SCCE RECOGNIZES CIPE’S ANTI-CORRUPTION WORK & BUSINESS ETHICS PROGRAMS
In recognition of a decade of growth in its anti-corruption programming, CIPE has won the International Compliance Award for 2023, given by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). The award acknowledges CIPE’s body of work in the areas of anti-corruption, compliance, and ethics, which reflect its values and mission to strengthen markets and democratic institutions. CIPE Anti-Corruption & Governance Center (ACGC) Director Frank Brown accepted the award on the organization’s behalf at the recent Compliance and Ethics Institute Conference in Chicago.
The SCCE is the world’s largest organization of compliance officers. CIPE has partnered with the SCCE for over a decade, a period when the SCCE expanded its reach globally and CIPE became a leading resource for emerging market companies seeking to manage corruption through compliance. In 2014, CIPE’s Director for Global Programs Anna Kompanek authored Anti-Corruption Compliance: A Guide to Mid-Sized Companies in Emerging Markets, a publication frequently featured at SCCE conferences. SCCE members often take part in CIPE-supported collective action compliance programs in countries ranging from Turkey and Indonesia to Armenia and more than two dozen African countries covered by CIPE’s ambitious Ethics 1st effort, which is led by Africa Program Director Lola Adekanye.
The SCCE award is a natural outgrowth of a close relationship that has benefited both organizations, including some of CIPE’s cutting-edge compliance programming overseen by ACGC Program Director Michele Crymes, who shared details about her work on a 2020 SCCE podcast. In navigating business operations in some of the world’s riskier markets, SCCE members have had access to CIPE experts like Katya Lysova, the lead for Business Integrity and Anti-Corruption Programs in Europe and Eurasia, who speaks frequently on Ukraine at SCCE events and authored Strengthening Ethical Conduct & Business Integrity: A Guide for Companies in Emerging Markets.
At the award ceremony, SCCE Chief Engagement & Strategy Officer Adam Turteltaub praised CIPE for making a profound difference in the compliance profession, for its anti-corruption work worldwide, and for helping SMEs enter global supply chains. “From Cambodia to the Balkans they have worked to fight bribery, foster compliance and promote ethical business practices,” he said. “Their efforts include pushing transparency in governments but also bringing the public and private sector together to create a fairer business world.”
During his acceptance speech to several hundred SCCE members, Brown emphasized the common purpose often shared by the SCCE’s corporate attorney members and CIPE. As an example, he cited a recent CIPE report on the importance of beneficial ownership transparency for both strengthening the rule of law and reducing companies’ due diligence costs. The report, Beneficial Ownership Transparency — Exploring the Private Sector Use Case, is part of a larger CIPE effort to fight kleptocracy, funded by the National Endowment for Democracy.
Brown also invited those in the audience to explore avenues of cooperation between their companies and CIPE, especially now as CIPE embarks on a new collaboration with the U.S. Department of State aimed at engaging the private sector in fighting corruption overseas. The program, called the Global Initiative to Galvanize the Private Sector as Partners in Combating Corruption, seeks to align business, government, and civil society interests to reduce corruption through collective action.
The award comes as CIPE observes its 40th year of operation and reflects on lessons learned from its many projects in some of the toughest operating environments in the world. The award is often given to multiple recipients, but in 2023 CIPE is its sole honoree. Previous winners include the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and the International Chamber of Commerce. To learn more about CIPE’s anti-corruption work and related resources, visit acgc.cipe.org.
Published Date: October 11, 2023