The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also recognizes the importance of fighting bribery and corruption. As the institution has a macroeconomic mission, its mandate is restricted to those specific instances of corruption that may have a significant macroeconomic impact. The IMF has adopted a policy that denies financial assistance to countries where bribery and corruption threaten to undermine economic recovery programs.
Concerned about the seriousness of the problems posed by bribery in international transactions, the UN General Assembly adopted in 1996 a Declaration against Corruption and Bribery in International Commercial Transactions calling for criminalising foreign bribery and denying tax deductibility of bribes. In 1998, the same Assembly adopted a resolution that urges Member States to criminalise, in an effective and coordinated manner, the bribery of public office holders of other States in international commercial transactions, and encourages them to engage in programmatic activities to deter, prevent and combat bribery and corruption.
The UN Centre for International Crime Prevention (CICP), the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (ODCCP), Vienna, jointly with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), Rome, have elaborated a Global Programme against Corruption. The purpose of this programme is to provide reliable and timely information on trends in corruption as well as on policy strategies to reduce and control corruption and provide technical co-operation to developing countries and countries in transition to prevent, detect, and fight corruption.
The United Nations Development Programme has programs to assist policy makers in the fight against corruption. UNDP's involvement is rooted in its mandate to create an enabling environment for sustainable human development. The Programme for Accountability and Transparency (PACT) serves as the focal point within UNDP to ensure an effective strategy in supporting anti-corruption programs. Its work focuses on facilitating good governance and supporting methods to curb corruption, including policy dialogue, capacity building, and support to national programs. For an overview of UNDP's initiatives to fight corruption, please consult the UNDP Management and Governance Network.
Corruption is addressed by the World Bank as an economic concern. The Bank activities in the areas of combating corruption fall into three main areas: preventing fraud and corruption within bank-financed projects, helping countries in their efforts to reduce corruption by advising on economic policy reform and strengthening institutional capability; adding voice and support to international efforts, including OECD's efforts, to reduce bribery and corruption. For an overview of the Bank's initiatives to fight corruption, please take a look at the World Bank Anti-Corruption Knowledge Resource Centre.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has begun to increasingly examine corruption in public procurement as an important policy concern in 1996. The WTO Ministerial Conference held in December 1996 established the Working Group on Transparency in Government Procurement. This Working Group has undertaken a study on transparency in government procurement practices, taking into account national policies. Based on this study, it will develop elements for inclusion in an appropriate agreement. The IMF, the World Bank, and the United Nations have observer status in the Working Group. A request for observer status has been made by the OECD.
