UN Anti Corruption Day on December 9 signals the launch of a new anti bribery app that will help break the corruption chain.
“Corruption is a global phenomenon that strikes hardest at the poor, hinders inclusive economic growth and robs essential services of badly needed funds. From cradle to grave, millions are touched by corruption’s shadow.
The private sector also has a crucial role. Good behaviour is good business. Business groups can convert anti-corruption action into firm support for sustainable development.
I call on everyone to help end corruption, and come together for global fairness and equity. The world and its people can no longer afford, nor tolerate, corruption.” - UN Secretary General - Ban Ki-moon
To mark this year’s observance of the International Anti-Corruption Day, the UK Institute of Financial Accountants and Skills@Work, a sister company of Lighthouse, an Aberdeen based corporate communications and learning solutions provider, are launching their anti bribery smartphone app. Based on the UK Bribery Act and developed with support from Scottish Enterprise, the app is the first in a suite of Compliance@Work™ mobile learning programmes designed to help companies with good practice procedures.
John Edwards, CEO of the IFA, is keen to communicate this.
“The IFA supports a positive and pro-active stance against corruption and recognises the importance of training in all kinds of organisation – and in particular in the SME sector, in which the IFA specialises. This is why we are delighted to add the IFA’s independent endorsement to this new mobile learning app as a way of delivering high quality training and a key tool to fight corruption worldwide."
The only defence for an organisation charged with an offence under the UK Bribery Act is for an organisation to be able to demonstrate that it has effective anti-bribery procedures in place. Training is considered a key element in such procedures and ignorance of the provisions of the Act is no excuse.
Alan White, Project Development Director at Skills@Work, conmtinues:
”In the private sector, corruption increases the cost of doing business through the added “tax” of bribes, the additional management cost of negotiating with corrupt officials, and the legal and financial penalties of breached agreements or getting caught, convicted and imprisoned under the UK Bribery Act.
Our programme is auditable and records who has completed it. It can help to provide a robust defence. ”