Elements of a workshop on prevention of corruption in an NGO or CSO
Who is this intended for?
This collection of workshop elements can be used by any Civil Society Organisation (CSO) or Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) with the interest
of exploring its own organisational integrity and robustness to avoid corruption.
How can it be used?
The idea is that you build your own workshop from the elements presented according to the time available, the specific needs and characteristics of the
organisation.
Who should participate?
The answer is easy; as many as possible! It is recommendable to have representatives from all levels and sections of the organisation:
 Staff – including support staff, volunteers, board or executive committee members, common members, head office, local branches, and maybe
even stakeholders close to the organisation.
Whenever there is group work, no more than five persons should be in each group. Consider advantages and disadvantages of making groups with
persons from either same or different sections of the organisation.
Do we need someone to facilitate the workshop?
It is definitely a good idea to have someone to plan and facilitate the actual workshop. It can be one or more persons from within the organisation, or if
possible someone from outside. If someone from outside takes you through the workshop it is important that it has been planned in close cooperation
with management (or an appointed ad hoc committee).
Can more organisations make a workshop together?
It is absolutely an option. You can learn a lot from seeing how other organisations are structured and what kind of procedures they use to avoid
corruption and mismanagement. It is probably best if the organisations are likeminded in some way, and if some kind of trust from previous cooperation
exists.
We are very keen to hear about your experiences with using this tool. Please send feedback to th@prngo.dk
EXERCISE 5
Topic
Purpose:
Proposed time span
Methods
Let’s discuss dilemmas and grey areas
To understand that dilemmas and grey areas do exist when we put corruption on the agenda, but also to recognize
that most of them can be handled and solved by having clear guidelines and openness to discussing these issues.
2-3 hours
Introduction, group work, plenary sharing
Note: You must download the document with the illustrated dilemmas here: http://www.prngo.dk/Default.aspx?ID=23573
Sub-topic
Dilemmas in dealing
with corruption as
Group work using
dilemma cards
Plenary discussion
Dilemmas in our
organisation
(note that this section
quite similar to the
ending of Exercise 3).
Conclusion
Action
Ask participants to think of situations
where they have met dilemmas or grey
areasDivide the participants in groups of no
more than five persons. Give each
group either the whole sample of
examples to pick from or give each
group two or three to discuss.
Ask the groups to discuss and answer
the final question in each example.
Let each group present two dilemmas
and give their answer to the final
question.
Discuss if we need to clarify our own
guidelines and procedures in order to
mitigate dilemmas and grey areas.
Decision on eventual future steps to
take.
Additional information to the facilitator
The facilitator might need to explain the definition of corruption as
presented in Exercise 1. The facilitator might also break the ice by
coming with one or two personal examples.
Look out for procedural issues related to the answers.
This discussion is very contextual. What do we already have in place:
A financial manual, written recruitment procedures of high standard,
written ethical guidelines, written anti-corruption policy, written
procedures on project implementation, written procurement guidelines
etc.?
The authorities of the organisation must here be to conclude if there is a
need for developing new procedures, manuals or guidelines in the
organisation.