[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":282},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-new-helpdesk-on-anti-corruption-collective-action-to-promote-fair-business-2171":3,"news-new-helpdesk-on-anti-corruption-collective-action-to-promote-fair-business-2171-similar":41,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":277},[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":20,"programme":21,"area":21,"websites":22,"language":21,"image":24,"translation_of":21,"countries":35,"tags":36,"authors":37,"images":38,"translations":39,"content":40},9531,"published","2022-05-26T22:52:05.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:40.000Z","New Helpdesk on anti-corruption Collective Action to promote fair business","News","The Basel Institute has launched a [Collective Action Helpdesk](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fcollective-action-helpdesk), a free advice service on Collective Action approaches to fight corruption and promote fair business.\n\nThrough the Helpdesk, our team provides free, practical and independent advice on how to work collaboratively across stakeholder groups to address shared corruption challenges and promote fair and responsible business.\n\n### Free and open to all\n\nThe Helpdesk is open to anyone who is engaged in, or interested in, anti-corruption Collective Action or a similar multi-stakeholder approach to fight corruption and promote fair business.\n\nFunded by the Siemens Integrity Initiative, the Helpdesk builds on the informal advice and guidance that our team has been providing to anti-corruption professionals from civil society, the private sector and government over the last decade.\n\nWe often receive similar questions, for example about [how to finance Collective Action initiatives](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnode\u002F2159), how to [measure the impact of anti-corruption initiatives](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnode\u002F2158), and tools to increase [integrity and transparency in public procurement](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnode\u002F2154). \n\nWe will publish anonymised and generalised answers to these and other common queries on the Helpdesk landing page.\n\n### Resources, guidance and mentoring\n\nThe Helpdesk is located on the [B20 Collective Action Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub), a global resource centre on anti-corruption Collective Action.\n\nThe B20 Hub also includes a database of multi-stakeholder initiatives around the world, relevant publications, plus practical resources on Collective Action approaches to address procurement-related corruption, ease supply chain due diligence, connect human rights and anti-corruption compliance, and more.\n\nThe Helpdesk joins our [Mentoring Programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fcollective-action-mentoring-programme). Launched in October 2021, the programme offers hands-on, long-term guidance and technical assistance to civil society \u002F non-profit organisations that work with the private sector and other stakeholders on tackling corruption.\n\n### Ask anything\n\nWhat do you want to ask about Collective Action and other multi-stakeholder approaches to improve business integrity?\n\n[Visit the Helpdesk now](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fcollective-action-helpdesk).","2022-01-31",[14],"HLRM","new-helpdesk-on-anti-corruption-collective-action-to-promote-fair-business-2171",[17],"",2171,[14],[],null,[23],"Main page",{"id":25,"storage":26,"filename_disk":27,"filename_download":28,"title":9,"type":29,"created_on":30,"modified_on":30,"charset":21,"filesize":31,"width":32,"height":33,"duration":21,"embed":21,"description":21,"location":21,"tags":21,"metadata":34,"focal_point_x":21,"focal_point_y":21,"tus_id":21,"tus_data":21,"uploaded_on":30},"d032c23d-ad5b-4dc0-87d1-a08b28ebb497","local","d032c23d-ad5b-4dc0-87d1-a08b28ebb497.webp","tmp.webp","image\u002Fwebp","2025-05-12T21:17:07.000Z",38802,1400,935,{},[],[],[],[],[],[],[42,67,83,109,141,165,187,214,250],{"id":43,"body":44,"status":6,"type":45,"date":46,"slug":47,"title":48,"image":49,"countries":50,"topic":21,"activity":21,"tags":51,"nid":21,"topics":52,"activities":56,"authors":57,"images":58,"websites":59,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":60,"translation_of":21,"user_created":61,"date_created":62,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":64,"content":65,"link":66},10553,"*The following blog post is a guest contribution and reflects the views and opinions of the original author, which do not necessarily represent those of the Basel Institute. It is shared as-is for informational purposes only.*\n\n\u003Chr \u002F>\n\n*By **Pat Poitevin**, Co-Founder – Executive Director, Canadian Centre of Excellence for Anti-Corruption (CCEAC)\nMember, Collective Action Mentoring Programme*\n\nIn the global effort to tackle corruption, the concept of collective action has moved from theory to necessity. At the CCEAC, this principle is more than a model – it is the foundation of our approach to ethics, compliance and anti-corruption.\n\nSince joining the Basel Institute’s Collective Action Mentoring Programme, we have had the opportunity to share our work, learn from others and expand our reach. We have seen first-hand the value of connecting like-minded organisations, particularly NGOs and not-for-profits working in the prevention space, to share experiences, build capacity and tackle corruption collaboratively. As an early member of the programme, this blog offers our reflections on CCEAC’s evolution, successes, ongoing challenges and our call to keep pushing forward together.\n\n\n**Building a hub for anti-corruption collective action**\n\nCCEAC was launched with a clear purpose: to bring together public, private, academic and civil society actors to address corruption through a collaborative and multi-sectoral approach. We created an online platform and knowledge hub where professionals, students and organisations could access and contribute tools, strategies and best practices, building collective capacity in Canada and abroad.\n\nAlthough “anti-corruption” is in our name and remains a central focus, we have learned over years of field experience that to truly engage businesses and other key stakeholders, we must frame anti-corruption as part of a broader conversation around ethics, compliance and risk management. Companies are more receptive when we speak their language, emphasising how ethical business practices, responsible conduct and effective risk mitigation strategies can enhance their resilience, reputation and long-term success.\n\nUnderstanding the pain points and motivations of our audience, whether it is reducing legal exposure, protecting brand integrity or gaining access to new markets, has helped us better connect, engage and ultimately activate our stakeholders. By positioning anti-corruption as a strategic component of doing business responsibly, we have been more effective in encouraging companies, especially SMEs, to take action.\n\nOur CCEAC Toolbox is central to this mission. It is not just a repository – it is a growing, user-driven resource library built by contributors who have experienced the real-world challenges of ethics and compliance and want to share practical solutions. It is tailored to meet the needs of SMEs and under-resourced organisations and is grounded in a spirit of accessibility and collective contribution.\n\nWe have also developed the Global Anti-Corruption University Project (GAUP), which brings law and business students into real-world settings to co-develop ethics and compliance programmes with small and medium-sized enterprises. GAUP turns future leaders into agents of change and helps close the gap many SMEs face when trying to implement cost-effective, risk-based anti-corruption measures.\n\n\n**International reach through shared values**\n\nCCEAC’s collective action model has reached beyond Canada thanks to partnerships that align with our values. We have worked with universities and stakeholders in Ecuador, Colombia and Indonesia to adapt the model locally, always emphasising collaboration, shared ownership and the importance of building solutions that fit cultural, legal and business contexts.\n\nA key enabler of this global engagement has been our long-standing partnership with Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) under Global Affairs Canada. This relationship has proven invaluable, providing targeted funding to support training initiatives and regional expansion, but more importantly, connecting us with Canadian companies operating abroad.\n\nThrough TCS, we have trained and advised Canadian businesses on corruption risks in specific markets, while also encouraging trade commissioners themselves to become more engaged on anti-corruption issues. This dual impact, on both the business community and Canada’s trade representatives, has helped extend the mission and visibility of CCEAC far beyond our own borders.\n\nBut even with these successes, we continue to face a critical challenge: long-term sustainability.\n\n\n**The funding paradox: innovation without stability**\n\nLike many NGOs and NFPs in the Collective Action Mentoring Programme, CCEAC relies on a mix of project-based grants, in-kind support and volunteer contributions. While this model has enabled us to deliver impactful results on a very limited budget, it comes at a cost.\n\nProject-based funding often only covers the essentials – keeping the platform running, responding to requests, delivering promised outputs. But it rarely allows for strategic planning, innovation or platform upgrades. There is little room to explore new tools, test new ideas or invest in deeper engagement with our contributors and users.\n\nDespite these limitations, we have managed to innovate, largely through creative partnerships. Our collaboration with a local technical college has enabled us to tap into student talent for web and AI development projects, helping us build digital tools that support ethics and compliance benchmarking, risk assessment and user-driven dashboards. This model has not only benefited us, it has provided students with real-world experience and a tangible impact.\n\nStill, the lack of core, flexible funding means we are often working at capacity without the ability to scale or secure the future of our programmes.\n\n\n**Lessons from the mentoring programme: more than exchange**\n\nBeing part of the Collective Action Mentoring Programme has been a turning point. The programme created space for honest conversations, shared learning and mutual encouragement. We have learned from the diversity of approaches taken by others and we have gained insight into where we can improve.\n\nOne of the most important lessons, though, has been the need to share not just tools but strategies for funding and sustainability. Too many promising initiatives face burnout or stall because the business model does not keep up with the mission. In our discussions with other members, we see a clear need to co-create a roadmap for sustainable funding including new mechanisms, public-private partnerships and shared fundraising strategies that reflect the long-term nature of capacity-building work.\n\n\n**A call to keep building together**\n\nAs we prepare to meet in Basel and reflect on three years of mentoring, we at CCEAC are optimistic but also realistic. We know that meaningful change takes time, trust and shared effort. We also know that those working in this field often carry the weight of doing more with less, innovating without the safety net of reliable funding and fighting for attention in crowded public agendas.\n\nThis is why we are putting forward this call to action:\n\n1. To fellow programme members:\nLet us keep exchanging ideas, but let us also start exchanging strategies for financial resilience. How are we diversifying revenue? What models have worked and which have not? How can we support each other’s funding proposals or co-design shared initiatives?\n\n2. To donors and public sector allies:\nRecognise the full value of collective action. Beyond deliverables, invest in the infrastructure, platforms and people who keep this work alive. Core funding matters – it is what allows innovation to happen and impact to scale.\n\n3. To companies and compliance leaders:\nIf you have built strong anti-corruption programmes, consider sharing them. Your tools, training materials and policies can help raise the bar for SMEs. Mentorship and open access to your resources are powerful forms of collective action.\n\n4. To academics and students:\nPartner with us. Whether through GAUP, applied research or co-developing content for our toolbox, your ideas and energy are vital. Help us shape what comes next.\n\n\n**Final reflections**\n\nCollective action works best when it is active, inclusive and focused on impact. CCEAC has grown from a Canadian initiative to an international model because we have listened, partnered and stayed rooted in the belief that doing the right thing should be easier, not harder.\n\nWe still have work to do, but we are in good company. The mentoring programme has given us more than guidance – it has given us a community and, with that, a renewed commitment to help each other grow, sustain and succeed.\n\nWe look forward to connecting in Basel and continuing the conversation about how we can fund, grow and sustain collective action into the future.\n\nGet involved with CCEAC:\n🌐 www.cceac.ca\n📧 info@cceac.ca\n📢 Want to contribute to the Toolbox or support our work? Let us connect.\nOr reach out to Pat at pat.poitevin@cceac.ca","Blog","2025-05-15","effectively-leveraging-collective-action-sharing-the-journey-challenges-and-a-call-to-action-from-the-canadian-centre-of-excellence-for-anti-corruption","Effectively leveraging collective action: sharing the journey, challenges and a call to action from the Canadian Centre of Excellence for Anti-Corruption","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F3aeee180-868c-43cc-979b-ced9399b977b?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[],[14,53,54,55],"Integrity Pacts","Human rights","Collective Action",[],[],[],[23,55],[],"de81a3eb-02df-461e-a0e0-e5db7e35c0fc","2025-05-15T13:58:23.000Z","b0662e2a-864d-4888-a1b7-4342b7570b30","2025-08-31T23:15:27.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Feffectively-leveraging-collective-action-sharing-the-journey-challenges-and-a-call-to-action-from-the-canadian-centre-of-excellence-for-anti-corruption",{"id":68,"body":69,"status":6,"type":45,"date":46,"slug":70,"title":71,"image":72,"countries":73,"topic":21,"activity":21,"tags":74,"nid":21,"topics":75,"activities":21,"authors":76,"images":77,"websites":78,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":79,"translation_of":21,"user_created":61,"date_created":80,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":64,"content":81,"link":82},10554,"*The following blog post is a guest contribution and reflects the views and opinions of the original author, which do not necessarily represent those of the Basel Institute. It is shared as-is for informational purposes only.*\n\nImage source: **© UNICEF\u002FUNI687651\u002FKhan |** Emergency supplies of water, sanitation and hygiene arrive at a warehouse run by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Kabul, Afghanistan.\n\n\u003Chr \u002F>\n\nBy **[Arco Iris Santos](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fsantos-arco\u002F)** and **[Ken Graversen](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fgraversen\u002F)**\n\nIn many high-risk countries, companies face a familiar dilemma: delays, red tape and questionable demands from public officials that culminate in requests for small “informal” payments. These facilitation payments, typically small amounts offered to speed up or secure routine services, may seem like a necessary evil. But in reality, they present ethical, operational and humanitarian challenges. Ultimately, they fuel a broader environment of corruption, weaken institutions and undermine the impact humanitarian actors are driving.\n\nAt the [Fight Against Facilitation Payments Initiative (FAFPI)](https:\u002F\u002Ffafpi.org\u002F), we believe the private sector has the power to drive systemic change. But not alone. To disrupt the normalisation of facilitation payments, companies must collaborate not just with governments but with each other. This is where collective action becomes a game-changer.\n\n\n**What are facilitation payments and why do they matter?**\n\nDelivering accountable, timely and effective responses to the needs of disaster-affected populations, whether in acute or prolonged crises, is a vital and ever-present demand on the humanitarian sector globally. Requests for facilitation payments can pose significant challenges to companies working with humanitarian organisations in emergency response efforts.\n\nConsider, for example, a transport company operating under the World Food Programme-led Logistics Cluster. If stopped at a roadblock checkpoint by a local police officer requesting a “small contribution” – perhaps a food basket for their family – in exchange for allowing the truck to proceed without delay, the company faces a serious dilemma: delay the delivery, risking the lives of people experiencing severe hunger, or give in.\n\nThreats to personal safety, the urgency of a life-saving delivery and the fear of broader consequences leave little room for alternatives. And yet, despite the circumstances, by fulfilling the demand, the company perpetuates a system where officials expect to receive “small gifts” for services that are supposed to be guaranteed and freely available. Moreover, it compromises the principles of neutrality and impartiality that humanitarian organisations uphold, ultimately eroding community trust in humanitarian agencies.\n\nFacilitation payments, as we define them, are small payments, gifts or other benefits made to officials to secure or expedite the performance of a routine or necessary action, which you are entitled to have performed without the incentive. Common forms include cash, a pack of cigarettes, alcohol or even a sandwich.\n\nIt is tempting to explain facilitation payments as “just how things are done” in certain regions. And indeed, cultural norms often shape how these transactions are understood and justified. In some contexts, offering a small “gift” might be socially acceptable or even expected. Terms like *kitu kidogo* (Swahili for “small thing”) or raccomandazione (Italian for “recommendation”) hint at how informal exchanges are woven into daily transactions. These practices reflect deeper social expectations and may emerge in response to systemic inefficiencies or weak public institutions.\n\nBut while culture matters, it is not a destiny. [Research](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fculture-and-corruption-complex-relationship) across Africa, Asia and Latin America shows that these behaviours often emerge not because people inherently approve of them but because formal institutions fail. In contexts where public employees are underpaid, services are unreliable and oversight is weak, individuals may resort to informal practices to navigate daily life. This environment can cultivate informal workarounds such as facilitation payments.\n\nSo, rather than blaming culture, the real question becomes: how do we create environments where neither individuals nor companies are pressured into informal payments to access the services they are already entitled to?\n\n\n**The power of collective action**\n\nTraditionally, anti-corruption strategies rely on [vertical enforcement](https:\u002F\u002Ffafpi.org\u002Fare-transparency-and-accountability-enough-to-fight-facilitation-payments\u002F) – top-down mechanisms like transparency mandates, oversight bodies and audits. These are important, especially when paired with strong accountability. But in many high-risk countries, vertical enforcement alone is insufficient. Officials tasked with enforcement may be complicit or under-resourced. Reporting channels might exist on paper but lead nowhere in practice.\n\nThe result? Even when facilitation payment requests are exposed, they often go unaddressed.\n\nThis is where [horizontal enforcement](https:\u002F\u002Ffafpi.org\u002Fare-transparency-and-accountability-enough-to-fight-facilitation-payments\u002F) – peer-based accountability among companies – comes in. Rather than relying solely on state-led interventions, horizontal enforcement empowers ethical actors to band together, check each other, create shared standards, apply pressure on outliers and influence public reform.\n\nTake the [Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN)](https:\u002F\u002Fmacn.dk\u002F), a collective action that has brought together companies in the shipping industry to tackle undue port payment requests. Through collective data reporting, stakeholder dialogue and capacity building, MACN has reduced such demands in multiple countries.\n\nFAFPI applies a similar model for facilitation payments. FAFPI collects and aggregates data on facilitation payment demands. By identifying recurring patterns, FAFPI can generate evidence of systemic issues. This data-driven approach supports informed engagement with local authorities in the fight against facilitation payments. This illustrates how horizontal enforcement could work in practice: through collective action, capacity building, coordinated pressure among ethical actors and targeted reform efforts driven by shared intelligence.\n\nThe private sector plays a central role in humanitarian response. By joining forces through collective action platforms such as MACN and FAFPI, companies not only protect their reputation but also the people their operations impact.\n\n\n**A call to action**\n\nThe persistence of facilitation payments not only distorts competition in the corporate world, it also undermines humanitarian efforts by threatening supply lines, inflating costs and eroding trust. As we always emphasise, facilitation payments can be seen as the seeds of bribery and lead to more serious acts of corruption.\n\nCompanies, NGOs and donors operating in high-risk countries should not feel compelled to accept facilitation payments as a cost of doing business. Instead, they can proactively shape the ecosystem by joining forces with civil society and peer firms in collective action initiatives like FAFPI.\n\nUniting affected stakeholders – private sector, humanitarian NGOs and civil society – we can transform facilitation payments from a daily frustration into a shared target for systemic change. If your organisation operates in a high-risk region, consider joining FAFPI or a similar [Collective Action initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Finitiatives) to be part of a movement driving meaningful reforms.\n\n**Learn more**\nRead the chapter Culture and corruption: a complex relationship in [Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Corruption Law](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fculture-and-corruption-complex-relationship).\nLearn more about horizontal enforcement in [ACE Anti-Corruption Evidence](https:\u002F\u002Face.soas.ac.uk\u002Fpublication\u002Fmaking-anti-corruption-real-using-a-power-capabilities-and-interest-approach-to-stop-wasting-money-and-start-making-progress\u002F).\nIf you want to know more about FAFPI, visit [our website](https:\u002F\u002Ffafpi.org\u002F).\n","how-companies-can-unite-to-fight-facilitation-payments-and-protect-humanitarian-impact","How Companies Can Unite to Fight Facilitation Payments – and Protect Humanitarian Impact","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F85149b74-01ba-4c5d-9482-98771a2ffdef?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[],[14,53,54,55],[],[],[23,55],[],"2025-05-16T13:35:15.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-companies-can-unite-to-fight-facilitation-payments-and-protect-humanitarian-impact",{"id":84,"body":85,"status":6,"type":10,"date":86,"slug":87,"title":88,"image":89,"countries":90,"topic":92,"activity":94,"tags":97,"nid":98,"topics":99,"activities":100,"authors":101,"images":102,"websites":103,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":104,"translation_of":21,"user_created":105,"date_created":106,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":8,"content":107,"link":108},10449,"Public procurement is a notorious risk area for corruption and other unfair business practices all over the world – including in Bulgaria, where diverse stakeholders are now coming together to find a practical solution to corruption risks in public tenders that works for all parties.\n\nOne solution they are discussing is a [High-Level Reporting Mechanism](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fhlrm). In essence, this is a channel to raise and quickly resolve alerts about suspected bribery or unfair business practices in public tenders.\n\nThe concept of the HLRM was developed and continues to be advanced by the Basel Institute on Governance and OECD as a form of [anti-corruption Collective Action](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F). These types of Collective Action tools and approaches are a crucial ingredient when it comes to improving business integrity and strengthening transparency and accountability between the public and private sectors, supported by civil society.\n\n### Bringing business, government and other parties to the table\n\nTo bring relevant stakeholders to the table on this topic, the Basel Institute on Governance hosted a Collective Action Business Consultation in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 13 May 2024.\n\nThe Consultation provided a structured trust-building process to align efforts and discuss the design and implementation of an HLRM. It had the full support of the Mayor of the City of Sofia, Vassil Terziev, who made opening remarks and emphasised his commitment to making Sofia a more transparent municipality.\n\nThe event was held in collaboration with the Bulgarian Public Procurement Agency, the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association, the Bulgarian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce as well as the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham). As part of a holistic programme of support to the Bulgarian Government, the event was funded the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).\n\n### All agree: time to test novel approaches to safeguard procurement\n\nRepresentatives from both government and the business community united around the idea of establishing regular business consultations with the government in order to introduce new mechanisms that boost transparency and accountability, reduce corruption and consequently increase competition in public procurement processes.\n\nParticipants exchanged their views on opportunities and challenges for introducing an HLRM in Bulgaria to create a more effective public procurement system beneficial to everyone (except the corrupt!). Among other things, they agreed:\n\n*   Mechanisms that help improve trust and transparency, such as the HLRM, are key to enhancing the confidence of companies in public procurement processes.\n*   There is broad and multi-stakeholder support for piloting an HLRM in public procurement – now this needs to be tested in a specific project.\n*   Opportunities for testing innovative approaches to improve public procurement exist at the regional and municipal levels as well as at the national level.\n\n### Learn more\n\nRead the [summary report](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2024-06\u002FReport_Business_Consultation_May_13_2024.pdf), including full takeaways, photos and quotes from the distinguished participants.","2024-06-12","what-do-businesses-in-bulgaria-say-about-safeguarding-procurement-from-corruption-2642","What do businesses in Bulgaria say about safeguarding procurement from corruption?","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F978aadf0-785c-4c95-900d-f652c57ed396?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[91],7119,[55,14,93],"Private Sector",[95,96],"Events","Partnerships",[],2642,[55,14,93],[95,96],[],[],[23,55],[],"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","2024-06-12T16:01:33.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fwhat-do-businesses-in-bulgaria-say-about-safeguarding-procurement-from-corruption-2642",{"id":110,"body":111,"status":6,"type":10,"date":112,"slug":113,"title":114,"image":115,"countries":116,"topic":117,"activity":118,"tags":123,"nid":131,"topics":132,"activities":133,"authors":134,"images":135,"websites":136,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":137,"translation_of":21,"user_created":105,"date_created":138,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":8,"content":139,"link":140},10281,"Companies and business associations play an important role in preventing and reducing corruption in the markets where they operate – something that governments also want to achieve.\n\nSo how can governments and the private sector work together better to raise standards of integrity and fair business in specific countries and industries?\n\nTo answer this, our Collective Action team has worked with the people on the front lines of governments’ corruption prevent efforts – anti-corruption authorities –  to develop practical guidance with real examples.\n\nPublished today, the [guidance](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fengaging-private-sector-collective-action-against-corruption) was co-developed with members of the Network of Corruption Prevention Authorities ([NCPA](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.coe.int\u002Fen\u002Fweb\u002Fcorruption\u002Fncpa-network)), of which the Basel Institute is an [affiliated partner](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fnews\u002Fstopping-corruption-before-it-occurs-why-the-basel-institute-has-become-a-partner-to-the-network-of-corruption-prevention-authorities-1751).\n\n### Three avenues, global examples\n\nThe user-friendly guidance document explains how governments and their anti-corruption agencies can engage with the private sector to prevent corruption in three ways:\n\n*   Collaborate and consult on corruption prevention activities in the private sector - by setting up events and platforms, providing advisory support, and engaging the private sector in developing national anti-corruption strategies.\n*   Support and incentivise the private sector to engage in corruption prevention activities and initiatives – by creating tangible business benefits for companies investing in compliance, incentivising companies to externalise their compliance programmes, and supporting compliance certification.\n*   Demonstrate leadership by becoming an active participant in Collective Action - by establishing Collective Action as the go-to approach for engaging with the private sector, implementing integrity tools in public procurement, and fostering compliance in state-owned enterprises.\n\nMany of the members involved in the collaboration are at the forefront of efforts to engage business in anti-corruption activities, often through Collective Action or similar multi-stakeholder approaches.\n\nThe examples they provide cover France, Brazil, Malawi and others.\n\n### Conference discussions – exploring further\n\nThe first panel of our upcoming [International Collective Action Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2022) will further explore this crucial topic – the importance of government engagement and support for Collective Action.\n\nThe panel “Tailwind for Collective Action” on 30 June features the Comptroller General of Chile, the Director General of the Independent Commission Against Corruption of Mauritius and the International Affairs Officer of the French Anti-Corruption Agency. Moderated by our Head of Compliance and Collective Action Gemma Aiolfi, the panellists will discuss their support for Collective Action and share experiences in translating commitments into action.\n\nThe speakers' experiences, along with the new guidance, will hopefully help governments progress from committing to using Collective Action to prevent corruption to actually using it to its full potential.\n\n### Learn more\n\nDownload the guidance here: [Engaging the private sector in Collective Action against corruption](http:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fengaging-private-sector-collective-action-against-corruption)\n\nWe are grateful to the NCPA members who contributed their time and expertise to the discussions and document. We also thank the [Siemens Integrity Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fsiemens.com\u002Fintegrity-initiative) for supporting both the Conference and our participation in developing the guidance with our partners at the NCPA.\n\nThe guidance will be updated on a regular basis to continue the discussion around government and private-sector engagement on issues of corruption. Contact Scarlet Wannenwetsch of our [Collective Action team](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fabout) for more information or to contribute to future editions.","2022-06-16","new-guidance-for-governments-to-engage-business-in-preventing-corruption-2237","New guidance for governments to engage business in preventing corruption","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fa723e951-617b-4f48-a194-3287de0cde77?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[55,14,53,93],[119,120,121,122,96],"Research","Reports","Insights","Anti-corruption interventions",[124,128],{"tags_id":125},{"id":126,"name":127},1373,"Corruption prevention",{"tags_id":129},{"id":130,"name":55},909,2237,[55,14,53,93],[119,120,121,122,96],[],[],[23,55],[],"2022-06-16T13:26:50.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-guidance-for-governments-to-engage-business-in-preventing-corruption-2237",{"id":142,"body":143,"status":6,"type":45,"date":144,"slug":145,"title":146,"image":147,"countries":148,"topic":152,"activity":153,"tags":154,"nid":155,"topics":156,"activities":157,"authors":158,"images":159,"websites":160,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":161,"translation_of":21,"user_created":105,"date_created":162,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":8,"content":163,"link":164},9563,"_A guest blog by Elisabeth Danon, Legal Analyst, OECD Anti-Corruption Division._\n\nHow can governments in South East Europe partner with the vibrant business sector and civil society to help combat corruption?\n\nOECD experts and practitioners shared some novel ideas on this question at a two-day webinar on Collective Action – Building Alliances Against Corruption in South East Europe on 16 and 17 September.\n\nThe event convened the Collective Action community in South East Europe to take stock of the advancement of the project [Fair Market Conditions for Competitiveness in the Adriatic Region](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Finitiatives-database\u002Ffair-market-conditions-competitiveness-adriatic). This project is being conducted under the umbrella of the OECD South East Europe Regional Programme and is supported by the Siemens Integrity Initiative.\n\n### Improving business integrity in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia\n\nThe three-year business integrity project aims to promote a level playing field and fair market conditions in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia. All three countries have significant potential for strong and sustainable economic development, but are hampered by relatively high levels of perceived corruption.\n\nAmbitioning to be a multi-stakeholder initiative, the project gathers government officials, business representatives, civil society and academia to address country-specific drawbacks by applying international standards. It aims to: \n\n*   raise awareness about OECD standards and good practices of anti-corruption, integrity and fair competition for competitiveness with governments, business and civil society;\n*   build capacity and foster the implementation of concrete OECD recommendations with regard to the transparency and efficiency of anti-corruption and competition authorities; and\n*   promote the latest knowledge on international standards and practices in the area of anti-corruption and integrity for competitiveness in academic curricula.\n\nThe September webinar, which was part of a series of events organised in the context of the project, consisted of a plenary roundtable on _Instruments and Global Lessons for Implementing Collective Action_, and three country-specific roundtables on _Putting Collective Action Into Practice – Factors of Success__._\n\nPolicy practitioners and experts from OECD countries shared practical experiences in implementing policy reforms to strengthen fair competition and combat corruption across the economy and society.\n\nAmong the OECD-supported instruments presented as a way to create a fair and competitive playing field was the [High Level Reporting Mechanism (HLRM)](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm).\n\n### How HLRMs can provide early and pragmatic resolutions to integrity issues\n\nThe HLRM, jointly developed by the OECD and the Basel Institute of Governance, is a reporting mechanism created to effectively address complaints of bribery solicitation and related practices that involve public officials. Upon receipt of a complaint, the HLRM triggers a process of rapid analysis and pragmatic response on the part of a government.\n\nExamples of different contexts can include:\n\n*   public procurement\n*   the issuance of commercial licenses\n*   tax refunds\n*   the release of goods by customs authorities.\n\nThe goal is to restore the status quo before a reported problem escalates further and to allow interactions between public and private stakeholders to proceed smoothly.\n\nThe HLRM can be customised according to the needs and reality of different countries – an essential feature of any Collective Action initiative. Representatives of the public sector, business, civil society and other stakeholders participate in its design and implementation.\n\nThe HLRM anticipates a whole-of-a-society approach to tackling corruption and enhancing public integrity as described in the [2017 OECD Recommendation of the Council on Public Integrity](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fcorruption\u002Frecommendation-public-integrity.htm). By providing a tool to companies facing solicitation of bribes, the HLRM can also contribute to the fight against foreign bribery, driven at the global level by the [OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fcorruption\u002Foecdantibriberyconvention.htm).\n\nTo date, customised models of the HLRM have been deployed in Colombia and Argentina. During the roundtables, experts from the OECD and the Basel Institute on Governance provided insights on those existing models, and how the mechanism could be replicated in Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Croatia, based on the priorities and specifies of each country.\n\nBy supporting Collective Action and implementing a HLRM, governments would be demonstrating their real commitment to the joint fight against corruption and their leadership in efforts to create a fair and clean business environment for all.","2021-09-22","how-collective-action-can-help-improve-business-integrity-in-south-east-europe-2101","How Collective Action can help improve business integrity in South East Europe","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fe7cc2427-74d4-4f32-91bf-ce308a599aca?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[149,150,151],7304,7305,7306,[55,14,93],[95,121,96],[],2101,[55,14,93],[95,121,96],[],[],[23,55],[],"2022-05-26T22:52:32.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-collective-action-can-help-improve-business-integrity-in-south-east-europe-2101",{"id":166,"body":167,"status":6,"type":45,"date":168,"slug":169,"title":170,"image":171,"countries":172,"topic":173,"activity":174,"tags":176,"nid":177,"topics":178,"activities":179,"authors":180,"images":181,"websites":182,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":183,"translation_of":21,"user_created":105,"date_created":184,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":8,"content":185,"link":186},9566,"Speaking at a [B20-G20 dialogue on 13 September](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.b20italy2021.org\u002Fevent\u002Fb20-g20-dialogue-how-to-promote-sustainable-governance-increase-transparency-fight-corruption-to-enhance-fair-competition\u002F), the Basel Institute’s Managing Director Gretta Fenner called on G20 Member States to commit to and support the implementation of a multi-stakeholder approach to promoting integrity in procurement.\n\nIn concrete terms, she said, this means adopting proven Collective Action tools such as [Integrity Pacts](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fintegrity-pacts) and [High Level Reporting Mechanisms](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm). in public tenders.\n\nThe event, focused on “How to promote sustainable governance, increase transparency, fight corruption to enhance fair competition”, was organised by the [B20 Italy Integrity and Compliance Task Force](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.b20italy2021.org\u002Ftaskforce\u002Fintegrity-compliance\u002F), of which the Basel Institute on Governance is proud to be a [Network Partner](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fbasel-institute-support-b20-italy-integrity-and-compliance-task-force-network-partner).\n\nThe aim was to raise awareness on the role that integrity and compliance can play to help achieve – even after the pandemic crisis – a more sustainable and inclusive global economy. The dialogues bring leading B20 and G20 representatives together to foster mutual understanding and coordinate on key policy recommendations.\n\nThe panel on which Gretta spoke dealt with the Task Force’s policy recommendation 1.3 to “foster integrity and transparency through the procurement cycle”. Maria Fernanda Garza, CEO of Orestia, and Michele Crisostomo, Chair of ENEL, also spoke on the topic, following a keynote speech by Antonio Matonti, Task Force Manager.\n\nYou can view the full event recording on [YouTube](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Fjk8os4FFzag?t=3216) (Gretta Fenner speaks at minute 53:30), or skip straight to her words below.\n\nMeanwhile, if you wish to find out more about how the B20 process works and its track record on anti-corruption and integrity topics:\n\n*   See our new online information centre on the [B20 and anti-corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fb20-anti-corruption), created with the support of the Siemens Integrity Initiative.\n*   Our recent [paper](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fg20s-responsiveness-b20-anti-corruption-recommendations-2010-2017-part-i-baseline) also analyses how B20 recommendations have been taken up by the G20, and what might make the process more effective.\n*   In the run-up to this event, a group of B20 Integrity & Compliance Task Force members with a long-standing engagement and strong commitment to the B20's impact and success put together some [ideas and suggestions](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2021-09\u002FB20%20Integrity%20%26%20Compliance_key%20suggestions_two%20pager.pdf) to support G20 and B20 presidencies on issues related to B20 governance and G20-B20 engagement.\n\n### Enhancing integrity in the procurement cycle – the High Level Reporting Mechanism\n\n> “Thank you to the Italian B20 presidency, and in particular the Integrity & Compliance Task Force, for facilitating this important B20-G20 Dialogue. Thank you also for the excellent and constructive leadership throughout the 2021 B20 Italy cycle.\n> \n> Providing a platform for active engagement and exchange between the B20 Integrity & Compliance Task Force and their G20 counterparts is especially important this year with the new G20 Anti-Corruption Action Plan being developed. The Action Plan will guide the G20 anti-corruption work over the next three years.\n> \n> Providing an opportunity to further align approaches and exchange ideas can be particularly impactful for topics such as public procurement, where interactions between companies and public officials are inevitable.\n> \n> Every new corruption scandal that hits the headlines and involves a big publicly financed project demonstrates that integrity and transparency make a lot of sense from a business perspective.\n> \n> Investors are increasingly asking for companies to demonstrate not only a vague commitment but an actual track record of compliance. At least those investors that companies want to have – those that are striving for long-term success which adds to the companies’ bottom lines, to shareholder profit _and_ to the public good.\n> \n> Ignoring corruption – let alone actively tolerating it or engaging in corruption – is simply no longer tolerated. It’s very bad business.\n> \n> Every one of these scandals also demonstrates that transparent and responsible conduct in procurement is not a one-way street. It requires the business community and governments to come together and _collectively_ address anti-competitive and corrupt behaviour.\n> \n> Companies have long understood this, and the continued work of B20 member companies and organisations in the field of integrity and transparency illustrates that.\n> \n> That’s why the B20 calls on the G20, as it has done in many previous cycles, to commit to and support the implementation of a multistakeholder approach to promoting integrity in procurement. It’s a two-way street, and that’s why Collective Action is not only the right thing to do, it is unavoidable.\n> \n> Over the years, the B20 has continuously advocated for G20 member countries to establish tools of that nature, such as [Integrity Pacts](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fintegrity-pacts) and\u002For [High Level Reporting Mechanisms](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm). It has also advocated for governments to engage in existing initiatives that facilitate transparency and oversight for public projects, for example CoST – the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative or the Open Contracting Partnership.\n> \n> This is not just about integrity and transparency. It is critical in order to bolster competitiveness and ensure that public funds are invested in a sound manner that yield the intended results.\n> \n> Another such tool that the B20 have long advocated for, and for which we hope to gain a lot more uptake by G20 Member States, is the High Level Reporting Mechanism.\n> \n> The HLRM, as we call it, is an innovative procurement integrity tool that was co-developed by the OECD, Transparency International and the Basel Institute on Governance. It allows for early detection and eradication of anti-competitive and corrupt behaviour throughout the tendering and award phase of public projects.\n> \n> The HLRM is built on three main pillars:\n> \n> *   Setting up a secure and easily accessible communication channel through which the stakeholders can raise alerts about potential bribery situations. To ensure there is trust in the mechanism, it is designed through a collaborative process with contribution from the public sector, business and civil society.\n> *   Providing a rapid and timely response through a designated independent panel of experts that quickly analyses the alert and gathers all necessary information. Through open discussion and mediation with all relevant actors, the issue is resolved with minimal loss of time and money. This allows the project to continue smoothly, with enhanced levels of trust between public and private stakeholders. \n> *   The mechanism needs to be supported by the highest level of government to ensure that the findings of the independent panel and resulting resolution can be followed up appropriately.\n> \n> The methodology of the HLRM is kept simple and is designed to be tailored to the context of each country and project. This allows the HLRM to be flexible in finding practicable and collaborative solutions that are tailored to the county or project context.\n> \n> We have seen _some_ mention and general support for these types of anti-corruption initiatives at the G20 level. But we sincerely hope that the G20 will consider a much more explicit inclusion of such mechanisms in the G20 Anti-Corruption Action Plan. We also hope we will see the inclusion of concrete activities that include the private sector to strengthen integrity and transparency in procurement in the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group country implementation plans.\n> \n> Ensuring transparency and integrity throughout the procurement cycle requires commitment from both sides. We believe the B20 and G20 are uniquely positioned to facilitate a more impactful engagement by leveraging and translating the vast knowledge and experiences that both the business community and the G20 Member States bring to the table into action and impact on the ground.\n> \n> We hope, and we trust, the call by B20 companies and organisations is heard by G20 Member States and that we can work closely together over the coming years to make these calls and commitments reality.\n> \n> – Gretta Fenner, Basel Institute on Governance","2021-09-14","b20-g20-dialogue-g20-member-states-need-a-multi-stakeholder-approach-to-integrity-in-procurement-2099","B20-G20 dialogue: G20 Member States need a multi-stakeholder approach to integrity in procurement","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fdc7ff1dd-7dc4-4730-9fd9-3937ed120dbc?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[55,14,53,93],[95,121,175],"Presentations",[],2099,[55,14,53,93],[95,121,175],[],[],[23,55],[],"2022-05-26T22:52:35.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fb20-g20-dialogue-g20-member-states-need-a-multi-stakeholder-approach-to-integrity-in-procurement-2099",{"id":188,"body":189,"status":6,"type":45,"date":190,"slug":191,"title":192,"image":193,"countries":194,"topic":195,"activity":196,"tags":197,"nid":204,"topics":205,"activities":206,"authors":207,"images":208,"websites":209,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":210,"translation_of":21,"user_created":105,"date_created":211,"user_updated":63,"date_updated":8,"content":212,"link":213},9613,"_A guest blog by Olga Savran, Manager of the OECD Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and Elisabeth Danon, Legal Analyst, OECD Anti-Corruption Division._\n\n_This guest blog post explains a new initiative by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Business Ombudsman Council of Ukraine to evaluate regional Business Ombudsman institutions and provide a platform to exchange experiences. Intended as a multi-stakeholder initiative to help resolve suspicions of misconduct in government dealings, the concept of the Business Ombudsman is similar to that of the High Level Reporting Mechanism ([HLRM](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm)) supported by the OECD and Basel Institute on Governance’s Collective Action team._\n\nIn recent years, a growing number of Business Ombudsman institutions have emerged in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Driven by strong demand from the private sector, these institutions are designed to supplement judicial and institutional responses to widespread corruption by investigating claims of abuse of businesses’ rights, resolving disputes and providing advocacy and\u002For advisory services.\n\nIndeed, as weak governance continues to threaten the rights and legitimate interests of companies in the region, the Business Ombudsman can provide a protection that contributes to promoting private sector development.\n\n### A non-judicial way to resolve disputes\n\nBusiness Ombudsman institutions in Eastern Europe and Central Asia present fundamental similarities to High Level Reporting Mechanisms ([HLRMs](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm)) deployed in Argentina and Colombia, as both mechanisms offer a non-judicial way of resolving suspicions of misconduct in a government’s dealings.\n\nHowever, unlike HLRMs, Business Ombudsman institutions do not rely on the involvement of high-level authorities. The lack of trust in such authorities in fact explains why the model has been flourishing in the region. Rather than resorting to high-level authorities, Eastern European and Central Asian Business Ombudsmans rely on their independence and professionalism, and their power to influence governments.\n\n### A flexible model to fit local contexts\n\nVarious models of the mechanism currently coexist in the region. In Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, these were established with the assistance of international partners. In Georgia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, they were created by national governments and businesses.\n\nWhereas in some countries, Business Ombudsmans are part of the government, in others they are based in business chambers and appointed by the president. In two countries, they are independent bodies established by governments and business associations with the assistance of international partners. While stakeholders concur that independence, neutrality, accessibility, transparency, expertise and integrity are critical for ensuring the effectiveness of the institution, these elements can be ensured through different means and in different ways.\n\n### Exploring what works, exchanging experiences\n\nIn 2020, in light of the wide variety of existing systems, and given the growing interest of the mechanism in the region, the OECD Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN), the EBRD and the Business Ombudsman Council of Ukraine, in consultation with the Council of Europe, launched an initiative to conduct an in-depth analysis of Business Ombudsman institutions in the region.\n\nThis unprecedented initiative aims to provide a platform to exchange experiences and information, and to develop good practices for countries aspiring to develop their own models.\n\nThe core analysis will be based on information and data collected through a survey administered to all Business Ombudsman institutions in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The survey is composed of 50 questions, broken down in 10 categories:\n\n*   History of the Business Ombudsman\n*   Legal basis, mandate, responsibilities and powers\n*   Independence, accountability and integrity\n*   Financial and human resources\n*   Operational procedures\n*   Policy recommendations\n*   Results \n*   Addressing Covid-19\n*   Cooperation\n*   Comments and suggestions \n\nThe survey was rolled out in November 2020, following a launch webinar gathering the project coordinators and officials from several Business Ombudsman institutions across the regions. Initial results of the survey will be presented in May 2021.\n\nBased on the collected data, a report will present the main findings of the survey, including the analysis of the existing models, examples of good practices and draft recommendations for further strengthening the institutions.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   OECD (2020). _[Anti-corruption Reforms in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Progress and Challenges, 2016-2019](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fcorruption\u002Facn\u002FAnti-Corruption-Reforms-Eastern-Europe-Central-Asia-2016-2019-ENG.pdf)_.\n*   About the [Ukraine Business Ombudsman Council](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm\u002Fhlrm-ukraine) on the B20 Collective Action Hub (see also [official BOC website](https:\u002F\u002Fboi.org.ua\u002Fen\u002F))\n*   Learn more about the [Ukrainian Network of Integrity and Compliance](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Finitiatives-database\u002Fukrainian-network-integrity-and-compliance-unic) (UNIC), a successful Collective Action initiative established in 2017 with the support of the country’s Business Ombudsman Council, OECD and EBRD.","2021-03-28","business-ombudsman-institutions-in-eastern-europe-and-central-asia-taking-stock-and-identifying-good-practices-1996","Business Ombudsman institutions in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: taking stock and identifying good practices ","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fff006854-3c79-43d0-bf89-37c5498dad28?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[55,14,93],[119,121],[198,202],{"tags_id":199},{"id":200,"name":201},830,"Business integrity",{"tags_id":203},{"id":130,"name":55},1996,[55,14,93],[119,121],[],[],[23,55],[],"2022-05-26T22:53:16.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbusiness-ombudsman-institutions-in-eastern-europe-and-central-asia-taking-stock-and-identifying-good-practices-1996",{"id":215,"body":216,"status":6,"type":10,"date":217,"slug":218,"title":219,"image":220,"countries":221,"topic":222,"activity":224,"tags":225,"nid":238,"topics":239,"activities":240,"authors":241,"images":242,"websites":243,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":244,"translation_of":21,"user_created":105,"date_created":245,"user_updated":246,"date_updated":247,"content":248,"link":249},9614,"Our partners at the OECD have just published a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help companies involved in minerals sectors better address bribery and corruption risks throughout their supply chain.\n\nFind it here: [FAQ: How to address bribery and corruption risks in mineral supply chains](https:\u002F\u002Fmneguidelines.oecd.org\u002Ffaq-how-to-address-bribery-and-corruption-risks-in-mineral-supply-chains.htm)\n\nThe FAQs complement the user-friendly and interactive online version of the gold-standard _OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas_ ([Minerals Guidance](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.duediligenceguidance.org\u002F)). The questions cover some common challenges in identifying, preventing, mitigating and reporting on bribery and corruption risks in mineral supply chains.\n\nWe welcome the FAQs for many reasons.\n\n### A practical tool...\n\nFirst, because good policies and guidelines against corruption often suffer from weak implementation on the ground. Practical tools that help companies to implement recommendations can only help to make anti-corruption measures more effective – and the industry fairer and more efficient as a result.\n\n### ... serving real needs\n\nSecond, these FAQs really address the concrete needs of users because the OECD consulted extensively with governments, the private sector and civil society in developing them.\n\nWe were happy to contribute as part of the consultation process through our [Green Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) programme, which applies anti-corruption and governance approaches to counter environmental degradation.\n\n### ... endorsing Collective Action\n\nThird, we are glad to see that the OECD endorses and encourages [anti-corruption Collective Action](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub) as a way for companies to increase their leverage over suppliers further upstream in the supply chain. Answer 8 states:\n\n> Companies can join forces with their peers, usually at a similar position in the supply chain, to apply pressure on specific issues such as corruption. This can be done via established fora, such as industry associations, multi-stakeholder groups and High Level Reporting Mechanisms where available, or by working with buyers from the same supplier associated to corruption risks.\n\nThis endorsement of Collective Action, in this case through multi-stakeholder groups and partnership initiatives led by industry associations, aligns with a general trend we are seeing across a variety of high-risk industries. \n\nAs our recent paper on [_Mainstreaming Collective Action_](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fmainstreaming-collective-action-establishing-baseline) reveals, governments, standard-setters and the private sector itself are increasingly recognising the value of companies engaging with others in Collective Action initiatives to tackle shared corruption risks and create a more level playing field.\n\nDeveloped and promoted by the OECD and the [Collective Action team](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcollective-action) at the Basel Institute on Governance, the [High Level Reporting Mechanism (HLRM)](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm) is a good example of how a Collective Action tool can help to quickly and effectively address reports of bribe solicitations or unfair business practices. Governments around the world are currently implementing or considering the HLRM for high-risk, high-value tenders such as those found in the extractive industries.\n\n### ... supporting risk assessment\n\nFinally, we are also glad that the OECD authors recommend two of our flagship digital tools in the FAQs to help companies conduct corruption risk assessments on:\n\n*   countries, using our [Basel AML Index Expert Edition](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fbasel-aml-index\u002Fexpert-edition) risk assessment tool for corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing risks;\n*   individuals and companies, through our open-source investigation and due diligence tool, [Basel Open Intelligence](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fbasel-open-intelligence).\n\nCompany leaders, compliance officers and all those seeking to improve responsible and sustainable business practices in mineral supply chains are strongly encouraged to use and share the FAQs.\n\n### Sharing experiences: joint OECD-Basel Institute webinar series\n\nWe hope to see some of you at upcoming editions of our [Corrupting the Environment webinar series](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption\u002Fcorrupting-environment). Co-hosted by our Green Corruption team and the OECD, the series brings together thought leaders among government, private industry and civil society to explore burning issues of environmental degradation, financial crime and illicit trade.","2021-03-23","welcoming-the-oecds-new-faqs-on-corruption-risks-in-mineral-supply-chains-1993","Welcoming the OECD’s new FAQs on corruption risks in mineral supply chains","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fd1bf1245-17aa-40dc-96ed-6d71d37e4ab2?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[55,14,223,93],"Green Corruption",[120],[226,228,230,234],{"tags_id":227},{"id":130,"name":55},{"tags_id":229},{"id":200,"name":201},{"tags_id":231},{"id":232,"name":233},1303,"Environment",{"tags_id":235},{"id":236,"name":237},859,"Corruption risks",1993,[55,14,223,93],[120],[],[],[23,55],[],"2022-05-26T22:53:17.000Z","dfef11db-1bc6-47e9-a61d-93443995484b","2026-05-08T21:11:02.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fwelcoming-the-oecds-new-faqs-on-corruption-risks-in-mineral-supply-chains-1993",{"id":251,"body":252,"status":6,"type":45,"date":253,"slug":254,"title":255,"image":256,"countries":257,"topic":259,"activity":260,"tags":261,"nid":266,"topics":267,"activities":268,"authors":269,"images":270,"websites":271,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":272,"translation_of":21,"user_created":105,"date_created":273,"user_updated":246,"date_updated":274,"content":275,"link":276},9644,"\u003Cvideo controls=\"controls\" height=\"480\" width=\"640\">\u003Csource src=\"\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-12\u002FHLRM_Bogota%20Metro.mp4\" type=\"video\u002Fmp4\">\u003C\u002Fvideo>\n\nIn this short video, Gabriel Cifuentes, former Secretary of Transparency in the Office of the President in Colombia, talks about his experience in implementing the second High Level Reporting Mechanism (HLRM) to ensure a clean procurement process for the construction of the Bogotá Metro.\n\nDeveloped by the Basel Institute on Governance, OECD and Transparency International, the HLRM is a preventive tool that acts as an early warning system in connection with potential corruption. Acting as a complement to institutions and legal systems, it provides an alternative dispute resolution process in high-value procurement and infrastructure projects.\n\nVariations on the HLRM have been implemented in several sectors and the Basel Institute continues to work closely with the OECD to support its adaptation and implementation in countries across Latin America, Central Europe and Asia.\n\nYou can find out more in the [HLRM resource section](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm) of the B20 Collective Action Hub. But first, watch the short video or read the transcript of Gabriel Cifuentes’ recommendations below:\n\n> Colombia was one of the first countries to implement this instrument back in 2015. We had a pilot experience in one of the biggest procurement processes led by the National Infrastructure Agency. Then we had a second implementation of the HLRM in 2018, with the Bogotá Metro project. This was the biggest infrastructure project in Colombia and one of the biggest in Latin America.\n> \n> On this occasion, we implemented the HLRM with the lessons learned from the experience we had in 2015. I believe these lessons are very useful for the processes that are going on around the world and in other countries.\n> \n> First, there is no cookie-cutter model of a HLRM. Each HLRM depends on the context in which it is applied - and that means political context, legal context and social context. This is very important because the experiences you may learn from other countries may be useful in part or in full depending on the context in which you are applying this mechanism.\n> \n> Second, expectations must be managed. The HLRM is not a judicial mechanism. The HLRM is a very useful tool to prevent corruption, but it is not a vaccine. It doesn't absolutely shield corruption cases, which may depend on external variables that affect the procurement or tender process.\n> \n> Third, the HLRM requires political will at the highest level. In order for it to work, it requires the political commitment to put in place a mechanism or instrument that will be able to raise red flags about possible corruption or situations that may lead to corruption. As you may know, the HLRM is applied in the biggest tenders or procurement processes, in which different interests – political, social and economic interests – may converge or may not converge.\n> \n> The fourth lesson learned is that this mechanism is very useful to build trust between the parties. Not only between the private actors and public actors, but also between the different private actors that are involved in the procurement and tender process.\n> \n> Fifth, the mechanism must work very quickly - in real time. If there is a delay in the reception of the information, the processing of the information and providing the necessary recommendation, this mechanism will not work. The HLRM is applied in a very specific part of the procurement process, namely the tender process. If the mechanism doesn't work and is not agile, its purpose will be void.\n> \n> Lastly, it is important to consider the financing of the HRLM. It may depend on each context, but in my advice, in order for it to be fully independent I would not make it depend on public resources. It should be financed by the budget allocated in the procurement or tender process as such. This budget must be used to hire experts in financial, legal and technical issues.\n> \n> All in all, the HLRM is a very useful tool to prevent corruption. But it must be managed in terms of expectations and in the faith you put in it. Also, you have to find independent ways to finance it. You have to act very quickly.\n> \n> And remember: each context is different and each country may find its own way to interpret and implement the HLRM.\n\n### More on the HLRM\n\n*   [High Level Reporting Mechanism resources and case studies](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm)\n*   [New OECD study on how to implement a HLRM for clean, transparent public procurement](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fnew-oecd-study-how-implement-hlrm-clean-transparent-public-procurement), a guest article by William Loo and Elisabeth Danon of the OECD Anti-Corruption Division\n*   [Clean procurement in times of covid-19 – transparency and the High Level Reporting Mechanism](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fclean-procurement-times-covid-19-transparency-and-high-level-reporting-mechanism), by Vanessa Hans","2020-12-11","gabriel-cifuentes-on-the-high-level-reporting-mechanism-quotnot-a-vaccine-against-corruption-but-a-very-useful-tool-for-clean-procurementquot-1942","Gabriel Cifuentes on the High Level Reporting Mechanism: \"Not a vaccine against corruption, but a very useful tool for clean procurement\"","\u002Fpics\u002Fimg-placeholder.png",[258],7364,[55,14,93],[122],[262],{"tags_id":263},{"id":264,"name":265},1378,"Public financial management",1942,[55,14,93],[122],[],[],[23,55],[],"2022-05-26T22:53:42.000Z","2026-05-08T21:11:03.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fgabriel-cifuentes-on-the-high-level-reporting-mechanism-quotnot-a-vaccine-against-corruption-but-a-very-useful-tool-for-clean-procurementquot-1942",{"left":278,"top":278,"width":279,"height":279,"rotate":278,"vFlip":280,"hFlip":280,"body":281},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>",1780676364502]