UN Fraud Prevention, Investigations and Anti-Corruption Training Course

This course equips participants with practical skills to prevent, detect, and respond to fraud and corruption in UN operations and programmes. It focuses on fraud and corruption risks, prevention controls, whistleblower protection, investigations, and accountability frameworks.

Target Groups

• Programme and operations managers
• Finance, procurement, and administration officers
• Compliance and ethics focal points
• Internal audit and investigation staff
• Implementing partner managers
• Security and risk officers
• Managers and supervisors seeking to strengthen organizational practice in this field
• Consultants and professionals supporting related organizations

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain fraud and corruption risks in UN and development contexts
• Apply UN anti-fraud and anti-corruption policies
• Conduct fraud risk assessments
• Design preventive and detective controls
• Recognize red flags in procurement, finance, and programme delivery
• Establish reporting channels and whistleblower protections
• Support fraud investigations with sound evidence handling
• Manage conflicts of interest and sanctions
• Respond to incidents, recoveries, and disciplinary processes
• Strengthen a culture of integrity and zero tolerance

Course Modules

Module 1: Fraud and Corruption in Development Contexts

• Definitions and typologies
• Fraud triangle
• Impact on programmes
• Common schemes
• Zero tolerance principle

Module 2: UN Policy and Accountability Framework

• Anti-fraud and anti-corruption policies
• Investigations offices
• Staff and partner obligations
• Sanctions regimes
• Donor requirements

Module 3: Fraud Risk Assessment

• Assessment methodology
• High-risk processes
• Country and programme risks
• Scoring and prioritization
• Action planning

Module 4: Prevention Controls

• Segregation of duties
• Procurement and cash controls
• Due diligence of partners and vendors
• Training and awareness
• Conflict of interest management

Module 5: Red Flags and Detection

• Procurement red flags
• Financial and payroll red flags
• Programme and beneficiary fraud
• Data analytics
• Monitoring and spot checks

Module 6: Reporting Channels and Whistleblower Protection

• Reporting mechanisms
• Hotlines
• Protection from retaliation
• Confidentiality
• Handling allegations

Module 7: Investigation Fundamentals

• Case intake and triage
• Investigation planning
• Evidence collection and chain of custody
• Interviewing
• Report writing

Module 8: Conflict of Interest and Gifts

• Identifying conflicts
• Declarations
• Gifts and hospitality
• Outside activities
• Managing breaches

Module 9: Response, Recovery, and Integrity Culture

• Disciplinary measures
• Fund recovery
• Referral to authorities
• Remediation of control gaps
• Building an integrity culture

Module 10: Practical Exercises and Capstone Project

• Conducting a fraud risk assessment for a programme
• Spotting red flags in case documents
• Planning an investigation
• Drafting an investigation summary
• Presenting an anti-fraud action plan