The Network of Integrity Officers (NIO) was introduced by the Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAK) in 2016 to further enhance the concept of integrity in Austria. Throughout five basic training programmes, 105 staff members from all sectors of civil service life in Austria were trained to become Integrity Officers. These are experts in issues of promotion of integrity, corruption prevention and compliance. They are now multipliers in the awareness-raising process and serving as contacts for inquiries for staff, including senior officials. Basic training programmes provide participants with knowledge and networking opportunities. Integrity Officers’ tasks include advising senior officials regarding the development and implementation of specific measures for corruption prevention. This covers compliance programmes, codes of conduct, ethics guidelines, specific training and advanced training programmes, and the development and implementation of corruption risk analysis. Contributing to surveillance and assessment of indicators pointing to corruption and risk factors, they also play as multipliers in the awareness-raising process within authorities and departments, and this includes seminars and anti-corruption training and other awareness-raising measures.
The NIO follow-up meetings organised by the BAK feature different content every time and provide NIO members with important opportunities to exchange experiences and best practices; therefore, the BAK arranges follow-up events. These are on risk management in the field of compliance, or value management with the focus on the creation and implementation of a value-based corporate culture through targeted value management measures.
The NIO annual meetings are designed as get-togethers of all Integrity Officers who attended basic training programmes at some point. This allows an exchange of knowledge and experience, to meet in person and increase readiness to cooperate in the network.
In 2018 the first Austrian Integrity Award was granted, and award competitions will now take place every year. Further basic training programmes are already planned.