This section provides guidance in relation to the writing and adoption by an organisation of an anti-corruption policy (Measure 1 of the Anti-Corruption Programme for Organisations).

There should be two parts to an organisation’s anti-corruption policy:

• A commitment by the organisation to prohibit corruption.
• A commitment by the organisation that it will implement measures to:
  • prevent corruption by, on behalf of, or against the organisation; and
  • detect, report and deal with any corruption which does occur.

Both parts are necessary.  As with any management commitment, it would be insufficiently effective if management merely made a statement of intent (i.e. “we prohibit corruption”) but did nothing to follow through with it.  Any statement of policy needs management measures to ensure as far as reasonable that the policy is put into effect and is complied with by personnel and business associates.

The policy may be a separate policy dealing only with corruption.  Alternatively, the organisation may issue a policy statement covering several topics, including, for example, corruption, health and safety, quality, protecting the environment, non-discrimination etc.

The organisation must formally adopt the policy.  This adoption of the policy should be recorded.  This could be by way of a board resolution in the case of an organisation with a board, or, in the case of an organisation owned and controlled by one person, by a signed resolution by that person.

See sample Anti-Corruption Policy which can be adapted and used by an organisation.

See paragraph 1 of sample Board Resolution to adopt the Anti-Corruption Policy.

The anti-corruption measures referred to in the policy (i.e. the measures designed both to prevent corruption, and to detect, report and deal with any corruption which occurs), are contained in measures 2 to 21 of the Anti-Corruption Programme.