The term ‘revolving door’ refers to the movement of individuals between positions of public office and jobs in the same sector in the private or voluntary sector, in either direction. If not properly regulated, it can be open to abuse. A cooling off period is the minimum time required between switching from the public to the private sector intended to discourage the practice and minimise its impact.

The government and its decentralised units — including the police, military, public roads and transit authorities, primary schools and healthcare system — that use public funds and provide services based on the motivation to improve citizens’ lives rather than to make a profit.

A multi-step process of established procedures to acquire goods and services by any individual, company or organisation — from the initial needs assessment to the contract’s award and service delivery.

Any company, household and institution that is not controlled by the public sector and which is run for private profit. Private sector corruption is characterised by groups from this sector influencing decisions and actions that lead to abuses of entrusted power.

Politically Exposed Persons are individuals who hold or held a prominent public function, such as the head of state or government, senior politicians, senior government, judicial or military officials, senior executives of state-owned corporations, or important political party officials. The term often includes their relatives and close associates. Banks and other financial institutions are supposed to treat these clients as high-risk, applying enhanced due diligence at both the start of the relationship and on an ongoing basis, including at the end of a relationship to ensure that the money in their bank account is not the proceeds of crime or corruption.

Demonstration and commitment by political leaders to address the challenges facing society or to fulfil a political pledge, such as fighting corruption or increasing political participation, by pursuing the appropriate policy responses, including wide-spread reforms.

Manipulation of policies, institutions and rules of procedure in the allocation of resources and financing by political decision makers, who abuse their position to sustain their power, status and wealth.  See ‘corruption’, ‘grand corruption’, and ‘petty corruption’

Any contribution, made in cash or in kind, to support a political cause. Examples include gifts of property or services, advertising or promotional activities endorsing a political party, and the purchase of tickets to fundraising events.

Form of favouritism in which a person is selected, regardless of qualifications or entitlement, for a job or government benefit because of affiliations or connections.

Voluntary agreement among different parties (i.e. businesses, government agencies, contract bidders) to formally commit to mutually-agreed ‘rules of the game’, including the refusal to engage in bribery and the promise to uphold human rights.