The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group announces that it launched a six-month campaign last week to raise awareness among its internal and external stakeholders of its new whistleblower policy, approved by the Boards of Directors on 19 January 2023.
This new policy is based on the AfDB Whistle Blowing and Complaints Policy of 2007, which at the time was considered one of the most progressive policies that expresses the importance the institution places on contributions whistleblowers to its anti-corruption processes and zero tolerance for any retaliatory action against them.
The financial institution specifies that the new whistleblowing policy sets additional standards: the members of the boards of directors and the elected representatives of the bank now fall under the disciplinary scope of the policy, when it turns out that they have threatened or participated in retaliation against any party, internal or external, who reported fraud and corruption in the bank’s operations, or participated in audits, investigations and disciplinary processes.
Strengthening its ability to protect external whistleblowers, the new policy classifies retaliation by external actors in the context of Bank Group-financed operations as obstructive practices, which are subject to exclusion in the Bank Group sanctions system.
The new policy ensures that the Bank Group will continue to protect individuals or entities who report fraud or corruption in good faith; refuse to break the law by making public disclosures; challenge national or international illegality, as well as abuse of power, mismanagement, flagrant waste or serious threats to health or safety; and are misidentified as whistleblowers.
Also, this new framework guarantees due process, insofar as it offers temporary assistance to victims of reprisals pending the final resolution of their complaint; protects the rights of individuals seeking whistleblower protection from retaliation; preserves the anonymity of whistleblowers by maintaining the confidentiality of its procedures; and protects the right of whistleblowers to be informed of the progress of their requests.
The Bank Group’s Boards of Directors have pledged to review the new policy in 2028, after five years of implementation, taking into account evaluation reports and stakeholder feedback, the statement said. from the AfDB.
By OMA Newsletter N° 1154 of 02/05/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
