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Introduction | OECD Principles | Integrity Framework
Reviews | Benchmarks and Indicators | Contact Us
Permanent URL: www.oecd.org/gov/ethics/integrityframework
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Why integrity matters for governments?
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Integrity is the corner stone of good governance. Fostering integrity and preventing corruption in the public sector support a level playing field for businesses and is essential to maintaining trust in government.
'Integrity' refers to the application of values, principles and norms in the daily operations of public sector organisations. Governments are under growing pressure from the public to use information, resources and authority for intended purposes.
Achieving a culture of integrity requires coherent efforts to update standards, provide guidance, and monitor and enforce them in daily practice. It also requires countries to anticipate risks and apply tailored countermeasures.
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How does the OECD help countries strengthen their integrity framework?
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The OECD helps countries review and modernise their integrity framework by mapping out good practices and developing principles, guidelines and tools. Our approach focuses on mapping “at risk” areas vulnerable to misconduct, fraud and corruption.
The OECD has developed Principles for Managing Ethics in the Public Service. The Principles were approved as a Recommendation by the highest body of the OECD, the Council, in April 1998.
The OECD supports and measures progress in the implementation of the Principles by developing frameworks for countries to review and modernise their integrity systems, conducting Integrity Framework Reviews, assembling comparative cross-country benchmarks and indicators.
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OECD Principles for Managing Ethics in the Public Service
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The OECD Principles for Managing Ethics in the Public Service provide guidance to policy makers to review their integrity management systems (instruments, processes and actors). They may be used by policy makers at both national and sub-national levels of government.
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The 12 Principles focus on four main functions of integrity management systems:
- Determining and defining integrity
- Guiding towards integrity
- Monitoring integrity
- Enforcing integrity
Together these principles support the implementation of international legal instruments developed within the framework of the OECD, as well as other organisations such as the United Nations, Organisation of American States, European Union and Council of Europe.
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Trust in Government: Ethics Measures in OECD Countries presents information and analysis on practices in member countries to promote integrity in the public service. The publication is based on the results of a survey conducted in 29 OECD member countries (excluding the Slovak Republic which acceded to the OECD in 2000).
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Countries are shifting their efforts from policy design and implementation to assessment of these efforts. The Integrity Framework is a systemic and comprehensive approach to view integrity management within government. It combines:
- The integrity management systems: the instruments, processes and actors within public sector organisations to stimulate and enforce integrity and prevent corruption.
- The integrity context (or supporting environment) that can have an impact upon the integrity of the members in public sector organisations.
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Public Sector Integrity: A Framework for Assessment (2005) maps out methods and solutions used to assess pro-integrity and anti-corruption measures as guidance to public organisations. It reflects the experiences of different jurisdictions in OECD member countries.
Towards a Sound Integrity Framework: Instruments, Processes, Structures and Conditions for Implementation (2009) provides a comprehensive approach for governments to review and modernize their integrity framework.
It includes a practical checklist which is a diagnostic tool for policy makers and managers. It focuses on the implementation of integrity instruments at the level of public sector organisations.
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OECD Integrity Framework Reviews
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Integrity Framework Reviews conducted by the OECD Secretariat help policy makers improve policies, adopt good practices and implement established principles and standards. It entails a comparison with practices and lessons learned in OECD and non-OECD member countries.
The main output of a Review is a report that provides a comprehensive analysis of a country’s integrity framework. It evaluates the effectiveness of their integrity management systems and details alternative options to address different “at risk” areas.
The benefits of an OECD Integrity Framework Review are:
- Strategic analysis of national systems, policies and practices
- International benchmarking, country policies and practices
- Policy dialogue as a basis for learning and reform
- Proposals for action to improve policies and practices
Past and forthcoming reviews include:
- Trust in Government: Ethics Measures in OECD Countries (2000)
- Integrity Framework Review of the Federal Government of Brazil (ongoing, expected end 2010)
- Greece Public Management Review (ongoing, expected end 2010)
- OECD Joint Learning Study on the Kingdom of Jordan: Implementing Codes of Conduct and Ethics in Civil Service (forthcoming, early 2010)
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Integrity Benchmarks and Indicators
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Governments need good information to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the integrity systems and to strategically manage 'at risk' areas. One of the most persistent problems for integrity management has been a lack of detailed measurements and feedback.
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The OECD is continuing its long-standing competence in assembling and analysing economic and public-policy data to support government’s integrity management systems.
Integrity in Government: Towards Output and Outcome Measurement (2009) explores strategies to further develop integrity measurement. It studies current national practices and asks whether these practices can be useful for developing international comparative measurement.
Government at a Glance 2009 is a new, biennial publication of the OECD. It provides data describing key elements underlying government performance – including disclosures of private interests by decision makers, as well as whistle-blower procedures and protection.
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Components of Integrity: Data and Benchmarks for Tracking Trends in Government (2008) reviews strengths and weaknesses of existing methodologies for collecting information on corruption and integrity. It presents methodologies to collect data and develop benchmarks in key components of the integrity framework.
For more information about the Integrity Framework Reviews, Integrity Benchmarks and Indicators please contact the OECD Integrity Unit at gov.integrity@oecd.org.
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