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About the CCEAC Toolbox

Project > How did the tool box project start?

With the initial support of the Trade Commissioner Service of Global Affairs Canada, the CCEAC  developed an online searchable database and toolbox on ethics, anti-corruption and compliance-related issues.

It was designed to aggregate existing resources from trusted sources as well as capture and promote best practices and lessons learned from private and public organizations as well as world-class experts and trusted sources.

The aim of this initiative is not to create the most exhaustive ABC toolbox but to develop a platform that will grow organically through the collective effort and contribution of its users and supporters for the benefit of all interested parties.

The platform will evolve over time to provide relevant and practical information, tools and strategies to help individuals, companies and organisations better manage risk and promote a culture of ethics and compliance.

The toolbox was initially developed with the support of the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada.

Background > How will the CCEAC toolbox help?

Companies both large and small are facing a variety of serious challenges when operating in various high-risk markets.

Bribery and corruption is one of the highest legal and reputational risks a company can face.

More aggressive global enforcement action, increased demand for greater transparency and accountability as well as a growing number of jurisdictions enacting versions of “failure to prevent” corruption regulations is changing the business landscape.

Additionally, successor liability issues, the introduction of the ISO 37001 (Anti-bribery management system) standard and the emerging trend of large companies, institutional investors, insurance underwriters, development banks and even VCs to require ethics and Anti-Bribery/Corruption (ABC) compliance programs for their respective clients are contributing to this new landscape.

Additionally, Ethical failures, financial crime risks, ESG requirements as well as the digital transformation and changes in the business environment are increasing the risks and pressures on all organisations.

This new reality cannot be ignored and organisations must learn about the issues and take steps to implement robust ethics and anti-corruption compliance program.

Ethics, compliance and anti-corruption measures if they hope to protect their brand and grow their business.

For companies with limited resources and experience in ethics, compliance and anti-corruption related issues, implementing measures to address those issues can appear complex and costly.

While it does require time and effort, the implementation of effective ethics and compliance measures need to be seen as an investment that will protect the brand, increase productivity and stakeholder engagement but can also reduce costs and increase profitability.

Many companies and business people have been tackling these issues for years and have lessons learned and best practices that can help guide others.

Additionally, a number of private, public and trusted non-government bodies have developed extremely valuable tools to assist companies with ABC compliance issues.

One of the challenges has been how to access these best practices and tools with ease from one reliable source.

This is where the CCEAC best practices toolbox project comes in.

CCEAC will continuously strive to improve the content of the toolbox and will work with its users, members, supporters and contributors to assist organisations to increase their knowledge and capacity to deal with ethics, compliance and anti-corruption issues.