The Integrity Self-Assessment Process is a detailed process designed to allow nations to assess the strength of the current integrity system in the defence establishment. The process was developed by TI-DSP together with NATO. It can be carried out in partnership with NATO, or outside of a NATO setting.

The process begins with a detailed questionnaire to be filled in by senior members of national defence ministries. Upon completing the questionnaire, a draft report is produced by an expert team, consisting, for example, of Transparency International and national experts. The draft report is then followed up by an in-country visit of the expert team, which leads to in-depth interviews with relevant actors in the defence establishments before submitting a final report.

For NATO members, the process is similar and also begins with a detailed questionnaire to be filled out by senior members of national defence ministries. Upon completing the questionnaire and submitting it to NATO, a draft report is produced which is distributed to an expert team consisting of NATO international staff, members of the working group that developed the process, and Transparency International. The expert team then conducts an in-country visit to interview senior personnel in the defence establishment on the basis of the previous responses. Following the visit, the expert team prepares a short report highlighting strengths and weaknesses and recommendations for reform, and presents this to the country's Ambassador to NATO. Nations are encouraged to repeat the process on an annual or biennial cycle.

The Self-Assessment Questionnaire

The document contains a set of questions that cover all the key topics relevant to building integrity and reducing corruption risk. The content of the questionnaire is under nine headings:

1. Democratic control and engagement
2. National anti-corruption laws and policy
3. Anti-corruption policy in defence and security
4. Personnel – behaviour, policy, training, discipline
5. Planning and budgeting
6. Operations
7. Procurement
8. Engaging with defence companies and other suppliers
9. Nation-specific questions 

The NATO Self-Assessment questionnaire can be downloaded here. You can also read an example of a Self-Assessment Peer Review report from Bulgaria's MOD here.

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