Blog Post by Pat Poitevin, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre of Excellence for Anti-Corruption

(français à suivre)

The Government of Canada’s Technical Assistance Partnership – Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM) in partnership with Alinea International is helping Paraguay’s capacity to reduce corruption. The costs and consequences of corruption on the social, political, economic, environmental and security elements of any country are heavy and can be long-lasting.

With decades of experience as a financial crime investigator with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and now working as the Executive Director of the Canadian Centre of Excellence for Anti-Corruption (CCEAC), I have had the chance and privilege to travel around the world to provide guidance, advice, lessons learned and training to private and public organizations to help them increase their capacity to fight corruption and support SDGs. In all my travels, I have had the honour to meet highly motivated and competent anti-corruption investigators and prosecutors that are committed to addressing corruption-related crimes despite the many challenges they face.

There are always a few men and women that stand out in a group whom you know are leaders and champions who care about making a difference and addressing some of the systemic issues that fuel corruption. More recently, through the Technical Assistance Partnership-Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM), I had the chance to meet such champions on a trip to Paraguay in August 2022. My mission was to provide training and coaching to a group of prosecutors of the UDEA and investigators from the National Police, whose mandate is to investigate and prosecute corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes. The energy, passion, commitment, and competency of participants were palpable and made the training that much more engaging and rewarding, for me as the trainer, as much as for the participants. I am not sure if it was just me or the ‘’bribes’’ of Canadian Maple sugar cookies and candies that motivated them to participate more, but they were certainly motivated. The bonus is that the leadership was not only supportive of the training, but they were committed to building a culture that encouraged innovation and collaboration.

While Paraguay has been recognized for its slow but consistent improvements in tackling corruption in the past 5 years, it is still facing several challenges in terms of capacity and experience in investigating and prosecuting corruption offences. The highly complex and resource-intensive nature of such offences requires specialized skills and experience as well as specific investigative processes and approaches.

By sharing lessons, learned, tools strategies and investigative techniques, the training and coaching that was delivered has provided participants with a practical roadmap that will improve their capacity and ability to investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences. Additionally, an action plan on seven (7) priority areas that include improving greater inter-agency collaboration and putting some focus on prevention, awareness and targeting bribe givers will also allow them to increase their visibility and impact with the general public and other key stakeholders.

This TAP-EDM project is funded by Global Affairs Canada and managed by Alinea International. With 40 years of experience, helping others build their anti-corruption and financial crime capacity is a privilege that I do not take lightly. My passion has led me to start the not-for-profit Canadian Centre of Excellence for Anti-Corruption (CCEAC) and my commitment to collective action and capacity building has led me to work with people, companies, and organizations around the world. Knowing that I can make a difference, however small, motivates me to continue this journey. My small contribution to advancing SDGs in various countries is part of the global effort by countless people and groups that illustrate the power and impact of collective action. It is through this collective action that we will make a real and lasting difference.

To say the need to address corruption is important, is a given, and to include it within SDG # 16 ‘’Peace, justice, and strong institutions,’’ is a fairly easy academic exercise! The reality, however, is that corruption also impacts our ability to address all the other 16 SDG goals directly and indirectly. Not only does corruption thwart economic and social development but it fuels, facilitates, and enable organized crime, terrorism, and other bad actors to operate with impunity and further destroys the ability of motivation of governments to deliver and respond to the needs of its citizens. Indeed, the insidious nature of corruption and its impact on political institutions, leaders, businesses, and people can substantially influence the capacity, ability, credibility, and legitimacy of efforts to develop and sustain all SDG goals. Poverty, inequality, gender equality, sanitation, economic growth, and all other Sustainable Development Goals can be negatively influenced by corruption and corrupt actors in some fashion. Those corrupt actors whose greed and vested interest may be threatened by the SDGs, use bribery and corruption to circumvent and evade action and accountability on those goals. We need collective action to expose and address this reality, but we also need to help countries facing higher corruption risks increase their capacity to address those risks. My call to action is for all of us to look at corruption as a social-economic cancer that threatens all Social Development goals and must be treated and excised – So what can you do about it?

Agir collectivement pour aider le Paraguay à atteindre les Objectifs de développement durable (ODD) afin de lutter plus efficacement contre la corruption

L’initiative du Partenariat d’assistance technique (PAT) du gouvernement du Canada, menée conjointement avec Alinea International, a pour objectif d’aider le Paraguay à contrer la corruption. Les conséquences et les coûts de la corruption sur le tissu social, politique, économique, environnemental et sécuritaire d’un pays sont majeurs et dévastateurs à long terme.

Avec des décennies d’expérience en tant qu’enquêteur sur les crimes financiers au sein de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada (GRC) et travaillant maintenant en tant que directeur exécutif du Centre d’excellence canadien pour la lutte contre la corruption (CECCC), j’ai eu l’immense privilège de voyager aux quatre coins du monde pour mettre mon expertise de consultant et de formateur au service d’organismes du secteur privé et public afin de les aider à combattre la corruption et à atteindre les objectifs de développement durable (ODD). Partout, j’ai eu l’honneur de rencontrer des enquêteurs et des procureurs extrêmement motivés et compétents, qui luttent contre la corruption malgré les nombreux obstacles qui se dressent sur leur chemin.

Il y a toujours des hommes et des femmes qui se démarquent et se dévouent corps et âme pour changer le monde et s’attaquer aux problèmes systémiques qui alimentent la corruption. J’ai d’ailleurs eu le grand plaisir, en août dernier, de rencontrer de telles personnes lors de mon séjour au Paraguay dans le cadre du Partenariat d’assistance technique – Mécanisme de déploiement d’experts (PAT-MDE). J’y étais pour former et accompagner un groupe d’enquêteurs de la police nationale et de procureurs de l’Unité spécialisée dans la lutte contre la corruption et les crimes financiers (UDEA), qui ont pour mandat d’enquêter sur les cas de corruption, de blanchiment d’argent et d’autres crimes financiers et d’engager des poursuites. L’énergie, la passion, l’engagement et le savoir-faire des participants étaient palpables. Je dois dire que cette atmosphère a rendu la formation extrêmement enrichissante et bénéfique pour tout le monde, moi y compris. Je ne sais pas si c’est ma simple présence ou mes « pots-de-vin » sous forme de biscuits et de bonbons de sirop d’érable canadien qui ont stimulé les participants, mais une chose est sûre, leur motivation était au rendez-vous! Et ce n’est pas tout : les dirigeants, qui sont ravis de cette formation, souhaitent véritablement créer une culture de travail qui valorise l’innovation et la collaboration.

Si le Paraguay est reconnu pour ses avancées constantes, bien que lentes, en matière de lutte à la corruption au cours des cinq dernières années, il lui reste encore des défis à relever en ce qui a trait à ses capacités et à son expertise d’enquête et de poursuite dans les affaires de corruption. Ces infractions extrêmement complexes et chronophages exigent une expérience et des compétences pointues, de même que des stratégies et des méthodes d’enquête bien particulières.

Grâce aux pratiques exemplaires, aux outils stratégiques et aux techniques d’enquête acquises lors des activités de formation et d’accompagnement, les participants ont désormais un plan bien concret pour développer leurs capacités et leurs compétences en matière d’enquête et de poursuites. De plus, un plan d’action abordant sept secteurs prioritaires (dont l’amélioration de la collaboration interagence et la priorisation de la prévention, de la sensibilisation et de l’identification des corrupteurs) augmentera leur visibilité et leur impact auprès du grand public et des principaux intervenants.

Cette initiative du PAT-MDE est financée par Affaires mondiales Canada et gérée par Alinea International. Fort de mes 40 ans de carrière, je prends très au sérieux le privilège que j’ai d’aider des organismes à se doter des moyens pour combattre la corruption et les crimes financiers. Ma passion m’a également conduit à créer un organisme sans but lucratif, le Centre canadien d’excellence en lutte contre la corruption (CCEAC). De plus, croyant fermement à l’importance de l’action collective et du renforcement des capacités, je collabore depuis toujours avec des individus, des entreprises et des organisations de partout dans le monde. Savoir que je peux faire une différence, même minime, m’encourage à continuer cette belle aventure. Mon humble contribution à l’atteinte des ODD s’ajoute aux efforts déployés à l’échelle mondiale par un nombre incalculable de gens et de groupes. Ces efforts illustrent bien la puissance et l’importance des gestes collectifs. C’est en avançant ensemble que nous parviendrons réellement à changer les choses.

Dire qu’il est capital d’enrayer la corruption est une évidence, mais y inclure l’ODD no 16 « Paix, justice et institution forte » demeure un défi de taille. Bien sûr, la nature insidieuse de la corruption et ses conséquences sur les institutions politiques, les dirigeants, les entreprises et la population peuvent nuire à la capacité, à la crédibilité et à la légitimité des efforts pour atteindre la totalité des ODD. De fait, la corruption et les individus corrompus peuvent contrecarrer les efforts pour éliminer la pauvreté et les inégalités et promouvoir l’accès à l’eau potable, l’égalité des chances, la croissance économique et tous les autres ODD. Ces personnes malhonnêtes, aveuglées par leur cupidité et leur égoïsme, ont recours aux pots-de-vin et à la corruption pour se protéger des actions menées dans le cadre des ODD, qui menacent le statu quo. Nous devons agir collectivement pour braquer les projecteurs sur ces situations et changer les choses. Nous devons également aider les pays particulièrement touchés par la corruption à se doter de meilleurs moyens pour relever ce défi. Mon appel à l’action est pour nous tous de considérer la corruption comme un cancer socio-économique qui menace tous les objectifs de développement social et doit être traité et excisé. Alors que pouvez-vous faire à ce sujet ?

alinea’s whistleblower policy

1.1 Purpose

The following Whistleblower Policy has been established to provide guidance to Alinea International employees and sub-contractors on how to deal with known or suspected improper conduct within the organization. The objectives of this Policy are to:

Create awareness of the Policy and available whistleblower protections
Act as a reference guide to potential whistleblowers wishing to make a disclosure
Define the structure of the whistleblower system, including reporting and investigation procedures, whistleblower protections, and confidentiality, among others
Improve the communication and transparency in the processes associated with whistleblowing and assure protection against derogatory consequences, namely reprisals and detrimental action
Complement the current communication channels between employees, sub-contractors and immediate managers, and hierarchical channels flowing to the President and Senior Management team
Provide guidance to all parties involved in either whistleblowing or whistleblower protection.

1.2 Scope

Alinea requires all employees and sub-contractors to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. All employees and sub-contractors of Alinea are required to comply with applicable laws and regulations of Canada and the countries where we operate. Any allegations of known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources will be dealt with in accordance with this Policy, and reasonable steps will be taken to protect those who come forward with allegations. Alinea’s Whistleblower Policy covers both internal and external whistleblowing, and establishes the controls and procedures for dealing with allegations of malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is intended to encourage employees and sub-contractors to report known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources and to enable Alinea’s Senior Management team to address and correct inappropriate action. It is the responsibility of all Board of Directors’ members, the Senior Management team, employees and sub-contractors to report concerns about known or suspected malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is applicable to all employees and sub-contractors of Alinea International.

1.3 Reporting Procedures

Alinea recognizes the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices and supports the making of disclosures that reveal improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. Our internal controls and operating procedures are intended to detect and prevent malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. As detailed in Alinea’s Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals, employees and sub-contractors are encouraged to share complaints and/or concerns regarding ethical or legal violations with their immediate managers. If the employee or sub-contractor is not comfortable speaking with their immediate manager or is not satisfied with the response, they are encouraged to speak with the Gatineau or Calgary Office Managers, the Vice Presidents or, as required, the Chief Financial Officer. All members of the Senior Management team are required to report complaints and/or concerns about suspected ethical or legal violations in writing to Alinea’s Ethics Committee who has the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints and/or concerns. In the event that the complaint and/or concern is about the President, it should be raised by the employee or sub-contractor to their immediate manager or the Ethics Committee who will determine how the investigation will proceed. All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective measures will be taken if warranted by the investigation. Alinea’s Ethics Committee is responsible for acknowledging receipt of the suspected violation and notifying the whistleblower of the outcome of the investigation. Anyone filing a written complaint concerning suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Personal grievances or complaints related to employment are not covered under Alinea’s Whistleblowing Policy. For cases such as this, employees and sub-contractors are advised to first refer to Alineas Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals when considering a disclosure under the Whistleblowing Policy. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

1.4 Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality is crucial to ensure reprisals are not made against the whistleblower. Alinea is committed to safeguarding the identity of the whistleblower and to protecting the whistleblower against detrimental action taken in reprisal for allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. The Ethics Committee is responsible for ensuring whistleblowers are protected from direct and indirect detrimental action, and that the culture of the workplace is supportive of suspected allegations being made. Any employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

1.5 Review

Alinea is committed to implementing ‘best practice’ policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources (as defined by this Policy) and the management and protection of whistleblowers making allegation(s). This Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it meets the objectives of relevant legislation and remains effective for Alinea, and may be changed at the discretion of the Board of Directors at any time. For allegations of fraud, securities law, or human rights concerns, or when you are not satisfied or uncomfortable with following the Company’s open door policy, individuals should contact the Company’s Ethics Committee directly.

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Collective action – improving Paraguay’s capacity to tackle corruption in addressing SDGs.