Good Corporate Governance, Transparency

and Anti-Corruption Conference (GCGTACC)

21-23 September 2016, Windhoek, Namibia

CONFERENCE THEME
“Best Governance, Transparency, Accountability and Ethical
Practices for National Prosperity!”
CONFERENCE OVERVIEW & BACKGROUND

As a responsible Namibian educational institution, the Centre for Training and

Projects Development (Pty) Ltd (CTPD) has organized a Conference on Good
Corporate Governance, Transparency and Anti-Corruption to support the
Harambee Prosperity Plan.

As stated in the Foreword message of the Harambee Prosperity Plan by

His Excellency, Dr. Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia,
attainment of prosperity for every citizen and resident requires an understanding
that it is no longer “business as usual and that we are not only required to act
with more urgency to reform processes, we are also required to reform our
minds and attitudes and pull in the same direction. A new culture of efficiency
and accountability is critical to foster the change we envisage.

The Harambee Prosperity Plan is built on four Pillars that are made up of sub
pillars, to form the frame/structure of a House of which the first is Effective
Governance. To this effect, the first and foremost critical Goal of the Harambee
Prosperity Plan is concerned with the improvement of accountability and
transparency in order to: (a) increase our ranking on the Mo-Ibrahim sub index
of Accountability from 65 points in 2015 to at least 90 points by the end of the
Harambee period; and (b) improve our ranking from position 4, to become most
transparent country in Africa as measured by Transparency International and
(c) retain our position as the country with the freest press in Africa as measured
by Reporters Without Borders.

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You, like many other leaders, will agree that the attachment of the HPP goal
number one which is a cornerstone of all the other HHP goals is more
challenging since it involves the changing the attitudes, believes, cultures and
perceptions of employees in the public service and private sectors.
Being organized by an independent educational institution, this conference will
seek to inculcate a culture of appreciation of the huge long term benefits of Good
Governance, Transparency and Anti-Corruption and to inspire and educate
participants to make use of the best modern governance and ethics practices
used elsewhere to keep good standards. The outcome of the conference will
obviously enable your organization to gain the best corporation and support of
your employees to work with Harambee minds to achieve your desired
organizational goals.
The purpose of corporate governance is to facilitate effective, entrepreneurial
and prudent management that can deliver the long-term success of the
company. Corporate Governance is the system of rules, practices and
processes by which a company is directed and controlled. Corporate
governance essentially involves balancing the interests of a company's many
stakeholders, such as shareholders, management, customers, suppliers,
financiers, government and the community. ‘There is always a link between
good governance and compliance with law. According to Kings Report III, Good
Governance can’t exist separately from the law and it is entirely inappropriate to
unhinge governance from law. In a World Bank Report for 2000, Sir Adrian
Cadbury described corporate governance as "concerned with holding the
balance between economic and social goals and between individual and
communal goals". The corporate governance framework is there to encourage
the efficient use of resources and equally to require accountability for the
stewardship of those resources. In the context of public service or private sector
organization, Good Corporate Governance is therefore about ensuring all
stakeholders’ adherence to organizational policies, procedures and systems.

In recent years, Corporate Governance has received increased attention

because of high-profile scandals involving abuse of corporate power and, in
some cases, alleged criminal activity by corporate officers. An integral part of an
effective corporate governance regime includes provisions for civil or criminal
prosecution of individuals who conduct unethical or illegal acts including
corruption in the name of the organization or their own job positions.

This type of conduct leads to Poor Corporate Governance which undermines

rules and regulations, transparency and human rights and creates bleeding
zones for corruption practices. Corruption represents a major threat to rule of
law and sustainable development the entire country. It has a disproportionate,
destructive impact on the poor and most vulnerable, but it is also quite simply
bad for business. Corruption stifles economic growth, distorts competition and
presents serious legal and reputational risks.

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It drives away investors by acting as a hidden “tax” or illegal overhead charge,
thereby increasing costs for companies, and further down the chain, their
customers. Corrupt practices are detrimental to all businesses; large and small,
multinational and local. Corporate scandals have rocked financial markets and
undermined investor confidence. Such incidents also receive enormous
attention from the public and the media, and hit the reputations of more than just
the particular entity or persons involved.

The impact of corrupt practices on development is also very significant, it

impedes economic growth, distorts competition and represents serious legal
and image risks. Corporate governance and transparency is the set of
arrangements through which organizations account to their stakeholders. Sound
corporate governance supports economic development by promoting the
efficient use of resources and by creating conditions that attract both domestic
and foreign investment.

CONFERENCE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

In recognition of the above, the Centre for Training and Projects Development
(CTPD) is pleased to invite you to “the GCGTACC 2016: Good Corporate
Governance, Transparency and Anti-Corruption Conference”. The
conference will also showcase current Corporate governance models and
practices, as well as the next generation of issues that business leaders and
society will face. It will gather high-level government officials and
representatives, business leaders, experts from the business community, civil
society, non-profit and community based organizations, academic institutions,
and other stakeholders. It provides a platform for the sharing of expectations,
aspirations and responsibilities. We want to bring together representatives from
various parts of the country and other Southern African countries to share their
experiences, challenges and opportunities.

Presentations, workshops and dialogue sessions will highlight state of the art
topics and how corporate governance, transparency and corruption issues are
being addressed around the country and in other parts of world. In addition, the
conference aims to develop new frameworks, tools and techniques essential for
the integration of socially responsible management in business operations, in
an effort to achieve sustainability at all levels of business management.
Specifically, the conference will seek to attain the following outcomes:

 Recognise and comprehend the Good Governance and ethical frameworks

applicable to the functions of your establishment in your country towards
which your organization must align its own policies and procedures
 Understand how Poor Corporate Governance of your organization whether;
Ministry, Regional, Town and Village Council, Hospital, Learning Institution,
etc. can bleed into poor organizational performance, disorganisation and
worse still corrupt practices that are costly to eliminate

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 Analyse the impact of corruption on public value and benefit, whilst identifying
the key challenges in promoting and administering good corporate
governance, ethics and integrity within the public sector
 Demonstrate an understanding of corruption and misconduct from both a
comparative / historical and domestic / international context
 Apply theoretical perspectives to the understanding of why corruption and
misconduct can arise apply and evaluate different approaches for addressing
integrity assurance and corruption prevention
 Strategize on how to build resilience within an anti-corruption or integrity
assurance work environment
 Understand and apply management strategies to corruption and integrity
issues.
 Adopt the appropriate mechanism for effective governance
 Value the shareholder and stakeholder rights and responsibilities
 Adhere to sound principles of direction and management
 Understand the significance of audit committee, its composition and
responsibilities
 Implement best practices on corporate management
 Understand current developments in corporate governance and its
environment: an overview of the legal structure of corporate governance;
theories of corporate governance
 Comparative dimensions of corporate governance: global convergence or
path dependence

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 CONFERENCE TOPICS AND SESSIONS

“The GCGTACC 2016: Good Corporate Governance, Transparency and

Anti-Corruption Conference” will focus on, but is not limited to, the following
key topics and sessions:

Module 1: An Overview of Corporate Governance

 What is Corporate Governance
 Models of Corporate Governance
 Mechanisms of Corporate Governance
 Definitions and Importance of Corporate Governance
 Reputation and Corporate Governance
 Corporate Ethics
 Corporate Governance and Corporate Responsibility
 Globalization and Corporate Governance

Module 2: Corruption Prevention and Integrity Assurance

Understanding the Challenges of Corruption Prevention and Integrity
Assurance
 The Science of Corruption Prevention
 Corruption Prevention Related Theories and Definitions
 Corruption Types, Roles and Facilitators
 Corruption Prevention General Principles
 Corruption Prevention Challenges

Corruption Prevention Strategy and Programs

 The Aims and Focus of Corruption Prevention
 Corruption Prevention Programs
 Corruption Prevention Strategies
 Anti-corruption agencies.
Corruption Governance Models
 Risk Assessment and Risk Management
 Policy Procedure and Control
 Training and Education
 Compliance
 Corruption Investigation

Politicisation and Work Place Culture

 Politicisation
 Ethical Leadership
 Workplace Culture

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Module 3: Foundations of Corruption and Misconduct
Ethical Models in the Public Sector
 The public service ethos and overview of different ethics models
 Impacts of different management approaches upon public sector ethics
from bureaucracy to risk management
Types of Corruption and Misconduct
 Defining Corruption and the corruption continuum
 Fraud
 Theft and embezzlement
 Bribery, kickbacks and receipt of benefits
 Unauthorized disclosure of information and misuse of databases.
 Conflict of interest and improper association.
 Nepotism and improper influence
 Deception, lying and perjury.
 Noble cause corruption

Module 4: Mechanisms of Responsibility, Accountability and Ethics in

Local Government:
 Institutional Separation of Powers at the Local Government Level
 Making Local Politics Downwardly Accountable
 Local Administrative Discretion and Accountability
 Factors Affecting Local Administrative Discretion
 Making Local Administration Downwardly Accountable
 Public and Social Accountability Approaches
 Fiscal Discretion and Accountability
 Determinants of Local Fiscal Discretion
 Expenditure Assignment: Defining the Role of Local Governments in
Service Delivery
 Revenue Assignment: Financing Local Service Delivery
 Financing Infrastructure: Local Government Borrowing
 Making Local Finances Downwardly Accountable

Module 5: Creating a Transparent & Accountable Government

 Determining the goals and objectives of an effective anti-corruption strategy
 Realizing the importance of creating a solid integrity infrastructure within an
organization
 Developing realistic Standards of Conduct and corresponding Table of
Offenses necessary to implement an effective anti-corruption strategy
 Understanding what should and should not be included as part of anti-
corruption training programs
 Demonstrating results of anti-corruption efforts to gain public trust

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Module 6: Board of Directors
 Structure and Independence of the Board
 Responsibilities and Duties of the Board
 Selection, Remuneration and Evaluation of the Board
 Board Committees
 The Board and the Management

Module 7: Audit Committee

 Organization of Audit Committee
 Responsibilities of the Audit Committee
 Working with Auditors and Management
 Blue Ribbon Committee

Module 8: Principles of Good Governance for Public Service

Organisations:
 Enhancing Increased Transparency, Responsibility and Accountability
 Challenges of Good Corporate Governance in Public Sector
 Independence: Ensuring and demonstrating the freedom of the office
holder from interference in decision making
 Openness and transparency: Ensuring openness and transparency in
order that stakeholders can have confidence in the decision-making and
management processes of the public agency
 Accountability: Ensuring that all members of the public agency, including
the office holder, staff members and members of any governing body, are
seen to be responsible and accountable for their decisions and actions,
including the stewardship of funds (with due regard to the independence of
the office holder)
 Integrity: Ensuring straightforward dealing and completeness, based on
honesty, selflessness and objectivity, and ensuring high standards of
probity and propriety in the conduct of the public agency’s affairs and
complaint decision making
 Clarity of purpose: Ensuring that stakeholders know why the public
agency exists and what it does, and what to expect from it
 Effectiveness: Ensuring that the public agency delivers quality outcomes
efficiently and represents good value for money
Module 9: A Namibian Perspective on Good Governance, Transparency
and Anti-Corruption
 The role of corporate governance in fighting corruption
 The Challenge of Moving from Commitments to Compliance
 The Importance of Corporate Governance to Addressing Corruption
 Corporate Ethics as a Culture of Doing Business

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Module 10: Business Ethics as an Operational Link Between
Corporate Governance and Anti-Corruption
 Board Succession Planning

Module 11: Good Corporate Governance and Transparency:

Information = Good Governance
 Why Public and Private organizations should embrace open data
 Disclosure - ‘Public and private organizations must proactively publish
information: “To what extent should information be made publicly open to
prevent its abuse by Fraud”?
Module 12: Good Corporate Governance Vs Corruption at Regional and
Local Governance Levels
 Public Procurement at Regional and Local Authorities
 Corruption at local and regional level - how bad is it?
 Financial Issues and the Role of the Auditor General
 Laws and Regulations
 Code of Conduct for Regional Councillors
 Code of Conduct for Local Authority Councillors
 Public Service Act
 Decentralisation Policy and Accountability
 The role of citizens in holding local and regional authorities accountable
 Public Procurement at Regional and Local Authorities

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 WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This Conference is ideally suited for everyone involved in policy and procedures
formulation and/or implementation at Regional Councils, Town Councils, Village
Councils, Line Government Line Ministries and Agencies, State Owned
Enterprises, private organizations levels. Specifically, it is critical that the
following attend this important event:

 Chief Regional Officers,

 Chief Executive Officers,
 Permanent Secretaries,
 Under Secretaries, Directors,
 Deputy Directors,
 Chief Financial Controllers,
 Chief Finance Managers,
 Accountants,
 Assistant Accountants
 Internal Auditors,
 Human Resources Directors, Managers, Practitioners
 Procurement Directors, Managers, Practitioners,
 Managers,
 Assistant Managers
 Supervisors
 Financial Institutions
 Insurance Organizations
 Medical Funds
 Forensic accountants
 Internal and independent Auditors
 Law enforcement officers and private investigators
 Security and loss prevention professionals
 Governance, risk and compliance professionals
 Experienced professionals seeking to complement existing
experience with the knowledge of leading anti-corruption
professionals
 Accounting Office Bearers at all levels
 Internal Auditors at all levels
 External Auditors
 Law Enforcement Practitioners at all levels
 Legal Practitioners
 Company Secretaries
 Internal Audit Committees
 Tender Board Members
 Academics and Researchers
 Anyone interested to attend

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 BENEFITS OF ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE

This Conference is more than a chance to ethically and professionally

govern, lead, manage and operate your organization whether it is a
Government Ministry, Agency, State owned Enterprise, Regional,
Town, or Village Council or private organization. Among others, the
conference specifically presents the following benefits to the
delegates and stakeholders:
 High profile local, international and Regional Speakers will offer
you an exciting array of presentations that will include interactive
panel and group table discussions.
 Learn Good Corporate Governance and Transparency Practices
and strategies members to combat crime in your areas.
 Learn how an effective corruption prevention strategy can create
a new level of corporate and individual respect and reputation.
 Learn how to provide sustainable corruption prevention models.
 Opportunity to master the necessary governance and anti-
corruption strategies to prevent crime.
 Increase your professional value and secure your future.
 Gain insight from experts in the field into the way fraud is evolving
and hear about the latest developments in corporate governance
and anti-corruption efforts to keep pace
 Explore best practices from top companies and government
organisations
 Expand your professional network with contacts that can aid your
future fraud investigations
 Evaluate the latest anti-corruption tools and services from cutting-
edge vendors
 Networking with other participants as well as with the Speakers
 Learn how to manage unexpected and difficult Corruption
situations

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 HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE

To register, please complete the attached registration form and e-

mail or fax it back with proof of payment before 29th August 2016 to:

The Conference Organizing Committee; contact Person: Mr.

Frederick Chizu Simpungwe at:
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
Fax No.: +264 0886559294 & Cell: +264 811282180.

The Conference fee is only N$3,995 per delegate if you register and
pay for six (6) and/or more participants before 29th August 2016. If
you register and pay for less than six (6) participants before 29th
August 2016, the conference fee shall be N$4,995.00 per delegate.

Late Registration fee of N$1,000.00 shall apply for any payment or

registration made after 29th August 2016.

We also have Conference Sponsorship and Exhibition

Opportunities. If your organization is interested to sponsor or exhibit
at this important conference, please contact the CEO’s office on
[email protected]

Please find attached herewith a registration form with rates and

the conference draft program. If you need any further information,
please feel free to contact the undersigned.

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