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Transparency International

Welcome

Transparency International is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to increasing government accountability and curbing both international and national corruption.

Our movement has multiple concerns:

• humanitarian, as corruption undermines and distorts development and leads to increasing levels of human rights abuse;
• democratic, as corruption undermines democracies and in particular the achievements of many developing countries and countries in transition;
• ethical, as corruption undermines a society's integrity; and
• practical, as corruption distorts the operations of markets and deprives ordinary people of the benefits which should flow from them.

Our Agenda

Combating corruption sustainably is only possible with the involvement of all the stakeholders which include the state, civil society and the private sector.

Through our National Chapters we bring together people of integrity in civil society, business and government to work as coalitions for systemic reforms. As we outline in our Mission Statement, we do not "name names" or attack individuals, but focus on building systems that combat corruption.

We are playing an important role in raising public awareness and our Corruption Perceptions Index has triggered meaningful reform in many countries.

Building National Integrity Systems

We take an holistic view of National Integrity Systems. Simply strengthening prosecution and judicial powers cannot by itself curtail corruption. Our National Integrity Source Book provides a framework. A standard reference point for reformers, it describes practical steps that can be taken in each sector of society and contains a vast best practice documentation.

Building an International Framework

Corruption often transcends the national level. This is increasingly acknowledged by key international actors. Working closely with a growing number of international organisations now starting to address the issue, we play a catalytic role in defining and implementing the international agenda against corruption. A key concern is to monitor the implementation of the OECD anti-bribery convention.

There are practical ways in which men and women of all ages can play a part in this unique global enterprise. You, too, can help and I urge you to join us in our efforts.

Peter Eigen, Chairman of the Board
Transparency International

What TI Does?

Building National Integrity Systems

Our National Chapters are building coalitions to strengthen integrity systems in their countries. Our framework for strengthening integrity systems is set out in our National Integrity Source Book. This describes practical reforms that can be taken in each sector of society.

Creating an International Framework Against Corruption

We work to ensure that the agendas of international organisations give high priority to curbing corruption. We are promoting new inter-governmental agreements to fight corruption in an internationally co-ordinated manner. Both the TI Secretariat and TI National Chapters around the world actively monitor the implementation of such agreements by the signatory countries. This includes monitoring of Conventions concluded within the framework of the OECD, the Council of Europe, the European Union and the Organisation of American States. Special emphasis is on monitoring the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials.

The TI Integrity Pact

Our Integrity Pact concept is designed to safeguard public procurement from corruption. At its core, this is a binding agreement, the Integrity Pact, between all bidders for a project and the procurement agency. As the latest status report indicates, the Integrity Pact has already been implemented in several countries and in large-scale infrastructure projects ranging from telecommunications to public transport.

The TI Integrity Awards

TI has recently launched an annual awards programme to honour individuals and organisations around the globe that are making a distinct difference in ending corruption. The programme's goal is to give greater recognition to the efforts of journalists, civil society workers, activists, government and corporate whistleblowers who work to investigate and unmask corruption often at great risk. The Integrity Awards also seek to encourage those, whose example provides leadership in the global anti-corruption effort.

National Chapter Projects

Our National Chapters are actively designing national anti-corruption strategies. There is an impressive range of National Chapter ACTIVITIES. Some of them are explained in the TILAC Tool Kits.

The Global Corruption Report

TI is launching a new yearly publication, the Global Corruption Report (GCR), in autumn 2001. The GCR will provide an annual survey of key themes in corruption and the fight against corruption, addressing international and regional trends, highlighting noteworthy cases, and providing useful empirical evidence of corruption, including TI's own Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and Bribe Payers Index (BPI). The Global Corruption Report may contain as many as four parts, including a thematic "cover story", an international report, regional reports (including information on countries), and a section with indices and empirical data. TI will commission contributions to the report from journalists and experts around the world. (For authors or potential authors click here to view the report guidelines).

CORIS

(CORIS) Our "Corruption On-Line Research and Information System" is one of the most comprehensive databases on corruption and governance. It will offer a fully searchable bibliography of (presently) some 8.000 DOCUMENTS, with more than two hundred corruption specific keywords that help to give access to the material collected. It also offers access to full-text DOCUMENTS, as well as to best practice examples and a listing of the "best of" essential corruption readings. We are working at opening this bibliography to the public, so that searches can be performed directly though the web.

The Transparency International Online Directory of Anti-Corruption Programmes in Central and Eastern Europe

The Transparency International Online Directory of Anti-Corruption Programmes in Central and Eastern Europe is an in-depth reference guide to multinational programmes supporting anti-corruption efforts. It was previously known under the name SIGMA/TI Directory. From its initial stage in 1998 until December 2000, the project was funded by SIGMA, one of the programmes for CEE countries within the OECD. TI is now maintaining and extending it on its own.

TI's Structure

National Chapters

National Chapters in more than 77 countries world-wide--with more in formation--are at the heart of the global anti-corruption movement. Their role and a complete list of chapters including the full address and national World-Wide Web Sites can be found in our National Chapters site.
A world map gives an overview of TI in the World.

Organisational Chart

The Board of Directors is the central governing body of Transparency International. It is democratically elected at the Annual General Meeting. An Advisory Council, consisting of prominent individuals of international standing, advises our movement and assists in developing our programmes. The International Secretariat supports National Chapters and implements our international agenda.
For an overview of our organisational structure, please take a look at the org. chart.

Charter

The TI Mission Statement provides a framework for our programmes and policies. Internally, Transparency International is governed by its Charter, the Code of Conduct for TI office holders, and the National Chapter Guidelines which govern the relationship between National Chapters and the international movement. TI is currently engaged in a world-wide dialogue with its members and National Chapters whose purpose is to explore and articulate its vision and core values. In 2000, in Ottawa, Transparency International endorsed a Statement of Vision, Values and Guiding Principles. Chapters around the world are now being asked to adapt this statement to their particular circumstances and to build a code of ethics setting out their mission and the values and principles they are committed to respect in pursuing their mission.

Finances and Donors

Detailed information ABOUT our current finances is given in our Financial Report, our Income Statement, in the list of our Donors and in the 1999 Annual Report.

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