Reporting fraud and corruption

Fraud, corruption and misconduct - a definition

Fraud is the deliberate use of deception to secure an advantage.

Corruption involves the abuse of public or private office for personal gain. It includes bribery, that is to say the giving or receiving of a payment or advantage in order to influence the action of an official.

Misconduct includes any intentional or negligent failure to observe the Bank's rules and standards of behaviour.

Corruption and fraud result in the erosion of public confidence in political institutions and legal systems. They distort the allocation of resources, inflate spending on public procurement and undermine competition. They weaken the very institutions that the Bank is mandated to strengthen: market economics, pluralism and democracy. The EBRD combats corruption and fraud, as well as misconduct of Bank officials, employees and consultants, or any other activity, which might compromise the integrity of the Bank and its partners.

Reporting fraud and corruption

Suspected fraud and corruption in the EBRD and EBRD-financed projects, as well as allegations regarding misconduct of Bank officials, employees or consultants can be reported by calling the Hotline or submitting a written report. Anybody, within or outside the Bank, may report fraud, corruption and misconduct.

All matters reported will be handled by the Bank's Office of the Chief Compliance Officer for follow-up. All reports, including anonymous ones, will be reviewed. The Hotline is accessible from all countries. Reports can be made in any language of the Bank or of the Bank's countries of operation. Although calls to the Hotline will be answered in English, interpreters are available.

The information that you provide must be truthful, accurate and given in good faith.

Confidentiality and follow-up

If you choose to remain anonymous when submitting a written report or when calling the Hotline, no attempt will be made to discover your identity. The Hotline is operated by an independent contractor under the strictest confidentiality and calls to the Hotline will not be recorded. However, any subsequent investigation is often more efficient if the reporting party can be contacted for further information or clarification of details. We therefore encourage you to disclose your identity and, if you wish, to request that it be kept confidential. In that case, the Bank will then not reveal information about your identity to anyone not involved in the investigation unless the Bank suspects that you have committed or been involved in criminal activity.

If you have left your name and contact details, staff from the Office of the Chief Compliance Officer can provide you with an update on actions taken. However, the confidential nature of complaints may restrict disclosure of details of the investigation.

Supporting documents

Although you do not have to have hard evidence, you can facilitate an investigation by corroborating your report. Supporting documents should be submitted directly to the Office of the Chief Compliance Officer. Documents submitted will not be returned. They will be treated as confidential.

Documents can be e-mailed, faxed or sent by post. Contact details

Your questions

If you have questions about the Hotline or about compliance, please contact the Office of the Chief Compliance Officer.