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The 20th Conference of International Investigators (CII) endorsed last week (by an overwhelming vote) the General Principles of Proactive Integrity Risk or Fraud Detection Activities. Dominik Adamski and Duncan Smith from IG/IN have drafted and proposed these principles to the CII, based on the current methods used by IG/IN at EIB.

The CII counts over 50 Participating Organisations - agencies within the UN system (such as UNDP, WHO, WFP, FAO, UNICEF), multilateral development or investment banks and funds (such as European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Asian and African Development Banks, Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank) and EU bodies and offices (such as the European Anti-Fraud Office).

Over the last 20 years, the CII has established itself as a major forum for investigation professionals worldwide, sharing values and principles of engagement and unifying their strengths towards enhancing the integrity, transparency and accountability of projects and activities led or financed by international organisations. The CII is administered by a permanent 7person Secretariat: Bernard O’Donnell, the Head of Fraud Investigations Division,is a member of the CII Secretariat.

This year’s conference was hosted by UN organisations (with help from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria) in Geneva, Switzerland and took place on 6-8 November 2019. The aim of this year’s conference was to produce new output. IG/IN actively participated in the conference by leading the discussions on the assessment and prioritisation of allegations (Alex Boone) and restitution and recovery (Sabrina Mancini).

In addition to the General Principles of Proactive Integrity Risk or Fraud Detection, the CII also approved the General Principles for Financial Forensics. Both documents supplement the existing Uniform Principles and Guidelines for Investigations. These documents provide guidance that is non-binding and endorsement by the CII does not confer, impose or imply any duties, obligations or rights on an organisation to adopt or use them. Nor do they affect the organisations’ rights and obligations as per its rules, policies and procedures including any privileges and immunities afforded to it.

“The MDBs have cooperated on this and other subjects and there has been increasing interest in the EIB model of proactive fraud detection. Special thanks go to Duncan and Dominik from EIB IG/IN who have been successful in getting these General Principles approved by the CII, which will help other international organisations in doing this type of proactive work. “ stressed Bernard O’Donnell, the Head of Fraud Investigations Division.

CII Background: Established in 1999 by and for investigators of international organisations, the CII encourages and enables close cooperation among investigative offices of participating organizations. It provides support and guidance to investigators and their offices through annual conferences in particular by enhancing close cooperation, facilitating exchange of information and best practices and providing hands-on training.