Anti-corruption and integrity in state-owned enterprises

OECD research shows that certain SOEs may be particularly exposed to corruption risks or other irregular practices, due in part to their prevalence in high-risk sectors, such as extractive industries and infrastructure, where public and private sectors intersect via valuable concessions and large public procurement projects. As SOEs expand their global presence and deliver essential services, maintaining integrity is crucial for both their competitiveness and the protection of public goods. 

The OECD Guidelines on Anti-Corruption and Integrity in SOEs provide a framework to help the state fight corruption and foster integrity in the SOEs it owns. The Guidelines complement the goals of the OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises. The OECD supports its members and other countries with implementation guidance and reform assistance that raise capacity to drive national reforms aimed at safeguarding integrity and anti-corruption in the SOE sector. 

The ACI Guidelines are designed to implement comprehensive anti-corruption and integrity safeguards for SOEs and their owners to ensure SOEs are not used as vehicles for corruption, including, but not limited to, exploitation for political financing, favouritism, and personal or related-party gain. They emphasise the need for ownership arrangements that foster integrity and high ethical standards, and encourage active and informed ownership. Government owners must proactively communicate the state’s expectations regarding anti-corruption and integrity safeguards. At the same time, both ownership entities and SOEs are expected to adopt integrated risk management systems that allow them to proactively manage and mitigate risks.

Finally, the ACI Guidelines highlight the importance of accountability and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with anti-corruption measures. These safeguards are designed to work in tandem to address anti-corruption and integrity in all stages and actors involved in the governance of SOEs.

Companies aiming to strengthen business integrity face numerous standards, tools, and trade-offs. They must constantly assess capacity, costs, and controls to prevent corruption from hindering their goals. While improving compliance can be costly, businesses don’t have to go it alone—shared challenges make knowledge-sharing a mutually beneficial solution.

Drawing on decades of experience in corporate governance for state-owned enterprises (SOEs), Compliance without Borders is a pioneering peer-to-peer learning initiative aimed at empowering countries to effectively implement the OECD Guidelines on Anti-corruption and Integrity in State-Owned Enterprises. This programme fosters the exchange of expertise between compliance professionals from multinational corporations and state-owned enterprises, emphasising that SOEs should adhere to the same rigorous standards of transparency, disclosure, and anti-corruption compliance as publicly listed companies. By enhancing the capacity of SOEs to uphold integrity and prevent corruption, the programme plays a vital role in promoting a levelled playing field.