Business in Ukraine today demonstrates not only resilience, but also the ability to implement modern transformations — from technology to corporate integrity standards.
Integrity has become an essential tool for sustainable business development, opening the way to public procurement, exports, and investments. This is especially important under martial law, when even minor corruption undermines trust, governance, and economic stability.
These topics were discussed at the event “Compliance for Growth: SME Transparency Standards”, organized by the Foundation for Institutional Development as part of the official program of the Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF-2025) in Washington, D.C.
🔎 During the discussion, participants discussed how to make compliance not a burden, but a tool for the development of small and medium-sized businesses.
This was emphasized by the Head of the NACP, Viktor Pavlushyk, emphasized that anti-corruption compliance is a fundamental requirement for businesses participating in public procurement or attracting foreign investments.
The following also participated in the discussion:
🔹 Laura Pop, Senior Financial Sector Specialist, the World Bank;
🔹 Josep Mauro, Senior Advisor, Investigations, Operations, and Strategy Department, World Bank;
🔹 Lucie Binder, Senior Governance and Integrity Specialist, Basel Institute for Governance;
🔹 Kateryna Datsko, Executive Director of the NGO "Foundation for Institutional Development";
🔹 Artem Khavanov, Global Compliance Director (NDA).
"Building business awareness of integrity tools is the foundation of its development. “Practical application of the recommendations of the Desk Book 2.0 and the Model Code of Integrity helps companies integrate these principles into their operations, especially in the context of preparing for recovery,” said Kateryna Datsko.
Lucy Binder noted that for small and medium-sized businesses seeking to improve their ethics and compliance programs, there are three effective ways to simplify this process.
Companies should move from purely rules-based policies to a values-based approach. Create a Code of Ethics/Conduct that will serve as a guideline for all other internal policies and procedures. The World Bank Code is an excellent example to follow. Ideally, the process of developing the Code should be inclusive, involving all employees in the company. Such an approach encourages them to take responsibility and actively support the new rules. According to her, the development and implementation of ethical standards should not add bureaucratic complexity, but should become a tool for the team to create long-term value for the company.
“Such teamwork is also an opportunity to establish connections with other businesses and cooperate with governments that pursue similar goals,” said Lucy Binder.
Integrity in business cannot be imposed by the state, but the NACP, together with the experts involved, is creating clear and practical recommendations that will help businesses establish effective approaches to honest governance. In this case, the state should not hinder, but help.
The NACP creates requirements and monitors them for the public sector, while for businesses it acts more as an advisor and mentor on the path to building integrity. To this end, Viktor Pavlushyk presented to the audience free and scalable anti-corruption compliance tools that the NACP offers for businesses:
➡️ Standard Anti-Corruption Program for Legal Entities is a ready-made legislative framework for companies participating in large procurements.
➡️ Model Code of Integrity for the Private Sector is a document template for any private institution designed to consolidate and strengthen corporate values, norms, and rules of conduct for employees. It directs efforts to build a culture of integrity in organizations and companies.
➡️ Guide for Managers is a comprehensive practical document on the systematic development of honest and effective organizations in the public and private spheres.
➡️ Corruption Risk Management Methodology, which defines the algorithm for dealing with corruption risks in the activities of companies.
You can find links to the tools in the first comment under the post.
The Head of the NACP also presented the Unified Whistleblower Reporting Portal, which enhances systematic protection for individuals who report corruption in good faith.
This discussion once again confirmed: Ukrainian business is capable of being a leader in integrity — even in times of war.
Our great partners: UN Global Compact in Ukraine, National Agency on Corruption Prevention, Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, Basel Institute on Governance, The World Bank.
