Sustainable Development Goal-16 (SDG-16) champions the establishment of peaceful and inclusive societies, ensuring access to justice for all and promoting the development of effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at every level. This foundational goal is crucial for driving growth and sustainable development.
Robust governance frameworks and reliable institutions create an environment of certainty and resilience, enabling societies and businesses to prosper. Conversely, corrupt practices pose significant risks to these objectives. In response, in collaboration with Transparency International, the World Economic Forum has developed Business Integrity: A Toolkit for Medium-Sized Enterprises. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent over 90% of businesses worldwide and play a critical role in global employment and GDP; they are particularly vulnerable to corruption.
This toolkit provides essential resources and strategies to cultivate a culture of integrity within these enterprises, including risk assessments, anti-corruption policies and frameworks for managing conflicts of interest. By adopting these tools, organizations can safeguard their reputations, boost competitiveness and enhance their resilience.