Anti-corruption policy

VSO, its partners and volunteers are working to provide the most disadvantaged with a voice to speak out for their rights to education, secure livelihoods, good healthcare and for their rights as people living with disability or HIV and AIDS. Corrupt practices (the misuse of any office or authority for private gain) undermine the fairness and efficiency by which governments, NGOs, corporate and civil society organisations and local communities can respond to this voice, they distort transaction costs and destroy an open, honest and decent society.

VSO is a member of the Civil Society Coalition, which lobbies for effective implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

VSO is committed to working in an ethical way through partnerships based on honesty and respect. We want to develop and maintain the highest standards of openness, integrity and accountability within VSO and in the way we work with volunteers and partners. In particular, we want to work together to ensure that neither VSO as an organisation nor any staff member or volunteer is actively corrupt, or benefiting from corrupt practices.

What VSO has done so far to tackle corruption

VSO implements and abides by the VSO Criminal Practices Policy (for staff) and the VSO Whistleblowing Policy (for staff and volunteers), records and learns from incidents and takes action where applicable with regard to VSO staff, volunteers, contractors and partners. We only enter into a partnership with an organisation after going through a lengthy process, outlined in VSO’s Path of Partnership to ensure partners share our values.

During 2011 we developed tools for staff and volunteers to use to tackle corruption in all countries where we work, including:

• a new whistleblowing email address that anyone can use

• guidance for volunteers

• guidance on facilitation payments

• procurement guidance

What VSO is doing in 2012 to tackle corruption

VSO will:

• launch and implement its updated Criminal Practices and Whistleblowing policy, which applies to volunteers, staff and partner organisations

• continue to join with volunteers and partner organisations to work towards eliminating corruption in a practical way wherever possible. All new employer-partners in our programmes will be subject to an integrity and accountability check before a partnership with VSO is agreed

• provide training and written guidance to all volunteers and programme staff on procedures for dealing with suspicions or allegations of corruption

• launch an online training tool for all staff on anti-corruption issues

• continue to ensure compliance with all relevant legal requirements in the countries where we work, including the UK Bribery Act