What anti-corruption measures improved trust?
Same answer, your way
Since 2018, ADB has run a sustained capacity-building program with PRC contractors and institutions bidding on international contracts — many of whom, lacking familiarity with global integrity standards, have ended up on ADB’s or other multilateral development banks’ sanctions lists [1]. Rather than relying on enforcement alone, ADB partnered with the Xiamen National Accounting Institute to run annual Anticorruption and Integrity Forums, now in their third year, covering public procurement, financial management, and environmental and social safeguards [2]. The first forum drew 254 participants, with 98% reporting they intended to apply what they learned immediately [3]. From 2024 onward, the forum expanded beyond PRC participants to contractors from across the wider Asia-Pacific region [2].
Evidence cards
Asia-Pacific Anticorruption and Integrity Strengthening
A technical assistance program building integrity capacity among PRC firms bidding on international contracts.
View source →2nd Asia-Pacific Anticorruption and Integrity Forum
VP Roberta Casali on expanding the forum beyond PRC participants to the wider Asia-Pacific region.
View source →3rd Asia-Pacific Integrity and Compliance Forum
The forum’s third edition, themed “Delivering Development with Integrity.”
View source →Implementation considerations
- Capacity building works best paired with real consequence — ADB’s sanctions list gives these forums genuine stakes, not just goodwill training.
- Bringing multiple multilateral development banks into the same room avoids contractors learning one bank’s rules and assuming they all match.
- A 98% stated intent to apply lessons is a useful signal, but it’s self-reported immediately after the event — durable impact would need follow-up data over time.
Where else has this worked?
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Asia-Pacific Anticorruption and Integrity Strengthening
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2nd Asia-Pacific Anticorruption and Integrity Forum — Remarks
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3rd Asia-Pacific Integrity and Compliance Forum
Adaptation guidance for other countries
- Pair training with real consequences, such as sanctions exposure, rather than relying on goodwill-only capacity building.
- Bring multiple multilateral development banks together so contractors learn one consistent standard, not bank-specific rules.
- Track applied behavior change over time, not just post-event satisfaction surveys.