The French Anticorruption Agency (AFA)’s guidelines’ aim to help organizations, whether public or private, big or small, French or foreign, to prevent and detect corruption and related offences against integrity. Developed through a collaborative process, these recommendations stem from the experience acquired during the past three years, as well as the feedback from multiple stakeholders, gathered via a public consultation. In particular, they include inputs from government entities, trade associations, consulting firms, and NGOs. In accordance with international best standards, the AFA’s guidelines provide comprehensive guidance on how to design and implement an effective anti-corruption program.
Their structure is composed of three key parts, tailored to the specific needs of various kinds of organizations:
- The first part contains general guidance applicable to all entities. This guidance revolves around three pillars: the commitment of senior management, the accurate knowledge of the corruption risks to which the entity is exposed (corruption risk mapping), and the management of these risks through prevention, detection, and remediation measures.
- The second part concerns large companies subject to the compliance requirements of the 2016 French Anti-Corruption Law, known as Sapin II.
- The third section is dedicated to organizations of the public sector.
Wide-ranging, yet precise, the AFA’s guidelines are a valuable resource to anti-corruption practitioners both in France and abroad.