New Anti-Corruption Reporting Guidance

Transparency International (TI) and the United Nations Global Compact has released reporting guidance for business committed to combating corruption. The guidance, developed in the framework of the Global Compact, the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative, aims to equip companies with the means to report on anti-corruption policies and actions comprehensively and effectively.

According to Chair of Transparency International and Global Compact Board Member, Huguette Labelle:

Following the financial crisis the spotlight is on companies to prove they are responsible, accountable corporate citizens… The Reporting Guidance helps companies to convincingly demonstrate they are fully assessing and addressing corruption risks.

Recent TI research has revealed that many leading companies make high-level, strategic commitments to prevent corruption but still have some way to go in reporting how these commitments are integrated into their policies and activities. The new guidance aims to fill this current gap in reporting and is designed to fit the needs of all companies, from small enterprises to multi-national businesses, regardless of sector.

Executive Director of the Global Compact, Georg Kell, was reported to have said:

Making a commitment to anti-corruption is only the first step… The true challenge lies in implementation as well as meaningful and transparent disclosure. This much-needed guidance will be of significant help to companies seeking to assess and improve their anti-corruption performance.

The guidance is said to be the most succinct, practical guide currently available to what anti-corruption aspects companies should report on. It sets the standard for thousands of Global Compact signatories, while its use will be beneficial well beyond this network.

Labelle was quoted as saying:

The reporting guidance sets a new benchmark for reporting on anti-corruption… By following the reporting guidance, companies stand to strengthen internal anti-corruption systems through transparency, enhance their external reputation and allow progress to be measured.

At the invitation of the Global Compact, TI chaired a taskforce consisting of businesses, NGOs and anti-corruption experts to develop the guidelines, which were successfully field tested by 19 organisations around the world. Every organisation reported that the guidelines will help them in implementing anti-corruption practices.

Co-chair of the taskforce, Sven Biermann of Accenture, was reported to have said:

This Guidance is the result of a global, multi-stakeholder endeavour to support companies in their efforts on anti-corruption reporting in the Global Compact Communication on Progress and beyond… It promotes the strong benefits of reporting and provides structured and comprehensive guidance.

Following this first introduction, the Global Compact Office will, over the coming months, work with participants and Local Networks around the world to advance adoption of the guidance into standard reporting practice. The Reporting Guidance will also be presented at the upcoming Global Compact Leaders Summit, to be held on 24-25 June 2010 in New York.