Transparency International

Transparency International (TI), an independent international organisation, was created in 1993 with the aim of fighting corruption. Its mission is to “stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society”. Its fundamental values are: “transparency, accountability, integrity, solidarity, courage, justice and democracy”. The organisation has more than 100 national divisions worldwide and an international secretariat based in Berlin who work with governments, businesses and civil society to tackle corruption. In line with its fundamental principles and mission, TI’s resources, funding and spending are made public here.

TI’s Strategy for 2020 is available here.

TI’s Code of Conduct is available here.

Since 1993, TI’s main achievements are putting the fight against corruption on the global agenda and raising awareness on the importance of transparency, accountability, and integrity. Its work has given rise to a coalition of organisations and individuals engaged in the promotion of corruption-free governments and businesses. TI’s work also resulted in the creation of copious outstanding knowledge products and other prominent tools and resources that constitute an essential reference point for anyone.

Key Transparency International achievements and tools:

What does Transparency International do for Security Sector Governance (SSG) and Reform (SSR)?

TI is involved in SSG and SSR through research, trainings, policy advice and analysis, standard setting, as well as capacity-building activities. ‘Defence and Security’ is one of the 18 topics that organise TI’s work. TI has developed the Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index which assesses and scores governments and defence companies in 82 countries on the codes and processes they have in place to prevent corruption in their establishments.

Since 2004, Transparency International’s Defence and Security Programme (TI-DSP) has supported defence and security reform in countries by working with governments to identify their corruption risks and develop mechanisms to prevent corruption from occurring. TI also helps to curb corruption by facilitating leadership workshops, roundtables, and “building integrity” courses for military and defence ministry personnel. TI also works with international organisations to influence policy, such as the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

TI works with defence companies to foster stronger global ethical standards for the industry. In October 2012, TI released Defence Companies Anti-Corruption Index (CI), a tool that examines corruption prevention policies of 129 of the biggest defence companies around the world. It also includes recommendations.[2]

According to TI, these are some of the crucial steps towards tackling corruption:

  • Raise awareness about the subject and include it in public discussions.
  • Tackling corruption risks, which starts and ends with people within an organisation changing their behaviour
  • Train agents for change both in the defence and security sector and civil society
  • Monitor and measure anti-corruption efforts

Key TI Tools and Resources:

For further information see Transparency International

 

[1] SeeTransparency International’s work on the UN Convention against Corruption, here.

[2] See TI’s work on Defence and Security: here.