Managing Conflict of Interest - Organisation for Economic Co ...
Managing Conflict of Interest - Organisation for Economic Co ...
Managing Conflict of Interest - Organisation for Economic Co ...
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4 <strong>Managing</strong> <strong><strong>Co</strong>nflict</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Interest</strong>historically, countries have developed varying ideas and levels <strong>of</strong>tolerance regarding COI and corruption in general, depending onthe level <strong>of</strong> development, the political and economic system, andethical and cultural values.In response, several international organizations have developedguidelines and established protocols to help countries standardizedefinitions and appropriately adapt prevention and en<strong>for</strong>cementmechanisms to address COIs. Dmitri Vlassis, Chief, Crime<strong>Co</strong>nventions Section and Division <strong>of</strong> the United Nations Officeon Drugs and Crime (UNODC), describes COI as a complex andsometimes elusive concept and provides an overview <strong>of</strong> how theUnited Nations <strong>Co</strong>nvention Against <strong>Co</strong>rruption (UNCAC) aims toincrease transparency and standardize provisions regarding codes<strong>of</strong> conduct <strong>for</strong> public sector <strong>of</strong>ficials, legal procurement practices,and management <strong>of</strong> public finances.Transparency and standardization are critical elements in establishingsound frameworks and good practices. However, as a number<strong>of</strong> high-pr<strong>of</strong>ile corruption cases demonstrate, public <strong>of</strong>ficialshave found ways to circumvent the process. Richard Messick, SeniorGovernance Specialist and <strong>Co</strong>-director <strong>of</strong> the Law and Justice ThematicGroup with the Public Sector, Governance, Poverty Reduction,and <strong>Economic</strong> Management Division <strong>of</strong> the World Bank, describesthe challenges implicit in regulating COI and implementing disclosuresystems, and outlines parameters <strong>for</strong> effectively introducingmeasures to improve public sector accountability.As countries and international organizations shift their focusfrom prosecution to prevention, COI has moved to the <strong>for</strong>efrontin the fight against corruption and is recognized as a fundamentalanti-corruption concept. While challenges still remain, a betterunderstanding and awareness <strong>of</strong> COI aims to strengthen institutionalframeworks, in<strong>for</strong>m international practices, and improve thetools and instruments developed to combat corruption.ADB/OECD Anti-<strong>Co</strong>rruption Initiative <strong>for</strong> Asia and the Pacific
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