Transparency International's Defence and Security Programme (TI-DSP) is working on a new project: an index to measure levels of corruption risk in defence and security establishments worldwide.

The Governments Defence Anti-Corruption Index will be:  

• A global index to measure levels of integrity and anti-corruption capability in national defence and security establishments worldwide.
• A means to monitor the success of anti-corruption mechanisms, and allow for comparison with other countries.
• An advocacy tool which can be used to press for reform in national defence and security establishments.

The research is currently underway for the 80 countries that will be included in the first edition of this index, due for launch in January 2013.

The final index will score countries on a scale from A-F.  TI-DSP will assess each country using a scorecard of 77 questions. They will be split into five categories of corruption risk based in our defence corruption typology (see image below): Political, Personnel, Operational, Financial, and Procurement. This will allow each country to see what they can do to improve their anti-corruption systems, procedures, and practices in a targeted way, and will give civil society and citizens a way to advocate for specific reforms.  

The final index, country scorecards, and country and regional summaries will be available online.

Methodology

A robust and sophisticated methodology is important to ensure that the index is accurate, insightful, and useful.  TI-DSP is working in close collaboration with Transparency International national chapters and other organisations with anti-corruption and defence sector expertise. 

Expert panels have been convened throughout the design and analysis stages to ensure that the methodology is robust and assessment is accurate, standardised across countries and over time.

Please contact our project officer Leah Wawro for any questions or comments.

Download the Governments Defence Anti-Corruption Index briefing document.

Download the Governments Defence Anti-Corruption Index briefing slides (including countries assessed).

Read more on Our Work and Focus Areas.