UNDP Anti-Corruption for Development Programme
About Us
Our Focus
Over the past two decades, significant progress has been made to measure corruption through the development of indicators and methodologies to gauge perception, experience, and the extent of corruption. However, major gaps remain in the availability of objective, actionable, and comparable data. The global movement on corruption/anti-corruption measurement remains fragmented, highlighting the urgent need for greater alignment and coordination to sustain progress and support evidence-based reforms.
Measuring corruption is critical to understanding its drivers, impacts, and trends – and to designing effective responses. By developing reliable, comparable indicators and actionable data, we can strengthen transparency, accountability, and evidence-based policymaking in the fight against corruption.
The Global Initiative on Measuring Corruption, led by UNDP alongside UNODC and IACA, and supported by Nazaha (Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority), is spearheading efforts for corruption measurement across different sectors by developing new evidence-based methodologies and tools for measuring corruption that can be used to assess countries’ performance and progress in combating corruption.
Launched in December 2023 at the 10th Session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP10) to the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), this initiative aims to contribute to the implementation of the UN Statistical Framework to Measure Corruption, UNCAC resolutions on measuring corruption. Additionally, the initiative aims to strengthen global discourse and dialogue on objective, open, and evidence-based corruption and anti-corruption measurement.
About the Global Initiative for Measuring Corruption
The Global Initiative for Measuring Corruption seeks to create reliable, evidence-based tools and methodologies to track how countries perform and progress in tackling corruption.
The initiative focuses on three key areas:
1.Integrity in public procurement
UNDP and the Government Transparency Institute (GTI) have developed a data-driven methodology that uses contract-level “red flag” indicators to measure integrity in public procurement. The methodology allows countries to move beyond perception-based indicators and assess corruption risks through objective, actionable and comparable data. By analysing patterns at key stages of the procurement cycle, such as single bidding, non-competitive procedures, contract amendments, tax haven registrations and unpublished calls for tenders, the methodology identifies systemic vulnerabilities rather than isolated cases. This enables countries to identify factors that contribute to corruption risks, to prioritise evidence-based interventions, and to monitor changes over time.
For more information about the methodology please see: Frequently Asked Questions
2.Business Experience with Bribery
In partnership with the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) Competitive Center, UNDP has developed a new methodology on measuring business experience with bribery. The approach combines three core sets of indicators—practices, incidences, and countermeasures—alongside contextual drivers that may influence the prevalence of bribery in the business environment. The main objective is to understand the private sector’s perspective on corruption and anti-corruption to inform evidence-based reforms. Based on the methodology, the survey is currently being conducted in 60 countries and the global report along with indicators will be launched in Q3 2026.
3.Implementation and effectiveness of global anti-corruption measures: Evaluating how well international norms and standards are applied.
The work is guided by the Vienna Principles Towards a Global Framework for the Measurement of Corruption and builds on the insights of the IACA Global Programme on Measuring Corruption (GPMC).
Each methodology developed under the initiative will undergo rigorous expert review and validation. The finalized indicators will then be tested using publicly available data—initially from G20 countries and a small number of non-G20 countries—to ensure their robustness, accuracy, and reliability.
The Global Initiative for Measuring Corruption is part of UNDP’s Global Anti-Corruption Programme, which serves as the organization’s main platform for providing policy and programmatic support on anti-corruption. Through this programme, UNDP coordinates its anti-corruption work internally—across regional hubs and country offices—and externally with key global and national partners.
With one of the largest Global Policy Networks (GPN) operating in over 170 countries, UNDP integrates anti-corruption efforts across multiple sectors and regions. These efforts contribute directly to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by:
- Embedding anti-corruption measures in public service delivery;
- Strengthening institutional capacity to prevent and address corruption;
- Leveraging technology and innovation to promote integrity; and
- Advancing global knowledge and advocacy on anti-corruption.
Partners
United Nations System
UNDP Anti-Corruption works in close collaboration with partners across the United Nations system by strengthening joint approaches, sharing expertise, and advancing coherent, system-wide responses to corruption. Key partners include the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).
International Financial Institutions and other international organizations
UNDP partners with over 20 international financial institutions, including the World Bank and regional development banks, to help mobilize and align resources with national development priorities. Through these partnerships, we support governments in strengthening transparency, accountability and integrity in public financial systems. Also, UNDP works with other international organizations such as International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), to jointly advance anti-corruption effort by aligning thematic priorities, supporting evidence-based policymaking, and conducting global advocacy and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Private Sector
The private sector plays a critical role in advancing sustainable development. UNDP works with companies to embed integrity and sustainability into their business practices while promoting an enabling environment for responsible investment. We provide tools, training and certification frameworks to help businesses measure and strengthen their anti-corruption efforts.
Research Institutions, Academia and Non-Profit Organizations
UNDP Anti Corruption collaborates with research institutions, academia and non-profit organizations to advance research, innovation and evidence based approaches in corruption measurement. Key partners include International Institute for Management Development (IMD) , the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), and the Government Transparency Institute (GTI) and Open Contracting Partnership (OCP). Together, we generate knowledge, strengthen capacities and promote global standards and best practices.
Donor Partners
UNDP works with donor governments to advance anti corruption efforts and support country level implementation. Since 2023, UNDP leads the Global Initiative on Measuring Corruption to strengthen data and inform more effective anti corruption strategies, in partnership with the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Nazaha).
