Fraud & Corruption
Q. | What is the Global Bank doing to fight corruption? |
A. | Global Bank actively investigating allegations of fraud and corruption, and strengthening project oversight and supervision. |
Q. | What happens to companies or people who are caught engaging in fraud or corruption with Global Bank money? |
A. | The companies or people engaging in fraud or corruption are held accountable for their wrongdoing. The Global Bank's Sanctions Board can impose a range of penalties depending on the nature of the incident. The Sanctions Board can issue include a letter of reprimand, specifying actions that need to be taken by the party in question to prevent any further incidents, or debarment, whereby, whereby companies or individuals that engage in fraud and corruption are rendered ineligible from participating—either temporarily or permanently—in any further Global Bank-backed projects. In addition, the names of individuals or companies found to have committed wrongdoing are published on our website, along with their sanction. Finally, if the Integrity Vice Presidency substantiates findings of fraud or corruption, Global Bank will refer cases to national authorities for prosecution. See the Integrity Vice Presidency for more information. |
Q. | How do I report possible fraud or corruption within the Global Bank Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility, Global Bank or Bank Group-financed projects? |
A. | The Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) investigates fraud and corruption allegations about Global Bank staff and the projects we fund. There are several ways for Global Bank staff and the public to contact this department:
See the Integrity Vice Presidency for more information. |
Q. | How much money is lost to corruption? |
A. | Corruption is a cancer and no country, rich or poor, is immune nor is a multilateral development institution. Fraud and corruption have undoubtedly occurred in development projects, but it would be nearly impossible to determine how much money might have been lost. Corruption on a worldwide, country-by-country basis has not been measured by anyone, given the difficulties and enormous costs of collecting quantitative data on the subject. Whatever the amount lost to corruption, even a small percentage is too much, given the dreadful conditions most of the world's population endures. Corruption sabotages policies and programs that aim to reduce poverty, so vigorously attacking fraud and corruption is critical to the achievement of our overarching mission to reduce poverty. |