ERIKS Anti-Corruption Policy

Contents

1. Introduction and Purpose
2. Definition and approach
3. Implementation
4. Follow up

1. Introduction and Purpose

ERIKS Development Partner (hereafter ERIKS) is a non-profit second-hand business and a child rights organisation that works to ensure that children’s rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled in Sweden and around the world. Corruption is always an obstacle to social and economic development. It also risks damaging ERIKS´ trust among those we work with in our programmes, as well as in relation to private and institutional donors, partners, and customers in our stores. ERIKS, therefore, sees corruption as a serious risk that counteracts our vision of a changed world where children’s dreams come to life.

Parts of ERIKS´ programmes, both in Sweden and internationally, are carried out in environments and contexts with a relatively high risk of corruption, which requires specific measures and approaches. Countries with a high level of inequality, weak democracy, and conflicts often have a higher risk of corruption. Likewise, internal risks such as handling large amounts of money, close and long-term relationships between colleagues and representatives of different actors, along with weak internal control can foster corruption. There is also a risk of corruption in, for example, procurements, purchases, and corporate collaborations that often occur in Sweden.

The purpose of this policy is to describe how ERIKS defines and relates to corruption and how we work to prevent, detect, and act on corruption.

ERIKS’ work with anti-corruption is based on our identity document “In the Service of Love”, which establishes our values. In addition to this, the following documents are linked to our work on anti-corruption:

• Policy for Feedback, Complaints and Whistleblowing
• Procurement Policy
• Code of conduct
• Child Safeguarding Policy
• Personnel and Recruitment Policy

This policy is valid for all parts of ERIKS´ operations, i.e., both ERIKS Development Partner and ERIKS Second Hand, in Sweden and internationally, and applies to ERIKS’ staff, interns, volunteers, elected officials, and consultants. Through agreements, the policy also applies to ERIKS´ international partner organisations.

2. Definition and approach

Definition

ERIKS follows Sida’s definition of corruption, which is the abuse of trust, power, or position for improper gain. Corruption includes, among other things, bribery, embezzlement, extortion, conflict of interest, nepotism, and other similar improprieties. The definition thus means that someone uses their position of power to benefit themselves, a relative, or their own interests. The benefit can include both financial and other advantages. Corruption also refers to the neglect to take action.

Approach

ERIKS’ approach to corruption is based on Sida’s anti-corruption rule, which means to always prevent, never accept, always inform, and always act. This should be applied in all situations, even if it means that interventions are delayed or partnerships terminated.

ERIKS is subject to Swedish law. Swedish laws and regulations apply to ERIKS’ work abroad, where local legislation and rules must also be followed and respected. However, local legislation can never be used as an excuse for corrupt or unethical actions.

3. Implementation

Always prevent

ERIKS works at all levels to make risk assessments that include risks of corruption. Structures and systems within the organisation should always be designed to minimize the risk of corruption and at the same time values and ethics should continuously be discussed. All employees, elected officials, and volunteers have a responsibility to prevent corruption and should be given training and support in how they can do this.

Trust is also an important part of preventing corruption. Therefore, ERIKS works constantly to build trusting relationships with partners and to create a good and constructive dialogue.

Never accept

ERIKS’ employees, interns, elected officials, volunteers, and consultants should never accept corruption or corrupt actions, whether in ERIKS’ own programmes or in programmes that we support financially or in other ways. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every part of our operations is characterized by fairness, transparency, and accountability. Never accepting corruption means not only compliance with the law but also acting based on our values and being role models for ethical behaviour in all situations. At the slightest suspicion of an irregularity, this should be reported.

Always inform

ERIKS´ employees, interns, elected officials, volunteers, and consultants are obliged to report suspected or detected corruption through our complaint and whistleblowing functions on our international website (eriksdevelopment.org) or our Swedish website (erikshjalpen.se). Further reporting measures and descriptions of responsibilities are available in our Guidelines for Complaints and Response Mechanism. If it concerns an intervention financed by Sida, the Swedish Mission Council (SMR) must be informed. If the intervention has another institutional donor, the respective donor must be informed.

Always act

ERIKS must always act on tips, warning signals, and suspicions of corruption. The action should be taken with discretion and respect for those involved. ERIKS investigates all suspicions of corruption, and appropriate measures are taken to handle the specific case and prevent something similar from happening again. Internal and external informants and whistleblowers are offered anonymity and other security measures if needed. The routines for how a case is assessed are the same whether the information first reaches ERIKS through our complaint or whistleblowing functions or in another way. More information about the procedure in case of suspected corruption is available on our website and in our Policy for Feedback, Complaints and Whistleblowing.

Transparency

ERIKS always strives for openness and transparency in all parts of the organisation’s operations. This applies to policies, strategies, plans, decisions, and reports. Through this, insight into and scrutiny of the operations are made possible, which can contribute to increasing trust in ERIKS among employees, volunteers, and elected officials, as well as partners and other actors.

Accountability

ERIKS strives for clarity in mandate and division of responsibilities and to have structures and systems to trace mistakes and deliberate errors. Those responsible within the organisation should be held accountable for their actions. An important part of this work is our complaint and whistleblowing functions through which suspected corruption can be reported. What we define as complaints and whistleblowing is described on our website and in our Policy for Feedback, Complaints and Whistleblowing.

Partner organisations

ERIKS encourages and supports our international and national partner organisations to have their own systems and routines for working preventively with corruption and to detect and report on corruption as early as possible. Through our agreements with partners, it is regulated how partner organisations and ERIKS act in case of suspected corruption.

ERIKS strives for an open and continuous dialogue with partners on the issue of corruption and around values and ethics. Support is given to partner organisations that need to improve their internal control systems or implement other measures that prevent corruption.

Communication

This policy should be available on ERIKS’ intranet and website as well as shared and attached as an appendix when agreements are signed with a partner organisation. It should also be presented to new employees as well as elected officials, interns, volunteers, and consultants within the organisation.

4. Follow up

To have a successful work against corruption, continuous follow-up and evaluation of the work must be done. The Secretary General is ultimately responsible for the work with anti-corruption, that the policy is followed, and that the work is evaluated. The policy is approved by ERIKS’ board and revised as needed.

All directors and managers within both ERIKS Development Partner and ERIKS Second Hand have a responsibility to integrate anti-corruption work into their operations. The immediate manager also has a responsibility to ensure that employees are aware of the policy and the other documents that reflect ERIKS’ view on and work with corruption. All employees, in turn, have a responsibility to contribute to the realisation of the policy’s intentions and to work for anti-corruption.