UNODC supports business integrity in the reconstruction and recovery efforts of Ukraine
15 February 2024
Vienna, February 2024 – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with the support of the Siemens Integrity Initiative, announced the expansion of its Global Action for Business Integrity project to Ukraine.
Through collective action against corruption, Global Action for Business Integrity aims to strengthen legal frameworks, promote public-private dialogue and guide companies to develop compliance programmes to prevent and counter corruption involving the private sector.
Since 2021, the project has been active in Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan and has a global component, critical to upscaling effective approaches and disseminating good practices on business integrity in global policy. Ukraine becomes the project’s eighth implementation country.
While reform efforts in Ukraine are underway, corruption remains a major deterrent for both public aid and private investment. The private sector is key to a sustainable economic recovery and is expected to contribute significant funding and expertise to the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Technical assistance to achieve national anti-corruption priorities
In recognition of the importance of anti-corruption to the country’s recovery, Ukraine adopted its National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2021-2025 in June 2022. Technical assistance is required for Ukraine to achieve its anti-corruption priorities.
UNODC's support will be guided by its recently developed non-binding guidelines for strengthening international and multilateral cooperation against corruption during times of emergency and crisis response and recovery, and will be undertaken in accordance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. Ukraine ratified the Convention in 2009.
Under the scope of the project, UNODC plans to conduct a gap analysis for Ukraine by reviewing international anti-corruption standards in the private sector, complemented by a report on anti-corruption practices in Ukraine’s private sector, and provide technical support to advance legislative reforms to strengthen business integrity. New draft laws will aim to reduce opportunities for corruption.
To improve public-private dialogue and strengthen anti-corruption measures, UNODC will also promote the use of digital tools in public procurement and reconstruction amongst the private sector and host a multi-stakeholder dialogue on legislative reforms.
UNODC-UN Global Compact e-learning tool
The UNODC-UN Global Compact e-learning tool, “Doing Business with Integrity” will be translated into Ukrainian and further guidance will be provided to companies and small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to adopt or implement anti-corruption programmes by developing a model code of conduct and be provided with a set of detailed and localized guidance. These measures will strengthen the understanding of corruption risks and allow companies to prevent and fight corruption more effectively.
Recognizing the enormous challenges facing the country, the United Nations in Ukraine has developed the Transitional Framework to support Ukraine in its efforts to strengthen its national systems and cope with the economic and social impact of the war. UNODC supports the implementation of the UN Transitional Framework and works with Ukrainian authorities to counter corruption.
The UNODC project Global Action for Business Integrity is funded by the Siemens Integrity Initiative.
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