Anti-Corruption Collective Action in Egypt

Strengthen regional and international partnerships to promote anti-corruption and sustainable business practices in Egypt

SMEs, which constitute about 75 percent of the employed workforce and 99 percent of non-agricultural private businesses, are crucial to the Egyptian economy. However, they often lack the resources and capacity to effectively combat corruption.

Launched in 2010, the Anti-Corruption Collective Action initiative targets these challenges by identifying key stakeholders, addressing corruption factors, and focusing on enhancing transparency in business-to-government interactions for SMEs.

The goal of the initiative is to strengthen regional and international partnerships to promote anti-corruption and sustainable business practices. By collaborating with stakeholders, providing training, and creating incentives for SMEs, the initiative aims to build robust anti-corruption policies and enhance overall integrity.

The initiative is facilitated by the Global Compact Network Egypt. Starting in 2023, the Network established key partnerships with UNODC and the Egyptian Administrative Control Authority (ACA), overcoming initial logistical challenges. These collaborations, along with ties to the Anti-Corruption Authority and alignment with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, reinformce Egypt’s commitment to integrity and transparency.

The initiative was funded under the Siemens Integrity Initiative.

The initiaitve focused on the following activities:

• Public-private dialogue: Led by the Global Compact Network Egypt and UNODC, the initiative conducted the public-private sector open consultation to engage business leaders and SMEs in anti-corruption discussions focusing on investment attraction, the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2023-2030) and increasing civic participation. The initiative also established a collaborative joint committee between the Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade and the Egyptian Junior Business Association to foster dialogue on anti-corruption.

• Integrity Pledge Initiative: The initiative launched the Integrity Pledge Initiative to address the unique needs of SMEs in Egypt and encourage commitment to anti-corruption practices. 100 SMEs and 22 supporting partners signed up to the Integrity Pledge and joined the Integrity Network Initiative.

• Creating incentives: The initiative partnered with local trade associations and larger corporations to offer incentives such as lease discounts and training for SMEs engaging in anti-corruption efforts.

• Training and awareness raising: The initiative trained more than 680 participants from 400 SMEs and other stakeholders on anti-corruption and compliance.