The behaviours of both top and middle level managers are instrumental in promoting open organisational cultures and mitigating integrity risks. Leaders, especially middle managers because of their day-to-day proximity to most public servants, can enable ethical behaviour by all employees and, in particular, by their direct teams.
Building on OECD work on leadership in the federal public administration of Brazil, this report focuses on integrity leadership through a behavioural lens. It follows the BASIC methodology developed by the OECD (BASIC stands for Behaviour, Analysis, Strategy, Intervention, Change), a five-step methodology that provides guidance to policymakers on the steps to apply behavioural insights systematically when designing policy interventions. The report draws on interviews, focus groups and a survey administered by the OECD and the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) to 5 889 Brazilian senior civil servants. Concrete recommendations are provided, informed and inspired by behavioural insights, on how Brazil could strengthen integrity leadership behaviour in its federal public administration.