NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Building Integrity Initiative

The Building Integrity (BI) Programme is part of NATO’s commitment to strengthening good governance in the defence and security sector. It was established by the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in November 2007 in the framework of the Partnership Action Plan on Defence Institution Building (PAP-DIB). The BI programme seeks to raise awareness, promote good practice and provide practical tools to help nations enhance integrity and reduce risks of corruption in the security sector by strengthening transparency and accountability.

• Implementation

  Participation in the BI Programme is on a voluntary basis.

  The NATO International Staff  serves as the executing agent and project manager for the BI Programme and works closely with nations and other international organisations  as well as representaives of civil society to develop a mulit-year programme to promote awareness and  understanding  of corruption and  its impact on military operations and peace and security as well as practical tools and mechanism - the BI Tool Kit.  Where possible the BI programme is being integrated and aligned with national processes as well as NATO partnerhsip mechanisms.

  BI is also supported by a network of implementing partners – drawn from NATO countries, partner nations and civil society.  They include the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of the Armed Forces, Transparency International (UK Defence Team),  the Swedish National Defence College, the Bulgarian and Norwegian ministries of defence, and Partnership for Peace Education and Training Centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. These institutions support implementation of BI by provide expertise advice on training and education and by hosting BI activities.

• Building Integrity Tool Kit

  The Building Integrity Tool Kit includes  a BI Self Assessment Survey (available on the NATO website in English, French , Arabic, Dari and Russian) and a Peer Review Process, BI courses certified by Allied Command Transformation, resource material, a Pool of BI Subject Matter Experts and a network of institutions.

  Nations use the BI Self Assessment Survey to map current practices and procedures in defence and security establishments.  The Peer Review is based on an analysis of the completed survey and provides a framework for identifying and promoting good practice as well as developing national action plans and benchmarks. Nations completing the BI Self Assessment  may request a Peer Review and expert support to develop a tailored action plan.  To date, BI Peer Reviews have been completed for - Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Norway, and Ukraine. Peer Reviews for Hungary, Latvia and Serbia are ongoing.

  BI courses have been conducted in the EAPC area as well as Afghanistan for more than  550 civil and defence and security personnel.  In 2012, BI courses are being conducted at the PfP Centre in Ankara,  Turkey, and the NATO School Oberammergau, Germany.

  The BI Tool Kit also includes resources -  “Building Integrity and Reducing Corruption in Defence: A Compendium of Best Practices” (available in English, Arabic, Russian and Ukrainian; see links in right-hand margin). This Compendium provides a strategic approach to reducing corruption risks. It focuses on the practicalities of designing and implementing integrity-building programmes in defence, while taking into account the cultural specifics of defence organisations.

  BI is supported by a pool of subject matter experts, drawn from national civilian and defence ministries, international organizations and civil society.  These experts provide advice and take an active role in the development and implementation of all aspects of the BI programme such as the BI Peer Reviews and pre-deployment activities for ISAF.

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