ARTICLE
Collective Action ’ s central role in corruption prevention and compliance
Since its emergence over 25 years ago , anti-corruption Collective Action has developed into a broad concept .
Anti-corruption Collective Action is considered to be an overarching concept , or umbrella term , that includes a wide range of tools and measures . These instruments are developed through multi-stakeholder approaches to address fair competition , bribery and corruption or combinations of these issues .
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What most initiatives have in common is that they are developed and implemented through collaborative activities with the explicit support of the various stakeholders . The level of active engagement by the stakeholders may vary according to the type of initiative and the context . In every case , though , the aim is to work towards solutions to a specific problem , identify best practices , or address an agreed set of issues .
The potential of Collective Action tools to support business integrity is increasingly recognised by governments in policy and law enforcement guidance , and standards set by a range of international initiatives . But for Collective Action to achieve its full potential to catalyse systemic progress in raising integrity across industries , it needs a critical mass of companies to engage .
As Ken Graversen from
Fight Against Facilitation Payments ( FAFPI ) remarked during the conference , " there are things you simply cannot do alone ," and that ' s why Collective Action as a tool for engagement is so essential .
For decades , Collective Action as a corruption prevention tool has been
supported and called for by leading international organisations and standard-setters , including the UN , OECD and World Bank . The endorsement and inclusion of Collective Action in the
2021 OECD Anti-Bribery Recommendations , which now include Collective Action as a good-practice tool for governments to demonstrate their commitment to fighting corruption , marks a new stage of maturity – not least in light of the OECD ’ s rigorous review mechanisms .
Endorsement of anti-corruption Collective Action principles in international standards and guidelines not only facilitate its implementation in national legal