018 International Collective Action Conference to answer the question: [“What is Collective Action and what is its value in combating corruption?](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fcollective-action-videos)”\n*   Scarlet Wannenwetsch’s article on Anti-Corruption Collective Action appeared in the [16th Compliance Bulletin](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.allianceforintegrity.org\u002FwAssets\u002Fdocs\u002Fpublications\u002FCompliance-Bulletin\u002FAfIn_ComplianceBulletin_16.pdf) of Alliance for Integrity in collaboration with the Global Compact Network Germany.\n*   Gemma Aiolfi’s article on [Integrity and anti-corruption in the private sector post covid-19](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fhere-today-and-gone-tomorrow-integrity-and-anti-corruption-private-sector-post-covid-19), written in April 2020, generated vivid debate among the community and was republished on the FCPA Blog.\n*   This [quick guide to integrity and anti-corruption compliance for SMEs](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fgemma-aiolfis-quick-guide-integrity-and-anti-corruption-compliance-smes) outlines five simple things that any business can do to raise levels of integrity in their organisation. It’s available on the Alliance for Integrity campaign website, alongside other useful publications on anti-corruption Collective Action.","News","2021-03-29","what-would-you-do-alliance-for-integrity-global-campaign-launches-with-thought-provoking-video-1994","What would you do? Alliance for Integrity Global Campaign launches with thought-provoking video","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F83ba0bb3-1192-4472-ab47-f5649cb0ee58?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[108,109],[17,258],"Partnerships",[260,262],{"tags_id":261},{"id":209,"name":210},{"tags_id":263},{"id":264,"name":265},1274,"Ethics",1994,[108,109,20],[17,258],[],[],[24,108],[],"2022-05-26T22:53:15.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:46.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fwhat-would-you-do-alliance-for-integrity-global-campaign-launches-with-thought-provoking-video-1994",{"id":278,"body":279,"status":6,"type":250,"date":280,"slug":281,"title":282,"image":283,"countries":284,"topic":285,"activity":286,"tags":288,"nid":291,"topics":292,"activities":293,"authors":294,"images":295,"websites":296,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":297,"translation_of":22,"user_created":41,"date_created":298,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":299,"content":300,"link":301},9743,"The UK government's British Integrity Initiative has announced that from now until the end of July, the Department for International Development will cover the full cost of the Basel Institute’s integrity guidance services for eligible small- and medium-sized businesses.\n\nCompanies currently benefiting from the programme, which until now has been subsidised by 60–80 percent depending on the company’s size, will also see their fees waived.\n\nAs our partners in the British Integrity Initiative recognise, many businesses are experiencing interruptions in their operations and cash flow difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic and response. At the same time, managing business integrity risks has become even more vital as companies deal with increased integrity risks and challenges as a result of working with new supply chains, procurement processes and unfamiliar markets. Both of these factors are particularly acute for small businesses.\n\nAgile, entrepreneurial SMEs can play a big role in the post-Covid-19 response. And as Gemma Aiolfi pointed out in a recent analysis of [business integrity and Covid-19](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fhere-today-and-gone-tomorrow-integrity-and-anti-corruption-private-sector-post-covid-19), strong anti-corruption compliance programmes and Collective Action will put these companies in a better place to contribute to the global economic recovery. It may sound counter-intuitive in the current economic climate, but this is an excellent time for small businesses to be strengthening their anti-corruption measures and credentials.\n\nThe Basel Institute’s services cover:\n\n*   Anti-corruption compliance\n*   Corruption and bribery prevention\n*   Anti-corruption Collective Action\n\nThe British Integrity Initiative leadership will review the funding situation again towards the end of July.\n\n### Details and case studies\n\nFind out more on our [SME guidance services page](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcompliance\u002Fsme-guidance-services) or get a better idea of how we can help by reading these case studies:\n\n*   [Compliance guidance to Kuunda 3D](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-04\u002Fcase_study_kuunda_3d.pdf), a 3D printing micro enterprise moving its headquarters from East Africa to the UK.\n*   [Corruption prevention guidance to Water Fuel Engineering](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-04\u002FCase%20study_WaterFuelEngineering.pdf), a UK micro engineering company entering the Indian market.\n\nFees are also waived for human rights consultancy services to assist SMEs to comply with the UK Modern Slavery Act, provided by the [Ethical Trading Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ethicaltrade.org\u002F).","2020-04-27","free-integrity-guidance-services-for-smes-until-end-july-under-uk-business-integrity-initiative-1736","Free integrity guidance services for SMEs until end July under UK Business Integrity Initiative","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fedc7a651-cd34-4dfb-9466-c3f04947856f?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[108,109],[287],"Training",[289],{"tags_id":290},{"id":209,"name":210},1736,[108,109,20],[287],[],[],[24,108],[],"2022-05-26T22:55:04.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:53.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Ffree-integrity-guidance-services-for-smes-until-end-july-under-uk-business-integrity-initiative-1736",{"id":303,"body":304,"status":6,"type":10,"date":305,"slug":306,"title":307,"image":308,"countries":309,"topic":310,"activity":311,"tags":312,"nid":313,"topics":314,"activities":315,"authors":316,"images":318,"websites":319,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":320,"translation_of":22,"user_created":41,"date_created":321,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":322,"content":323,"link":324},9759,"Mark Pieth, Professor Emeritus of the University of Basel President of the Board of the Basel Institute on Governance, offers an insight into the risks of human rights and environmental harms in gold supply chains. \n\nWhere are the risks and responsibilities? Collective Action with gold refineries, suppliers and other stakeholders, he concludes, could help ensure more responsible and sustainable sourcing of gold.\n\n### What is gold laundering?\n\nOn its way from the ground to your wedding ring or mobile phone, gold passes through a chain of transactions and transformations. It is traded, collated, processed, shipped or smuggled across borders – all multiple times by different actors - and then refined. \n\nOne of the challenges caused by the complexity of supply chains is that the gold we buy is easily disconnected from anything criminal or unethical that may have happened in the past. The trading of gold can therefore be misused in similar ways that criminals use complex financial transactions to obscure the money’s origins in crime and corruption.\n\n### What are potential risks in gold supply chains?\n\nEnvironmental risks in the gold industry range from [deforestation](https:\u002F\u002Fedition.cnn.com\u002F2019\u002F02\u002F08\u002Fworld\u002Fgold-mining-deforestation-peru-record-levels-trnd\u002Findex.html) to contamination of land, air and water with [mercury](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wired.com\u002Fstory\u002Fmercury-poisoning-gold-mines\u002F) and [cyanide](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fpubmed\u002F15369321). \n\nWhen mines are decommissioned, there is a risk of [acid, radioactive water](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.earthmagazine.org\u002Farticle\u002Fall-glitters-acid-mine-drainage-toxic-legacy-gold-mining-south-africa) seeping out and contaminating the local area. All too frequently, there are also [accidents](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mining-technology.com\u002Ffeatures\u002Ffeatureshould-cyanide-still-be-used-in-modern-day-mining-4809245\u002F) involving collapsed or leaking chemical pools. [Profits from illegal gold mining](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.miamiherald.com\u002Fnews\u002Flocal\u002Fcommunity\u002Fmiami-dade\u002Farticle194187699.html) can be higher than those from drug trafficking. Gold is known to have fuelled serious conflict, for example in the [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https:\u002F\u002Fthesentry.org\u002Freports\u002Fthe-golden-laundromat\u002F) and [Sudan](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reuters.com\u002Farticle\u002Fus-sudan-gold-exclusive\u002Fexclusive-sudan-militia-leader-grew-rich-by-selling-gold-idUSKBN1Y01DQ). \n\nGold has also been used to fund [violent organised crime](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fglobal-development\u002F2016\u002Faug\u002F16\u002Fillegal-mines-local-mafia-take-shine-off-latin-american-gold-peru), in particular in Latin America. \n\nAn estimated one million children work illegally in the mining industry, from [underwater gold mining](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hrw.org\u002Freport\u002F2015\u002F09\u002F29\u002Fwhat-if-something-went-wrong\u002Fhazardous-child-labor-small-scale-gold-mining) in the Philippines to digging and panning amid heavy dust and mercury, for example in [Tanzania](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.reuters.com\u002Farticle\u002Fus-tanzania-mining-children-feature\u002Ftanzania-struggles-to-end-child-labor-from-the-lure-of-gold-idUSKBN176007) and [Uganda](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fglobal-development\u002F2016\u002Fmay\u002F20\u002Fchild-labour-uganda-gold-mines-silence-far-from-golden).  \n\nAnother potential risk related to all types of mining is the displacement of indigenous communities. This can happen after governments try to [attract foreign investment by granting mining licences](https:\u002F\u002Fearthworks.org\u002Fstories\u002Fwassa_ghana\u002F) or simply through [corruption and intimidation](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.scmp.com\u002Fnews\u002Fworld\u002Fafrica\u002Farticle\u002F2142852\u002Fchinese-gold-mining-brings-killings-land-grabs-and-corruption).\n\n### Strong incentives to mitigate the risks\n\nAside from laws on responsible business conduct and conflict minerals, the gold industry is mostly self-regulated. \n\nCompanies may choose to commit to voluntary standards developed by industry associations including the [LBMA](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.lbma.org.uk\u002Fresponsible-sourcing), [Responsible Jewellery Council](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.responsiblejewellery.com\u002F) and [World Gold Council](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gold.org\u002Fwhat-we-do). \n\nThis voluntary system relies on third-party audits and is not enforced by law. However, there are strong non-legal incentives to mitigate the risks in gold supply chains. \n\nThanks to the work of investigative journalists and NGOs such as Human Rights Watch and Public Eye, awareness of the issues is growing fast. Younger generations are embracing ethical consumerism and demanding products that haven’t harmed the planet or its people. \n\nSome jewellers and watchmakers, such as [Chopard](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.chopard.com\u002Fintl\u002Fresponsible-sourcing) and A. Favre & Fils, whose owner Laurent Favre is a founding member of the [Swiss Better Gold Association](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissbettergold.ch\u002F), have started to pledge that they will only source gold from certified “green” or “ethical” sources. [Investors are also increasingly attentive to the environmental, social and governance risks](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.economist.com\u002Fbusiness\u002F2020\u002F02\u002F06\u002Fgold-companies-try-to-restore-their-sparkle) of the gold trade. \n\nIn my book _Gold Laundering_ I highlight the role of refineries, particularly in Switzerland, where most of the world’s gold is refined. This is not because the refineries are involved in illegal activities, but because they are located at a critical point in the gold supply chain. After the gold has been refined, it is almost impossible to trace its true origin. \n\nThis makes gold refineries potentially powerful players in efforts to ensure that gold supply chains are as clean as possible.\n\n### Spot-cleaning is not a solution\n\nWhen companies act alone to escape a common problem, their actions may have unforeseen and potentially negative consequences for others and in the long term. \n\nAn example is the action of one Swiss refinery that, with the aim of ensuring a more traceable and transparent gold supply chain, [imposed a blanket ban](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002Feng\u002Fcompliance-costs_swiss-gold-refinery-turns-back-on-artisanal-miners\u002F45036052) on all gold from small-scale miners. \n\n[Boycotting small-scale mining](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002Feng\u002Fopinion_metalor--mark-pieth-gold\u002F45037966), however, will harm and not help the estimated 100 million people worldwide who rely on it for their livelihoods. It is also not an action that will help the industry or consumers concerned about human rights. \n\nSmall-scale mining contributes around [20 percent of the world’s newly mined gold](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.worldbank.org\u002Fen\u002Ftopic\u002Fextractiveindustries\u002Fbrief\u002Fartisanal-and-small-scale-mining) and large-scale gold mining is not risk-free.\n\n### Collective Action: a golden opportunity\n\nBy coming together in [Collective Action](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcollective-action), major players in the gold refining sector and other stakeholders can find real, practical solutions to some of the risks and problems I have listed above. \n\nHow about this as a first step? Most stakeholders agree on the urgent need to strengthen the third-party audits that are supposed to enforce the system of self-regulation. The OECD and others have criticised these audits as weak, leaving the whole approach of industry self-regulation open to question. \n\nOther areas of potential collaboration and support could be technologies to eliminate the use of mercury or blockchain technologies to increase the transparency of supply chains. Developing common due diligence standards and processes to lighten the burden on legitimate gold traders, and help flag bogus ones, could be another. \n\nMany such useful efforts are already underway by different actors in different parts of the world. Coming together will give them the critical mass they need to succeed.\n\n### A pathway to responsible sourcing\n\nEnsuring that gold supply chains are as clean as possible – and demonstrating this to consumers – will take time and effort. If there were easy answers, we would have them by now. \n\nThere are also clearly limits to what the private sector can do alone. Collective Action initiatives by refineries and mining companies must complement, and be complemented by, concerted efforts by governments such as tighter regulations, stronger customs checks and enforcement against organised crime. NGOs and civil society organisations still have an important part to play. \n\nAt the end of the day, “laundering” gold through tangled supply chains doesn’t wash the risks away but makes them harder to identify and mitigate. Collective Action can help to bring the risks and problems to light and find ways to truly clean them up, so we can wear our jewellery and use our phones with a shining conscience.\n\n### Find out more\n\n*   The [Basel Gold Day](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fbasel-gold-day-virtual-conference-gold-supply-chains-9-october) workshop on 9 October 2020 will gather gold industry leaders and experts to explore \"How to obtain clean gold: the consumer perspective\".\n*   My book on Gold Laundering was published in 2019 in English ([_Gold Laundering_](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fgold-laundering-dirty-secrets-gold-trade-and-how-clean)) and German ([_Goldwäsche_](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fgoldwasche-die-schmutzigen-geheimnisse-des-goldhandels)) by Salis Verlag.\n*   [Download a PDF of this quick guide in English, Spanish and French](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fpublications\u002F1866).","2020-03-02","mark-pieths-quick-guide-to-gold-laundering-1094","Mark Pieth’s quick guide to gold laundering","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F801af88b-814d-4aa1-9261-53d6a24ef59d?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[72,108,14],[17],[],1094,[72,108,20],[17],[317],860,[],[24,108],[],"2022-05-26T22:55:17.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:54.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fmark-pieths-quick-guide-to-gold-laundering-1094",{"left":326,"top":326,"width":327,"height":327,"rotate":326,"vFlip":328,"hFlip":328,"body":329},0,20,false,"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M17 10a.75.75 0 0 1-.75.75H5.612l4.158 3.96a.75.75 0 1 1-1.04 1.08l-5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.08l5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 1 1 1.04 1.08L5.612 9.25H16.25A.75.75 0 0 1 17 10\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\u002F>",1780676411835]