GG1 AWARD WINNER A GENDERED APPROACH TO ANTI-CORRUPTION EMPOWERING WOMEN TO DRIVE FAIR AND ETHICAL BUSINESS 6 CONTEXT AND INITIATIVE Corruption tends to reinforce existing gender disparities or is an obstacle to removing them. Sextortion, the most violent form of corruption, in which sexual acts become currency of bribery, is a phenomenon that primarily women suffer from. The Alliance for Integrity (Af In), a business-driven, multi-stakeholder initiative seeking to pro- mote transparency and integrity in the economic system, has been addressing the link between gender and corruption since 2018, when the issue first entered the inter- national agenda. In its 2019–2021 plan the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group addressed the gender and corruption nexus and discussed how the gender dimension could be included in anti-corruption pro- gramming and policy. Commissioned by the BMZ, GIZ is hosting and managing the secretariat of the Alli- ance for Integrity and as such has facili- tated an iterative, highly participatory, and consultative joint approach, which led to the launch of the Global Sounding Board on Gender and Business Integrity in 2021. The Sounding Board brings together more than 35 organisations, from the public sector, private sector, business associations, international organizations, academia and think tanks and civil society (Covestro Mexico, World Economic Forum PACI, Ghana Enterprises Agency, Lemaitre, SAS, Colombia, UNDP FairBiz / UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub, Fundación Flor, Argentina, U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, PT Aria Prima Communiline, Indonesia, Bombay Chamber of Commerce, Transparency International Canada). GENDER – A QUALITY FEATURE OF OUR WORK Based on the GIZ Gender Strategy, the GIZ team comprising of 16 individuals from seven nations, men and women with diverse cultures, ages, religions, and perspectives developed a policy document for their work in AfIn’s network and appointed a gender focal point. The newly developed AfIn Gender Policy stipulated that partners and supporters in the network were offered to undergo training and were asked to commit to the principle of gender equality in AfIn’s so-called “letter of support”, a document where companies and organisations sign up to support the network and commit to comply with international anti-corruption standards. Z I G © GENDER IMPACT Within the scope of AfIn’s anti-corruption training for small and medium-sized enter- prises (SMEs), trainers developed a concept based on the lived business experiences of women. This brought to light harrowing accounts of how women are subjected to corruption and led to the creation of ‘The Integrity Coffees, safe spaces for women entre- preneurs to share their experiences of corrup- tion and how they can stand up against it and better protect themselves in Mexico, Colombia, Ghana, and India. AfIn also developed a guide, Infographics, communication and campaign materials, web- based information, networking opportunities and capacity development designs serving the members of the network. Care is taken to ensure that all AfIn events are gender sensitive.