Multinational companies are no strangers to problems of corruption in their supply chains, which can bring significant legal, financial and reputational risks. Especially when entering new markets, many companies find it difficult to identify credible local partners and to assess their adherence to anti-corruption regulations.
Business ethics, integrity, and compliance are often relatively new concepts for businesses in emerging markets, most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
As part of ongoing efforts to support Collective Action initiatives aimed at addressing corruption in particular markets and regions, the Basel Institute launched a Mentoring Programme in January 2022.
Following a comprehensive selection process, we are pleased to announce that six organisations have been selected as mentees in this first cohort:
The Wolfsberg Group – an association of 13 global banks that develops frameworks and guidance to manage financial crime risks – became an independent legal entity in October 2021. Its new home is at the Basel Institute on Governance headquarters in Switzerland.
The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) has launched tailored guidance on measures that companies in the oil, gas and mining sectors can adopt to reduce corruption risks when partnering with state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Our joint chapter in a new book on Perspectives on Antitrust Compliance answers a common question that arises when compliance officers and company lawyers first hear about anti-corruption Collective Action: are there antitrust risks in engaging with other industry players through Collective Action?
The short answer is no. The longer answer is, as we explain in the chapter, “quite the opposite”.
This chapter (26) of Perspectives on Antitrust Compliance covers the scope and purpose of anti-corruption Collective Action and explains why Collective Action and peer collaboration are important in tackling corruption. It then gives practical advice on how to overcome concerns and avoid antitrust risks, including many examples from initiatives around the world.
Transparency International's practical guide to civic monitoring of public contracting projects emerges from the Integrity Pacts – Civil Control Mechanism for Safeguarding EU Funds project.
Under this project, between 2015 and 2021, 15 civil society organisations monitored 46 public contracting procedures in the EU.
What are the four biggest developments in anti-corruption Collective Action in the last years? And what are some examples of these around the world?
Drawing on broad stakeholder consultations, corruption case analysis and reviews of existing best practices, this guidance proposes concrete measures that companies should adopt to reduce corruption risks in their work with state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the oil, gas and mining industries. It also recommends measures SOEs can take to strengthen their anticorruption safeguards.
The guidance for private-sector companies has five parts: