Sorong (Indonesia), 17 June 2023 – In 2022, a series of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) highlighted the prevalent corruption risks within Indonesia’s land-based business sector, particularly during processes like land conversion and obtaining permits. The governance system’s accountability mechanisms, including a lack of whistleblower protection, created further opportunities for the occurrence of corruption. Recognizing the need for action, the Indonesia Global Compact Network (IGCN) aimed to mobilize businesses and encourage the active involvement of all stakeholders to develop solutions that were perceived as more credible, acceptable, and sustainable.
This initiative aligned with the Corruption Risk Assessment conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Provincial Government. The assessment report identified a higher corruption risk in the forestry sector during land conversion, land management, and licensing processes. It also revealed that companies within the forestry sector had limited exposure to strategies and measures for preventing private sector corruption.
To address the vulnerability to corruption in this sector, UNODC partnered with the KPK and the IGCN to organize a workshop from 15-17 June in Sorong, Indonesia. The workshop's primary goals were to share the identified corruption risks in the land-based sector and discuss practices for mitigating these risks from the private sector's perspective. Additionally, the workshop aimed to assess the maturity level of companies' anti-corruption policies and raise awareness about anti-corruption strategies to promote stronger business ethics and codes of conduct.
During the training, which gathered 42 participants from the government and private sector, various topics were covered. The workshop began with an introduction from the Indonesia Global Compact Network, providing an overview of their profile and their role as a collective action group against corruption. The next agenda item involved sharing the results of the Corruption Risk Assessment in the Forestry sector, conducted by UNODC across four different provinces since 2018: South Sumatra, East Kalimantan, Papua, and West Papua.
The KPK also delivered a presentation on the Corruption Prevention Guideline for the Private Sector (Panduan CEK). The discussions held during the workshop were highly productive, with some participants expressing their intention to explore the implementation of Panduan CEK as a guideline for their company’s anti-corruption policy. The final session of the workshop focused on assessing the maturity level of the participants’ organizations and administering a knowledge assessment questionnaire.
Overall, the workshop provided a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders in the land-based sector. By addressing the identified corruption risks and promoting effective anti-corruption measures, the workshop aimed to strengthen business ethics and codes of conduct, contributing to a more transparent and accountable business environment.
This activity was conducted with funding provided by the Kingdom of Denmark and the Korean Ministry of Justice.
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