4 March 2026 – At the eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties held in Doha last December (COSP11), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the UN Global Compact launched for the first time a platform to include the private sector in implementing anti-corruption measures and policies in line with the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). This month, the Private Sector Platform held its first working group meeting, marking a significant step in involving companies in the fight against corruption.
The Platform brings together 22 leading companies across various industries and regions providing a space for companies to exchange good practices and address shared challenges, collaborating with governments in promoting business integrity worldwide.
Its work is grounded in UNCAC, Sustainable Development Goal 16, and the UN Global Compact Principle Ten on combating corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
The 2026 working group meeting focused on reviewing progress and discussing forthcoming activities aligned with the Platform’s core objectives: shaping the global business integrity agenda, engaging in public-private dialogue, fostering innovation in anti-corruption and advocating for business integrity.
Participants highlighted the important role that the COSP11 Private Sector Forum plays in ensuring that business perspectives inform government deliberations and in fostering opportunities for direct dialogue among companies.
Members further discussed the upcoming Think Lab on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Business Integrity, to be co-facilitated by UNODC and the UN Global Compact. Guest speaker Andrea Bonamie Blanc shared perspectives on the “exponential governance” mindset business leaders should adopt considering technology and digital transformations, and the role of ethics and compliance in navigating emerging technologies, particularly AI.
As next steps, COSP Private Sector Platform members will be invited to take forward activities contributing to promoting innovative business integrity tools such as the free e-learning course Doing Business with Integrity and the newly updated edition of the publication An Anti-Corruption Ethics and Compliance Programme for Business: A Practical Guide.
They will also be given the opportunity to participate in global anti-corruption events to give the private sector a voice and a meaningful role in advancing the global anti-corruption agenda.
Read more:
E-learning course Doing Business with Integrity
Now available: An Anti-Corruption Ethics and Compliance Programme for Business: A Practical Guide
