WASHINGTON, 2 April 2009: The Inter-American Development Bank sanctioned 25 individuals and eight firms as a result of investigations carried out during 2008, according to a report released today.
The 2008 Annual Report of the IDB’s Office of Institutional Integrity (OII) describes the Bank’s efforts to prevent and investigate the occurrence of fraud and corruption in Bank-financed activities. It offers a detailed summary of a sampling of the 222 inquiries and allegations received by the OII and 150 investigations it carried out last year.
Since the Office was launched in 2004, the number of inquiries received by the OII has increased steadily. Consultations have grown at a higher rate than allegations since 2006, indicating a greater awareness of the Bank’s fraud-prevention efforts. Eighteen percent of the allegations received in 2008 were made anonymously, 71 per cent were made by third parties, and the remaining 11 percent originated from Bank Group staff.
The report contains a summary of a sample of the investigations conducted in 2008. Some 77 per cent of OII’s investigations last year concerned allegations of fraud and corruption; other investigations focused on allegations of embezzlement, bribery, misrepresentation of qualifications, conflict of interest and manipulation of the bidding process.
In addition to describing the investigation and sanction process, the report summarizes OII’s growing work in the area of prevention. In 2008 this included the development and implementation of new Integrity Risks Reviews to provide Bank staff with strategic information to reduce the likelihood of fraudulent and corrupt practices in Bank-Group operations, along with improved efforts to prevent such practices in procurement and private-sector operations.
The report also highlights OII’s collaborative work with other international organizations with the goal of defining, harmonizing and analyzing common frameworks for anti-corruption activities. Lastly, it addresses the external review of the Bank’s Anti-corruption Framework and offers an overview of OII’s activities and priorities for the coming months.
IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno, speaking about the Bank´s action matters of transparency and anticorruption at the recent Bank’s Annual Meeting in Medellin, stated that “it is important to mention that the Report of the Independent Commission that evaluated the Bank’s actions, acknowledged that the IDB has been one of the first multilateral development banks to address this issue and, in general, gives a positive review of the Anti-corruption Framework. We have a plan to act on the Commission’s recommendations and we will quickly implement it.”
The report is available online in English and Spanish.
Kilde: www.iadb.org
