Global Anti-Bribery Guidance

Transparency International believes that comprehensive public reporting is a key component of the measures companies must take to address corruption and provide the transparency that is the basis for robust and accountable governance.

Global companies themselves increasingly understand the benefits of corporate reporting on a range of corporate responsibility issues, including their anti-corruption programmes, as an essential management tool rather than a burdensome and costly exercise that is carried out to satisfy stakeholders. The use of voluntary sustainability reporting guidelines such as those provided by the Global Reporting Initiative is on the rise.

Companies should ensure that clear and consistent messages are reaching stakeholders about its commitment to integrity and its anti-bribery policy and programme.  In this way, public reporting can enhance the credibility of the anti-bribery programme. It can also help strengthen the programme, as good reporting will include information on targets and key indicators of progress.  Intercompany comparisons and indices will also drive improvement.

There has been rapid progress in public reporting, including both voluntary efforts by companies and through laws and regulations.  Methodologies are also evolving; these include standardised global reporting frameworks, continuous reporting and in-depth information on company websites.

Key elements

• Integrate the approach to external communications, public reporting and stakeholder engagement.
• Incorporate reporting on integrity and the anti-bribery programme in public reporting.
• Use public reporting as a means to drive improvement, making use of KPIs where possible.
• Provide organisational transparency and country-by-country reporting.
• Use continuous reporting to provide accessible, up-to-date information.
• Be transparent about vulnerable processes, such as contracting and procurement (subject to commercial confidentiality, privacy and data security laws).