North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

In order to contribute to nations understanding of defence corruption as a distinct issue which requires an overarching approach, and to enable individuals and groups to have policy impact within defence institutions, Transparency International's Defence and Security Programme (TI DSP) in co-operation with NATO has developed a one-week education course for senior officers and defence officials. 

Since 2008 the course has been successfully run thirteen times in 5 countries, and has included over 250 participants from 22 nations. In November 2010, the Building Integrity Course was accredited by NATO as a formal course and is now available at all NATO schools in Europe for those who wish to enrol. Transparency International has also developed the Integrity Self-Assessment Process for nations together with NATO and Poland.

African Union (AU) and African Development Bank (AFDB)

On the invitation of the African Development Bank (AFDB) and Transparency International, and in collaboration with the African Union (AU), a workshop on practical anti-corruption measures in defence and security took place from 21-23 July 2009 in Tunis, Tunisia.

Participants included senior members of African governments, senior defence officers and officials from ten African nations, officials from the AFDB and the AU, African Non-Governmental Organisations and members of Transparency International's Defence and Security Programme (TI DSP).

Topics included country experiences with both corruption and counter-corruption reforms, new tools and approaches, civil society experience of engaging with defence and security establishments, the AU and AFDB perspectives on addressing corruption in defence and security, and the experience of international actors and others on peacekeeping operations. Specific recommendations were made to nations, regional development organisations, the AFDB, the AU, DFID, NATO, Transparency International and other Civil Society Organisations.

United Nations (UN)

TI DSP continues its efforts to lobby for a strong anti-corruption mechanism in a robust UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Our team works with civil society (Oxfam, Saferworld, the Arias Foundation, and many others), governments, and the defence industry to illustrate the benefits of addressing corruption risks at all stages of an arms transfer and to demonstrate options as to how anti-corruption provisions can best be practically implemented.

The inclusion of anti-corruption in an ATT has received support from numerous States from all around the world as well as from international organisations such as the EU and ECOWAS. Our team also takes a great interest into the work of the United Nations on defence budget transparency  – an area where TI DSP is increasingly active and aims to collaborate closer with both governments and international organisations once its latest research findings have been thoroughly analysed.

TI DSP has also engaged with the UN Peacekeeping Departments to develop anti-corruption guidance for missions.

European Union (EU)

Transparency International's Defence and Security Programme (TI DSP) engages with the EU in several areas: in arms control, with the European Defence Agency (EDA), and with the Military Committee, amongst others.

TI DSP has for a long time been active to lobby for a more central role of anti-corruption risk assessment in EU arms export controls – first regarding the EU Code of Conduct and since 2008 vis-à-vis the EU Common Position, which our team believes needs to be amended to include a ninth stand-alone criterion on corruption.

Our team continues to welcome the opportunity to discuss the issue in more detail at the annual EU COARM NGO meetings. TI DSP also continues to actively engage with the EU (e.g. by working closely with Members of the European Parliament) on the issue of defence offsets and has provided a number of recommendations to increase their transparency and to address the corruption risks at all stages of an offset arrangement.

Transparency International also engages into EU affairs through its National Chapter in Brussels.

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