International Anti-Corruption Day is celebrated every December 9, marking the adoption of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in Merida, Mexico, on this day in 2003.

With its Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department (IACD), the African Development Bank (AfDB) also commemorates this important date. Corruption and fraud are significant barriers to the proper conduct of the institution's development work and to the achievement of the new Sustainable Development Goals adopted under the leadership of the United Nations.

For the AfDB, working towards sustainable economic development and social progress in its 54 member countries also means promoting integrity in all its activities and operations. The IACD has designated "United against corruption - Integrity counts" as this year's theme, emphasizing the impact of corruption on development and highlighting the importance of working together to ensure a high level of integrity. The issue of integrity is just as important for the success of the Bank's new Development and Business Delivery Model (DBDM) that the institution is currently implementing, which calls for renewed efforts and heightened vigilance on the part of management and staff to promote, instill and defend a business culture based on integrity.

This year's celebration opened with a speech by African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, delivered on his behalf by Vice-President, Human Resources and Corporate Services, Alberic Kacou. Nikos Passas, an expert on fighting corruption lead a seminar on the theme: "Tackling the Organizational: Culture: How do ordinary people break the law?" This seminar was followed by an expert panel presentation that included interactive discussions with Bank staff. A photography exhibit on the IACD's activities was also planned.

IACD Director Anna Bossman believes that the AfDB is not immune to corruption, misconduct or behaviour that may threaten or compromise the Bank's reputation and values of integrity. "Just review the IACD's investigative reports and activities that have revealed fraud, sexual harassment, conflicts of interest, intimidation, abuse of authority and improper use of Bank resources," she explained.

While many think that only malicious people take part in such reprehensible behaviour, IACD's investigations show that, often, ordinary employees can become involved without any bad intentions at the outset. The question is: "Why do these people find themselves on the wrong side of the rules? How does a usually respectable person get involved in illegal activities? What parts of the Bank's business culture might cause normally well-intentioned people to participate in these abuses?"

Answering these questions and addressing the challenge of integrity within organisations was the focus of the Friday seminar, which was open to Bank staff.