TRANSPARENCY INTRNATIONAL

Transparency International is a non-governmental, non-party and non-profit organization that was founded in 1993 in Berlin, Germany and is headquartered there since then. Its vision: A world in which government, business, civil society and the daily lives of people are free of corruption. It has around 100 chapters present around the world.
The Indian chapter of Transparency International is situated in Delhi with a vision of curbing out bribing and helping poor not to loose their voice over corruption.

INTEGRITY PACT
Developed by Transparency International (TI) during the 1990s, the integrity pact is a tool aimed at preventing corruption in public contracting. The pact is essentially an agreement between a government or government department (at the national, sub-national or local level) and all bidders for a public contract. It stipulates rights and obligations to the effect that neither side will: pay, offer, demand or accept bribes; collude with competitors to obtain the contract; or engage in such abuses while executing the contract.

ABC OF INTEGRITY PACT

It is a written agreement between a government body and the bidders for a public contract to refrain from bribery and collusion. Bidders are required to disclose all commissions and similar expenses paid by them to anyone in connection with the contract, violation which may result in loss or denial of contract, debarment from future contracts and the criminal action against those who are responsible.

 In most cases a monitoring system is formed by the members of civil society or by the members of Transparency International to ensure that the pact is implemented and the obligations of the parties are fulfilled.
The monitoring system performs functions such as:1) Overseeing corruption risks 2) To offer guidance on preventive measures 3) Responding to complaints of external stakeholders and 4) To inform the public about the integrity and transparency of the contracting process.

WHY USE AN INTEGRITY PACT

1) So that companies that are bidding for the contract can abstain from bribing from the knowledge that their competitors have done the same. So that the government can reduce the cost and impact that corruption creates on public procurement. Citizens can monitor the government activities as they are main stakeholders.

THE USERS OF INTEGRITY PACT

1) By the government officials involved in any contract bidding process. 2) The bidding companies 3) The civil society

WHEN TO USE AN INTEGRITY PACT?

Integrity pacts can be adapted to many settings such as 1) construction contracts

2) Goods and supply contracts

3) During the purchase of state property 4) Extraction contracts for mining, fishing, oil & gas etc

HOW INTEGRITY PACT WORKS?

The starting point is the implementation of the government agency and the bidding companies. Monitoring bodies are selected by the civil society to have transparency at each and every phase. Monitors are generally highly respected agencies or peoples of unquestionable integrity and have professional expertise in the area of contract.

 Monitors should have free access to all relevant government documents, meetings and officials, and to all documents submitted by the bidders. Monitors regularly inform the leadership of the government office of any corruption risks or possible irregularities detected. Where any corruption risks or possible irregularities are reported by the monitor to the government office and no steps have been taken (or such steps are inadequate) within a reasonable period of time, then the Monitor is entitled to inform the public and/or the public prosecutors office about this situation.

BENEFITS THAT AN INTEGRITY PACT BRINGS

Enhanced access to information, which increases the level of transparency and integrity in public contracting. Greater confidence and trust in public decision-making foster changes in the perception of citizens & bidders about the presence of corruption in public procurement. Induce greater media coverage of anti-corruption activities resulting in increased public awareness.

FAMOUS EXAMPLES OF IMPLEMENTATION OF INTEGRITY PACTS

India:TI Indias advocacy efforts resulted in the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) issuing Directive 008/CRD/013, which refers to the implementation of integrity pacts as standard operating procedure in procurement contracts of any major government department. To date, over 39 Public Sector Undertakings (PSU), or state-owned companies, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TI India and apply the integrity pact accordingly.

 Pakistan: The greater Karachi K-3 project UK: Defence sector Germany: Schnefeld International Airport, a project worth 2.4 billion. Latvia: Implied by ministry of culture on three major projects namely national library, concert hall and a contemporary art museum.

 I like to walk in rain so that no one see me crying -Charlie Chaplin

I like to walk in all seasons because petrol is now Rs72 -Indian common man