Introduction

This free online training module, “Preventing corruption in project procurement”, is part of the GIACC Training Academy’s suite of modules which are designed to increase understanding of corruption in the infrastructure sector, and thereby help prevent and detect it.

Corruption, including in particular fraud, bribery, and cartels, can frequently occur in the procurement phase of an infrastructure project.

Abuse of procurement procedures can also occur in the procurement phase.  This abuse may be innocent (e.g. due to mistake, or lack of knowledge of the procedures).  Alternatively, it could be due to, or could enable, a corrupt act.

This module examines the controls which should be implemented by public sector and private sector project owners in the procurement phase, so as to prevent corruption and abuse of procurement procedures.

It is far cheaper and preferable to prevent corruption and abuse of procurement procedures from occurring than to allow it to take place, or to deal with the consequences later.

The content of this workshop is divided into two sections.

• The first section examines the anti-corruption management system which should be implemented by the project owner in relation to all of its activities (i.e. not just procurement).
• The second section examines specific anti-corruption controls which should be implemented by the project owner in relation to procurement.  These specific controls form a part of the overall anti-corruption management system referred to in the first section.

(Note: Separate modules examine how corruption takes place in the procurement phase, and how to investigate such corruption.)

This module takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.  On the last page of this module, you can print a certificate of completion, with your name and date of completion.  GIACC keeps no record of your identity in undertaking this module, so this certificate is purely for your own or your organisation’s record.

In this module:

• the term “infrastructure project” is used to include any project in the built environment:  e.g. roads, railways, airports, bridges, power stations, hospitals, schools, commercial and residential buildings.
• the term “corruption” is used to include bribery, extortion, fraud, cartels, abuse of power, embezzlement, and money laundering, which are the most common criminal offences in infrastructure. 
• The term “project owner” is used to refer to the organisation which owns or controls the construction of a project (e.g. a government department having a road or hospital built, or a bank having an office block constructed).

To proceed through this Module, click “Next” below.