Combating corruption in defence and security
Awareness is growing
Defence and security have long been secretive sectors where it was virtually impossible to discuss the issue of corruption — much less combat it openly.
Since 2000, Transparency International (TI) has worked to raise awareness that corruption wastes resources, hinders operational effectiveness, and reduces public trust in the defence and security forces. To build integrity and counter corruption in such a sensitive sector, the subject must first be open for discussion.
Committed leadership is a vital first step to a strong culture of integrity that provides the scaffolding around which to build effective anti-corruption measures.
Turning will into action
In March 2011 TI’s Defence and Security Programme updated and expanded its handbook, Building Integrity and Countering Corruption in Defence and Security: 20 Practical Reforms. This handbook gives decision-makers practical tools and recommendations to help them lead their countries towards reform.
The handbook draws upon the past three years of experience working with this sector, with contributions from more than twenty countries around the globe. It covers five main areas:
- Diagnosing the risk;
- Leading change;
- Tackling corruption on operations;
- Procurement; and
- Budgets and Assets.
Much of the handbook is devoted to showing practical reform measures that committed governments and militaries can take to lead change. It helps diagnose corruption risks, outlining 29 specific areas of risk that recur throughout the world — be they political, personnel, procurement, finance, or operations—and suggests practical ways to counter them.
High level training courses, for example, can spread anti-corruption messages and measures. TI has already delivered anti-corruption training courses developed with NATO and the UK Defence Academy eleven times, including five times in Afghanistan, to some 250 senior military officers and MOD officials of 20 nations.
Practical reforms for building integrity
Committed leadership, a practical reform strategy, and accountability to civil society and the public can build transparent and accountable defence institutions.
With the inauguration of the new Bulgarian government in 2009, the Ministry of Defence made combating corruption its top priority. Bulgaria developed and followed a clear and practical strategy, publishing their action plan on the Ministry of Defence website to build accountability.
This 11-step plan stated that there would be zero tolerance of political corruption, and called for an analysis of the current corruption environment and what measures must be taken to prevent corruption. It made structural changes, creating an independent audit, reorganizing the control system for defence policy implementation, and increasing transparency in the defence budgeting process. The Ministry of Defence also committed to providing anti-corruption training for its staff and monitoring the plan’s implementation.
Strong political will is one of the most crucial aspects of instituting anti-corruption reforms.
Resources
- TI’s Defence Against Corruption programme and publications
- Building Integrity and Countering Corruption in Defence and Security: 20 Practical Reforms
- United Nations Anti-Corruption Toolkit (2004)
- Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, Guidelines for the preparation of an anti-corruption policy for public institutions 2007
Press contact(s):
Deborah Wise Unger, Head of Media and Public Relations
Transparency International
press@transparency.org
+49 30 34 38 20 666
