The 10 Anti-Corruption Principles provide guidance for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) of all types and sizes on anti-corruption best practice.

Companies of all sizes increasingly recognize corruption as a risk reducing competitive advantage by increasing costs and damaging to sustainable growth. For Transparency International, anti-corruption and corporate transparency policies are essential to tackle the roots of corruption in corporations.

All the major financial centres have experienced a rise in anti-money laundering rules and regulations. Initially, anti-money laundering laws were used as a weapon in the war on drugs, whilst more recently they have been deployed in the ongoing fight against terrorism. These developments, the authors reveal, have had serious consequences for banks and other financial institutions – affecting not only profit margins but also the way in which business is conducted. 

Public procurement is a place where governments and companies used to be alone, and where citizens are increasingly present. Examining the rules under which governments acquire goods and services is fundamental to determine how transparent and competitive governments are when purchasing with taxpayer money. Transparent procurement increases social and consumer welfare, it ensures sound national and local government budgeting, stimulates an economy based on innovation, and strengthens democratic governance

This report aims to provide an overview of business integrity and anti-bribery legislation, policies and practices applicable to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) operating across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Companies today, in particular banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions, increasingly operate their businesses in a group structure. These financial groups have a growing presence in markets worldwide and the economy as a whole. To do business effectively and efficiently in group structures, corporate groups should be managed in a holistic and integrated manner, in much the same way as an enterprise.

Transparency International’s Business Integrity Country Agenda (BICA) seeks to create a relevant body of evidence on business integrity in a given country, a widely shared agenda for reform and a collective momentum for change towards more business integrity among key stakeholders.

Transparency International envisages that the BICAs will become important reference points for fighting corruption in business practices within countries and around the globe.

Settlements can provide an important channel to hold companies to account for wrongdoings and resolve foreign bribery and other cases without resorting to a full trial (civil or criminal), or contested administrative proceeding.

Yet, their deterrent effect can be questionable if they are not transparent, and do not provide effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions and if there is no judicial process. Finally, there should be reparations for the victims of the offence.

This Learning Review was the first comprehensive analysis of experiences with Integrity Pact implementation in over 20 countries over two decades.

The main findings confirm that Integrity Pacts: