Fighting corruption

France’s action to fight corruption

The French interministerial delegation will be headed by Jean-Claude Brunet, Ambassador-at-large on transnational criminal threats, and will represent the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA), the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP) and the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF). It will help highlight France’s commitment to the prevention of and fight against corruption nationally and internationally, and to promote integrity at the national level.

The members of the delegation will speak about the important progress made by France in the fight against corruption, such as the recent provisions protecting whistleblowers (Act of 21 March 2022). More generally, the Sapin II Act has considerably strengthened the French anti-corruption model.

The originality of the French approach to anti-corruption assistance

The fight against corruption is central to French foreign policy. This unwavering commitment was reaffirmed by the launch in July 2021 of France’s Anti-Corruption Strategy in its Cooperation Action (2021-2030). This document is based on three priorities:

• The priority given to promoting the rule of law: Corruption harms the legitimacy of institutions and the State, and undermines the effectiveness of public policies and citizens’ trust in their government. France sees fighting corruption as a way to build confidence among its citizens.
• The fight against corruption as a driver of development for our partners. Corruption has negative effects on economic development, as it results in the misappropriation of funds, confiscation of natural resources and discouraged investors.
• Multi-stakeholder, partner-based dialogue. France involves all stakeholders: governments, local authorities, civil society, universities and businesses. France reaffirms its desire to place civil society at the core of its action against corruption.
  The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) finances large-scale projects, Expertise France designs and implements international technical cooperation projects, and other state operators, such as the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA), provide specialized assistance.

France’s operational support to partner States to fight corruption

The 20th IACC will be the opportunity to promote France’s commitment and successes in leading multilateral initiatives, financing projects and in international technical cooperation.

France is a major contributor to multilateral initiatives and finances various tools designed to help countries fight corruption.

The Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS), hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), is a key support for more effective reforms for fairer and more transparent procurement systems.

The Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) programme, hosted by the World Bank, helps improve monitoring and transparency of public finances and accountability.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) aims to strengthen governance and the responsibility of public and private stakeholders in the mining sector.

The Accelerated Peer-support Partnership programme (PAP-APP) aims to support supreme audit institutions in difficult environments.

Anti-corruption projects in partner States

Launched in 2022, the West and Sahel Africa Regional Platform to fast-track implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption promotes South-South cooperation in the fight against corruption.

Expertise France is implementing a project that aims to assist Senegal and the Republic of the Congo in implementing the standards established by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Expertise France also provides technical assistance to Lebanon’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC).

French experts seconded to partner countries and international organizations

French experts recruited and funded by Expertise France are seconded to partner States, for example to the office of the President of Moldova, dedicated to the recovery of stolen assets. Others are seconded to international organizations, such as the Secretariat of the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) programme, based at the World Bank.