Infrastructure anti-corruption toolbox

Quality infrastructure investment is key to addressing global challenges such as the current energy crisis, climate change and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the complex nature of infrastructure projects, whether roads, ports, electricity or digital infrastructure, combined with the multiplicity of actors involved, creates an environment particularly vulnerable to corrupt practices, with 30 to 50 percent of national infrastructure spending being lost due to corruption inefficiencies.

Strengthening trust in infrastructure development

The Infrastructure Anti-Corruption Toolbox (I ACT) is a holistic multi-stakeholder approach to empowering actors across the infrastructure value chain to prevent, detect and report corruption. It aims to assist stakeholders to meet international standards and best practices, such as the Blue Dot Network minimum requirements for anti-corruption.

A toolbox to prevent, detect and report corruption

I ACT supports the operationalisation of international standards including the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and related instruments through developing dialogues, tools and activities with a specific focus on collective action, knowledge creation and capacity building:

1. Collective Action: A Multistakeholder Community

At the centre of the toolbox is the I ACT Community, composed of C-suite leaders, experts from civil society and government officials that inform, catalyse and implement the I ACT tools. Members of the community have expressed an interest and need for a collective action to promote trust and integrity in the infrastructure sector.
 

Meetings

• 7 December 2022 - The Integrity Pact – A Global Collective Action Standard for Safeguarding Strategic Public Investment, International Anti-Corruption Conference

• 5 October 2022 - Connecting the Dots: Building Trusted Systems to Address Corruption in Infrastructure | Summary note

• 30 March 2022 - Enhancing trust and integrity in infrastructure investment, OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum

• 27 March 2022 - Building infrastructure with integrity and trust, OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum

2. Knowledge Creation: A Practical Guidebook

Drawing upon a rich evidence base, OECD Instruments, best practices, and insights from the I ACT community, a new Handbook has been developed. This Handbook provides implementation guidance on how to meet the anti-corruption and transparent procurement criteria under the Blue Dot Network certification.

As such, the Handbook contributes to empowering actors across the infrastructure value chain to implement best practice in the prevention, detection and reporting of corruption. One of the innovative value-added features of this Handbook is that it provides good practices for both the public and the private sectors to safeguard the integrity of infrastructure projects.

3. Capacity Building: Trainings

The OECD has developed a training that offers a unique opportunity for infrastructure project owners and contracting authorities to deepen the understanding of anti-corruption prevention and detection measures across the project life cycle. By engaging with global good practices and interactive learning experiences, participants will be equipped to proactively address corruption risks and enhance transparency in infrastructure projects.

• 27-28 November 2023 Training Session in Cartagena, Colombia

Read More

• Catalysing collective action to combat corruption in infrastructure

Engage with I ACT

Private sector and civil society organisations interested in engaging with I ACT are invited to contact:

• Jacobo García Villarreal, Senior Policy Analyst, jacobo.garciavillarreal@oecd.org

• Santiago Gonzalez, Policy Analyst, santiago.gonzalez@oecd.org

• Ingrid Hampe, Lead Policy Analyst, ingrid.hampe@oecd.org   

The Infrastructure Anti-Corruption Toolbox workstream is supported by the US Department of State as part of the Galvanizing the Private Sector (GPS) programme.