Policies

Bribery is the offering, promising, giving, accepting or soliciting of money, gifts or other advantage as an inducement to do something that is illegal or a breach of trust or an unfair competitive advantage in the course of carrying out an organisation's activities.

Forms of bribery include:

Extortion – the unlawful use of one's position or office to obtain money through coercion or threats. One example would be when customs officials request undue or false 'customs duties' from importers as a condition to clear their goods.

促进付款 - 这些是贿赂，通常是为了确保或加快促进付款付款者具有合法权利的日常或必要诉讼的履行行为的小额非官方付款。一个例子是特定行动方案（例如开设新诊所）需要政府许可或许可证的地方，以及在授予该许可证或许可证的官员中寻求“特殊付款”，以通过成功加速应用。

礼物和款待 - 可能会用来掩盖旨在诱发行为不当的贿赂。

Under the UK Bribery Act, which came into effect on 1 July 2011, a bribe is paid if a "reasonable person in the UK" would deem that it relates to the improper performance of a relevant function or activity. A bribe can take any form and be of any size, and can be paid to or received from public or non-public bodies and employees.

If a bribe is paid or received by a third party (such as a partner organisation), anywhere in the world, for the benefit of any British citizen (or "person with a close connection" to the UK), that British citizen is liable to prosecution.

此外，如果认为未能采取适当的措施防止贿赂，则任何从事英国进行商业活动的组织都可能受到起诉。这适用于从事商业活动（交易或收取费用的任何服务）的慈善机构，而与利润的目的无关。

Prosecutions can also be brought against managers or trustees of a charity, if it can be shown that an offence was committed with their consent or connivance.

潜在的处罚indictme定罪nt include unlimited fines, for an individual or organisation. Prison sentences of up to ten years may also be imposed on an individual.

如果事实证明犯罪是由公司机构犯下的同意或纵容，则可能会起诉个人高级经理或受托人。一个因未能防止贿赂而被定罪的组织被罚款无限。

SciDev.Net places the highest value on ensuring that neither it nor any organisation nor any individual with which it works is in any way involved with any action which could amount to bribery or corruption. Such action is wrong in itself and damaging to the reputation of SciDev.Net and could lead to criminal convictions for SciDev.Net itself and those individuals involved. SciDev.Net has therefore put in place the following procedures which will apply to all members of staff and Trustees and (where appropriate) those who act on behalf of SciDev.Net. The procedures are designed to ensure that all concerned are aware of circumstances and action which might amount to bribery or corruption, and of the steps which they need to take if they are aware of or suspect any such action.

Any member of staff or coordinator who is offered or asked for a bribe, or reasonably believes they have been offered or asked for a bribe, must without delay report the matter to their line manager and also to the Director. Any agent, consultant or contributor who is offered or asked for a bribe, or who reasonably believes they have been offered or asked for a bribe, must without delay report the matter to the Director. Should any Trustee find themself in a similar situation they should immediately report this to the Chair (or in his absence, the Director).

In the rare and exceptional circumstances when individuals feel they have no option other than to make payments to protect against loss of life, limb or liberty, or in humanitarian emergencies (e.g. to prevent the loss of life), the matter should be discussed with the Director, and the Chair, at the earliest opportunity.

Acts of bribery undertaken by staff of SciDev.Net (whether seeking a bribe or paying a bribe), and any failure by a member of staff of SciDev.Net to report that a bribe has been offered or asked for, will be considered gross misconduct and will be dealt with accordingly in line with SciDev.Net staff handbook. Gross misconduct will be dealt with under our Disciplinary Procedure and will normally lead to dismissal without notice or pay in lieu of notice (summary dismissal). In the case of agents, coordinators or consultants, their contract will be terminated with immediate effect. In the case of commissioned contributors, the commission will be cancelled and you will not be used for any future commissions.