Corruption - the abuse of entrusted power for private gain - has a severely debilitating effect on the economic, social and political environment in which it occurs. Corruption appears independently of the systemic context and at all levels in industrialised and developing countries alike.

Corruption was, until recently, defended as an effective way to circumvent cumbersome regulations and red tape. It was alleged that corruption could advance economic efficiency, play a re-distributive role and even serve as a tool for national integration.

Such views, and the belief that corruption is but a stage of development, have since been discredited by economic and political analysts alike. Indeed, the realisation and quantification of the costs and consequences of corruption since the mid-1990s has played an important role in putting corruption on the national and international agenda.

Fighting corruption is not, however, a straightforward task. Not only must the approach be holistic, but it must also be carried and supported by all stakeholders in the affected society.

Corruption is a complex phenomenon, and so must be the measures designed to fight it. Effective anti-corruption activities need to be based on a comprehensive analysis of the respective causes and types of corruption as well as the nature of the stakes involved. Solutions must be grounded in reality and relate to each part of the affected country's institutional framework. TI regards the elements of a society that contribute to the fight against corruption as its National Integrity System .

The concept of the National Integrity System as espoused in the TI Source Book 2000 provides a framework with which to analyse both the causes of corruption and the adequacy and effectiveness of anti-corruption reform in a given national context. As a whole, the system refers to all those government and non-governmental institutions that have the ability to work together to achieve sustainable high standards of transparency and accountability and low levels of corruption and maladministration.

Represented by the image of a temple, where key institutions form pillars which rest on the foundations of public awareness and values , and which, in turn, support the country's integrity, the National Integrity System illustrates the interdependence of institutions in the fight against corruption. While a weakening of one pillar may not necessarily destabilise the building, the weakening of several pillars, or of the foundations, will. Holistic reform aimed at strengthening the entire edifice therefore becomes a central requirement for the ultimate success of anti-corruption activity.

• For more information on the National Integrity System, please refer to: Jeremy Pope, TI Sourcebook 2000, Confronting Corruption: The Elements of a National Integrity System
  (Transparency International, 2000).

The challenge lies not only in devising reforms that if realised would lead to better governance and less corruption but, more importantly, in devising measures that can feasibly be implemented. After all, a country in need of all-encompassing reform may be too weak institutionally to implement complex reform programmes.

The design of holistic, institutional reform programmes is, however, only one step in the right direction. The extent to which political will exists and is maintained throughout the reform process both among representatives of the political and administrative establishment and among civil society and the private sector, will ultimately determine the success or failure of anti-corruption reforms.

Political will is difficult to maintain in the light of changing alliances, shifting public preferences, and the lack, in most cases, of the immediate visibility of positive results. Ownership of reform, as opposed to the perceived imposition of change by external agents, also matters. Indeed, experience shows that improved ownership can not only lead to more coherent anti-corruption measures but can also facilitate the implementation process by ensuring the continued support of key stakeholders.

A major challenge lies therefore in the creation and strengthening of stakeholder support through means such as awareness-raising, transparency and access to information, and the public backing of reform by leaders from all sectors. This, in addition to a clearly defined and comprehensive set of anti-corruption measures, is a central prerequisite for implementing reform towards a sustainable, well-governed state.

Yet, if real change is to occur, anti-corruption efforts must reach beyond state reform and become engrained in the every-day activities of other significant social actors. The roles and responsibilities of both the private corporate sector and civil society are increasingly recognised in this regard. For though they operate within the regulatory framework set by the state, these sectors provide fertile ground both for corruption itself to take hold and for the remedies required to address it.

This Handbook is a practical tool which aims to assist the process of design and application of anti-corruption reform measures. Intended as a one-stop reference for practitioners from all over the world, it provides a unique and up-to-date overview of key reform elements, developing a framework for their effective implementation illustrated by examples of good practice. It is being launched in stages starting in November 2004 and will thereafter be regularly updated.

For further information about the approach and structure of the Anti-Corruption Handbook, see The ACH Project.