The year 2009 will undoubtedly be remembered as when the financial crisis unfolded into a global economic downturn, throwing the futures of millions of people into uncertainty and jeopardising valuable progress made on such issues as poverty, human rights and climate change. Efforts to steer us out of the crisis and back on the road to economic growth have seen unprecedented amounts of money pledged and disbursed. However, the scale and scope of the global crisis means that a return to business as usual is insufficient. The crisis exposed not only a need to fundamentally rethink the functioning of the financial sector, but an alarming integrity deficit that is ultimately a root cause of the current situation.

As the Group of 20 became the primary forum for coordinating a global response, Transparency International (TI) submitted specific recommendations covering a range of areas. From the use of public funds in bail-out programmes to strengthening the role of development banks and regulatory authorities, TI focused on corrective and preventive measures to restore public trust in the global economy and give back hope to the millions of people facing an unstable future.

Throughout 2009, TI pushed for decision makers to go beyond technical responses to the financial crisis, and cement transparency as the long-term driver of a more solid, responsible and sustainable financial architecture. TI’s Global Crisis Conference: the Transparency Imperative brought together representatives from government, the private sector and civil society, with around 300 participants from TI chapters from some 100 countries and territories.

Recognising the role of business in affecting positive change

TI’s 2009 Global Corruption Report: Corruption and the Private Sector featured the analysis of more than 75 experts and laid bare corporate corruption challenges that cut across countries and industries. The report exposed vulnerabilities in current anti-corruption measures and examined promising innovation in the sector.

Additional global research revealed that many leading companies make high-level, strategic commitments to prevent corruption but still have a long way to go in reporting how these commitments are integrated into their policies and activities. To support companies in improving their performance and addressing bribery and extortion risk, TI expanded its raft of practical tools and guidance, which are developed with business institutions, experts and multinationals.

The state of corruption: researching reality

The 2009 Global Corruption Barometer, a worldwide public opinion survey, illustrated a growing distrust of business, the daily struggle of the world’s poor with petty bribery and public unconvinced of governments’ anti-corruption efforts. The opinion that governments need to step up the fight against corruption both domestically and internationally continues to be a worrying trend. TI’s 2009 OECD Anti-Bribery Convention Progress Report, underscored the overwhelming majority of the world’s leading exporting nations’ failure to fully enforce a ban on foreign bribery. Similarly, the vast majority of the 180 countries and territories ranked in the 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index scored less than five. The index measures the perceived levels of corruption in a given country and scores them from 0 (highly corrupt) to 10 (highly clean).

Acting to secure results

Against such a backdrop, governments missed an opportunity at the third Conference of State Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption in Doha, Qatar, to agree on a review mechanism to effectively tackle the devastating effects of corruption. Before and during the conference, TI, as part of a coalition of more than 300 civil society organisations, including representatives from 40 TI chapters, had pushed for a transparent and inclusive review mechanism. The coalition continues to monitor the situation closely and will strive to ensure that the convention lives up to its potential.

Honouring anti-corruption

In early 2009, TI’s Integrity Awards showed once again the difference courageous individuals can make in the fight against corruption. The awards paid tribute to two remarkable investigative journalists -David Leigh and Roman Shleynov- whose untiring determination to expose corrupt dealings in the face of formidable odds serve as inspiration to the anti-corruption movement. Past award winners include accountants and public prosecutors to government officials and pharmacologists. Their backgrounds may be diverse, but the message is the same: corruption can be beaten.

Setting the stage for change

The TI movement marked International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December with a multitude of diverse events around the world. From musical performances in Kenya to organised runs in Lebanon and cartoon competitions in Bangladesh, TI chapters used innovative and engaging events to raise awareness of the damaging effects of corruption. TI Chair Huguette Labelle, gave a keynote speech as part of a commemorative event hosted by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Where corruption breeds inequality, poverty and violence, Transparency International will continue in 2010 and beyond to fight for justice, human dignity and security.