Baghdad, Iraq - 14 May 2023
Corruption remains a significant obstacle to achieving sustainable development and prosperity, impacting every sector of society. It hinders economic growth and good governance, discourages foreign investment, reduces public trust in businesses and creates an unfair competition for companies. To effectively counter corruption, it is necessary for countries to adopt a comprehensive and systematic approach that involves all stakeholders. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are key players in this fight and can play a critical role in promoting integrity and countering corruption, and their active participation in this endeavour is imperative.
As part of its ongoing efforts to support Iraq in addressing corruption in the private sector, UNODC organized a two-days hybrid workshop in Baghdad, Iraq, under the theme "Anti-Corruption and Business Integrity" at the premises of the Iraqi Anti-Corruption Academy and brought together 31 representatives from Iraqi SMEs in Iraq, the Commission of Integrity, the Ministry of Industry and the Central Bank.
The workshop aimed to raise awareness for commitment in the Iraqi private sector by sharing information and experiences on international Anti-Corruption standards, regulations, and frameworks. During the two days, UNODC experts provided insights on the different types of corruption, their impact on the business environment, and effective measures to combat corruption through risk assessments, internal controls, and ethical and compliance programs. Besides, the participants were introduced to the corruption risk assessment tool that UNODC has developed for SMEs. They learned how this tool can be useful in addressing most common corruption risks within their line of work, especially for SMEs that have limited financial resources to address corruption.
The workshop also provided a platform for SMEs to engage in direct dialogue with national authorities on the challenges they encounter in their industries, and to exchange ideas on how to contribute to the country's efforts to promote integrity and combat corruption in the private sector, paving the way for a better and more sustainable future for all.
This workshop was conducted in collaboration with the Iraqi Commission of Integrity of Iraq and held within the framework of the project “Strengthening the Private Sector Capacity to Prevent Corruption and Enhance Integrity in the Arab Countries”, funded by Siemens Integrity Initiative.
