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Green Climate Fund's Integrity Policies and Investigations

The Green Climate Fund's Integrity Policies & Investigations

gcf-integrity-policy

Transparency International (TI) and some of its regional Chapters have been following and monitoring the Green Climate Fund (GCF)'s activities and development since 2012. The global anti-corruption watchdog does not only monitor the GCF but also engages with the Fund through its activities, programs, and relevant units and personnel. 

Mainly, TI focuses its role on the GCF's integrity, notably on anti-corruption policies, fiduciary standards, procurement, and other integrity-related matters. TI-Korea Chapter supports the TI movement's project on climate governance integrity by participating in the GCF's Board member meetings, among other relevant activities.

This article aims to present the Fund's report on its integrity activities published by the Independent Integrity Unit (IIU) of this funding institution dedicated to tackling the climate change issues.

IIU's Investigative Activities
The IIU, the responsible GCF's Unit for integrity and corruption matters, has been investigating various types of integrity cases received or reported to the Unit. The Unit published its 2019 report, last year, the findings of its investigations.

In 2016, the investigation had opened 1 (one) case but had increased four times in 2017, six times in 2018, and four times in 2019. Then the report presented closed cases reported to appropriate bodies only two integrity cases. 

Due to privacy and security reasons for the reporters of cases, IIU could not publish specific descriptions and explanations regarding the integrity cases. However, it is safe to say that some cases submitted were not substantiated or were not eligible. 

See the table...
Figure 1
iiu-investigations-report-2019

Investigations:


Types of Reports
In the investigation on integrity performed by the IIU (and internal audit prior to the establishment of IIU), includes three major types: project-related reports, staff misconduct, and non-integrity violations.

Then each of the types of the report is categorized into various integrity issues. Such integrity issues being investigated include collusion, fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, abuse of power, harassment, sexual harassment. 

Figure 1 shown above were presented or reported at the GCF's website only as integrity issues items and percentages, but no explanations and clarifications are given. 

For the Project-Related reports, the issue of 'fraud' (45%) presents the most significant problem and then followed by 'corruption' (33%), then 'collusion' (22%).

For the Staff Misconduct type, 'abuse' (includes abuse of office, power, and resources--31%) shows the highest percentage among other integrity issues. The 'abuse' is followed by 'harassment' (23%) as second, 'conflict of interest' (20%), 'SEAH' (sexual harassment, 11%), and then 'collusion' (6%), 'fraud' (6%), and 'retaliation against whistleblowers' (3%). There were 35 reports for this type. 

Last, there were 15 reports for the Non-Integrity Violations type. Again, there are no descriptions nor explanations for this type of report. 

Please, see IIU's website here.

Thanks for reading.

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Prepared by: Abraham Sumalinog
Climate Governance Integrity Director

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