This paper explores governments’ role in fostering, facilitating and engaging in collective action initiatives to support the private sector in its fight against corruption. Building on the OECD Anti-Bribery Recommendation, the first international standard to recommend collective action as a tool to fight foreign bribery, the paper examines when, how and for what purposes governments participate in such initiatives.

In 2010, the UN Global Compact launched a bold initiative to tackle corruption through Collective Action. Funded by the Siemens Integrity Initiative, Anti-Corruption Collective Action (ACCA) mobilized a community of like-minded companies determined to jointly challenge corrupt practices and co-create solutions to address them.

This publication includes valuable tools and resources, best practices and lessons learned and is testament to how trusted partnerships can transform industries, drive long-term success and protect people and planet.

Stories, evidence and inspiration from the Basel Institute on Governance

At its core, Collective Action is a simple yet powerful concept: tackling corruption challenges together, rather than alone. Over the past two decades, anti-corruption Collective Action has grown from a niche idea to a recognised approach embedded in international standards, national strategies and corporate practices.

In the last decade, companies around the globe have significantly invested in the development of anti-corruption compliance programmes. Assessing the effectiveness of these programmes has proven challenging and requires that companies go beyond a box-checking approach, set clear objectives, measure progress and impact and foster a culture of integrity.