HOW DO YOU DEFINE CORRUPTION?
Generally speaking as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain”. Corruption can be classified as grand, petty and political, depending on the amounts of money lost and the sector where it occurs.Grand corruption consists of acts committed at a high level of government that distort policies or the central functioning of the state, enabling leaders to benefit at the expense of the public good. Petty corruption refers to everyday abuse of entrusted power by low-and mid-level public officials in their interactions with ordinary citizens, who often are trying to access basic goods or services in places like hospitals, schools, police departments and other agencies.Political corruption is a manipulation of policies, institutions and rules of procedure in the allocation of resources and financing by political decision makers, who abuse their position to sustain their power, status and wealth. See animated definitions of many corruption terms in ourAnti corruption Intellgence Cell Glossary.
WHAT IS TRANSPARENCY?
Transparency is about shedding light on rules, plans, processes and actions. It is knowing why, how, what, and how much. Transparency ensures that public officials, civil servants, managers, board members and businesspeople act visibly and understandably, and report on their activities. And it means that the general public can hold them to account. It is the surest way of guarding against corruption, and helps increase trust in the people and institutions on which our futures depend. See how transparency can defeat corruption in arange of areas.
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Political corruption doesn’t just mean election rigging. Politicians can let private rather than public interests dictate policy. How can we stop this? By speaking out. By demanding accountability from leaders, we can build honesty in politics.
WHISTLE BLOWING

Whistle blowers are vital in exposing corruption, fraud and mismanagement. Safeguards can protect and encourage people willing to take the risk of speaking out about these crimes.
OIL AND GAS

Many countries rich in oil and gas are home to some of the world’s poorest people. Wealth stays corruptly in the hands of the elite. We must demand openness in revenues, payments and activities. Then insiders can’t hide their actions or their profits..
CLIMATE CHANGE

Vast sums of money are tackling our biggest challenge, climate change. Loopholes in regulations mean opportunities for corruption. But by monitoring developments and learning fast, we can reduce the risks.
PRIVATE SECTOR

Bribery in business remains widespread, distorting markets and hurting the public interest. But we can tackle it. We must press companies to adopt a zero-tolerance approach. Better external regulation is needed and markets must be more transparent.
HEALTH

Corruption in health means the difference between life and death. Poor people are worst affected. But if we’re watching, funds can’t disappear. With information on budgets and plans, we can ensure that health facilities give us the best possible care.
ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Information is power. When it’s not provided freely, corruption can thrive. Laws need to guarantee public access to information. Governments must proactively disclose it, and we must demand it. Then it’s hard for corruption to hide.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Corruption in humanitarian aid is so shocking, it’s often taboo. But if we all discuss it openly, we can tackle it. There are many measures aid agencies, governments and communities can take. They need some investment. But they give huge returns.
FORESTRY

Deforestation affects us all, threatening millions of livelihoods and causing massive greenhouse gas emissions. Corruption in the forestry sector only speeds this destruction. But it can be curbed, so that forests are preserved and forest products are sustainably harvested.
DEFENCE AND SECURITY

Vast expenditure combined with a reputation for secrecy. The defence sector poses unique corruption risks. But greater openness can prevent corruption risks. And it won’t compromise national security.
SPORT

Sport is a multi-billion dollar business. And it has ties to political and private interests. This means fertile ground for corruption. But greater openness can prevent it. If we can monitor money and decisions in sport, we can ensure fair play wins through.
WATER

Water is our most vital resource. But corruption makes it undrinkable, inaccessible and unaffordable. We must demand stronger regulations. And we need information, to check that policies are right and money goes where it should, so no one will go thirsty..
JUDICIARY

Fairness in the courtroom is everyone’s right. Yet people in many countries face biased judgements or demands for bribes. We must press for reforms to increase judicial honesty. And we must keep watching that rules are enforced.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL BODIES

We inform and promote the anti-corruption agenda in a range of intergovernmental groups and institutions.
POVERTY AND DEVELOPMENT

Poverty and corruption can seem like separate issues. But they’re tightly linked. Successful development policies need anti-corruption measures. We must work with governments and aid agencies to integrate them. Then we’ll maximise their effectiveness.
EDUCATION

We all want the best possible education for our children. But corruption causes poor teaching and unequal access to schooling. Tighter regulations are essential. And we must track funds and resources, to make sure they end up in the classroom.
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

Trillions of dollars are spent annually on public procurement. Corruption raises costs by up to 50 per cent. It also costs lives. But open procurement systems mean we can monitor bidding, so we can ensure taxpayers’ money is well spent.
WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF CORRUPTION?
Corruption impacts societies in a multitude of ways. In the worst cases, it costs lives. Short of this, it costs people their freedom, health or money. The cost of corruption can be divided into four main categories: political, economic, social and environmental.On the political front, corruption is a major obstacle to democracy and the rule of law. In a democratic system, offices and institutions lose their legitimacy when they’re misused for private advantage. This is harmful in established democracies, but even more so in newly emerging ones. It is extremely challenging to develop accountable political leadership in a corrupt climate.Economically, corruption depletes national wealth. Corrupt politicians invest scarce public resources in projects that will line their pockets rather than benefit communities, and prioritise high-profile projects such as dams, power plants, pipelines and refineries over less spectacular but more urgent infrastructure projects such as schools, hospitals and roads. Corruption also hinders the development of fair market structures and distorts competition, which in turn deters investment.Corruption corrodes the social fabric of society. It undermines people's trust in the political system, in its institutions and its leadership. A distrustful or apathetic public can then become yet another hurdle to challenging corruption.Environmental degradation is another consequence of corrupt systems. The lack of, or non-enforcement of, environmental regulations and legislation means that precious natural resources are carelessly exploited, and entire ecological systems are ravaged. From mining, to logging, to carbon offsets, companies across the globe continue to pay bribes in return for unrestricted destruction.
WHAT DO YOU DO TO FIGHT CORRUPTION?
Our three guiding principles are: build partnerships, proceed step-by-step and stay non-confrontational. We have learned from experience that corruption can only be kept in check if representatives from government, business and civil society work together to develop standards and procedures they all support. We also know that corruption can’t be rooted out in one big sweep. Rather, fighting it is a step-by-step, project-by-project process. Our non-confrontational approach is necessary to get all relevant parties around the negotiating table