REN partner in the "Gestão Transparente.org" project

REN was one of the companies involved in the production of the Practical Guide to Corruption Risk Management in Organisations, which was publicly presented on 10 December. This new, free online software tool offers a simulator that enables organisations to assess at any time the risk levels of exposure to corruption, for example when conducting specific business in a specific country. It also provides legislation, measures and instruments that reduce the exposure of companies to risks of corruption.

The presentation of the project at the Belém Cultural Centre in Lisbon was attended by some of the main PSI 20 companies, as well as other public and private bodies such as the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP), the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade (AICEP), the Council for the Prevention of Corruption (CPC) and University of Minho.

Pedro Nunes, REN's company secretary, stated that 'in view of the fact that the fight against corruption begins with prevention, this project can be quite important for small organisations which do not yet have the tools for minimising the risks of corruption. However, large companies can also benefit from the result of this project, since it allows them to have access to different approaches to the subject of corruption risk management'.

The 'GestãoTransparente.Org - Practical guide to the management of corruption risks in organisations' transparent management project starts from the premise that organisations with transparent, ethical and honest practices attract more investment and have better relations with their stakeholders and the community in general. Therefore, by promoting and developing anti-corruption strategies, companies and other organisations can gain a competitive edge in the market and in the environments in which they operate, and at the same time transmit an image of credibility and create a good external reputation.

The guide identifies and describes the main organisational instruments for preventing corruption risks. It is also a practical management instrument to help organisations define and implement measures to prevent corruption and promote transparency.

REN has already signed up to other anti-corruption initiatives, including the United Nations Global Compact (since 2005) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption. Internally, it has regulations and tools to promote transparency and integrity and to prevent corruption risks within the company, such as the Social Responsibility Policy Statement, the Code of Conduct and the Risk Management Process.

Besides REN, companies involved in the project included ANA, CEIIA, EPAL, INTELI, MICROSOFT, MTS and SIEMENS, and CARRIS, CP, ISTEC and METRO also collaborated. The Council for the Prevention of Corruption (CPC), the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP) and the University of Minho took part as observers.