Countries can implement a wide range of anti-corruption tools and measures to counter corruption. These include, among others, national anti-corruption strategies and corruption risk management processes.
National anti-corruption strategies provide a comprehensive policy framework to address corruption challenges in a coordinated and effective way. According to article 5 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, these strategies should be developed in consultation with key stakeholders to promote public integrity, accountability and transparency, and foster trust and confidence in public institutions. The strategies are typically based on a preliminary diagnosis and include mechanisms for coordination and implementation (such as an action plan) as well as for monitoring and impact evaluation. In 2013, corruption experts gathered in Malaysia to discuss anti-corruption strategies and adopted the Kuala Lumpur Statement on Anti-Corruption Strategies, setting out core principles for the development, design and implementation of sustainable anti-corruption strategies.
Countering corruption in a public institution is an ongoing process, not a one-time action, as criminals consistently seek new ways to exploit public sector entities. Therefore, there is a need to establish processes to address these emerging threats effectively. Corruption risk management is a methodology that helps government bodies identify areas within their operations where corruption could occur and develop and implement strategies to mitigate the risk of corruption in the future. The UN Convention against Corruption emphasizes the importance of effective and efficient systems of risk management and internal control as a means for promoting transparency and accountability in the management of public finances.
UNODC, 2020
This guide is designed to assist public institutions in preventing corruption, offering practical guidance on setting up and maintaining effective corruption risk management practices.
UNODC, 2015
This document provides guidance on how to draft or revise effective anti-corruption strategies, covering essential aspects of the design, implementation and monitoring and drawing on practical country experiences and examples.