ISLAMABAD – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) stepped up its fight against corruption with the introduction of new initiatives, including revised integrity guidelines and a cross debarment agreement signed with development partners, a new report says. The 2010 Annual Report, issued by ADB’s Office of Anti-corruption and Integrity, also highlighted ADB’s support for developing member countries, with fraud and corruption detection training given to government agencies in several of ADB’s developing member countries.
Five procurement-related reviews were also carried out around the region to verify that ADB financing was being used for the intended purposes. The report notes that, since the signing of the cross debarment agreement in April 2010, ADB has notified partner development banks of sanctions imposed on four firms and 10 individuals found to have breached anticorruption policies. In turn, ADB cross-debarred six firms and two individuals sanctioned by the World Bank. A new, secure internet portal was also set up last year to give government officials of ADB’s developing member countries access to ADB’s full list of sanctioned groups and individuals.
In 2010, ADB introduced a comprehensive whistleblower and witness protection procedures to protect staff and to some extent third parties reporting instances of suspected fraud and corruption in ADB projects. A mandatory staff training course on anti-corruption was also introduced concurrently. With the implementation of cross debarment agreement, the total number of debarments issued by ADB is expected to rise this year.
ADB steps up fight against corruption
