MACN and USAID partner to combat corruption across key ports

This project, supported by private sector leaders like Maersk, Lauritzen Foundation, and DS Norden, aims to combat corruption in the maritime sector. It will expand MACN’s HelpDesk, a global mechanism for resolving corruption incidents in ports, to more companies and vessels in India, Egypt, and Nigeria.

HelpDesk is a real-time global mechanism that supports the maritime industry by addressing corruption incidents in ports. Companies can report bribery demands or corrupt activities, and MACN helps escalate these cases with local authorities to resolve them without payments. 

The HelpDesk has proven highly effective, resolving over 99% of bribery-related cases without payment and helping companies avoid significant costs.

As part of this initiative, the HelpDesk will extend to 12 major ports in India, key Egyptian port cities, and additional ports in Nigeria, with compliance training provided for local SMEs.

The project also involves developing a centralized platform for data collection and analysis to identify common corruption risks. This partnership represents a significant effort to foster transparency and ethical business practices in the global maritime industry.

In 2023, USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman launched the “Doing Business With Integrity” initiative as part of the Countering Transnational Corruption Grand Challenge for Development, underscoring the need for a global, collaborative response to combat corruption. This initiative seeks to foster innovative, purpose-driven partnerships between governments, civil society, and the private sector. 

Through its collective action approach, MACN has successfully created a more transparent and ethical maritime environment, benefiting the entire industry by reducing corruption risks and costs. MACN’s latest Annual Report provides an overview of the collective action projects across key countries, explaining its actions to create a culture of integrity within the maritime community.