Integrity Pacts: A blueprint for safeguarding public investments in sustainable development

These components are effective for a number of reasons. Firstly, bringing stakeholders together in the development of the pact helps to cultivate connections and build trust. Especially for businesses competing with each other for the same contracts, this helps foster the belief that everyone will play by the rules and that it’s worthwhile to do so. Including input from various groups also helps to ensure the pact is strong, considering different potential loopholes and developing mechanisms to block them that are uniquely suited to the specific context. The close incorporation of civil society as independent watchdogs, and the often unprecedented access given to them further secures compliance. When incorporated, technical assistance and capacity building enable internal systems at companies and public servants to better combat corruption both during the project covered by the pact and into the future.

To scale the impact of Integrity Pacts, Transparency International partnered with the European Commission and local civil society organisations to pilot the initiative across 18 projects in 11 EU member states. These projects, spanning sectors like education, cultural heritage, energy and land administration, were collectively worth €920 million. The results were striking: increased transparency during bidding, improved risk mitigation during execution, and projects delivered on time and under budget. Moreover, data gathered by civil society partners led to reforms in laws and regulations, ensuring stronger procurement frameworks for the future.