The discussion revolved around the following set of questions: How has the pandemic affected attitudes towards good governance and business integrity in the companies/markets and countries they deal with? How is the pandemic affecting governance or business integrity, positively or negatively? How are needs and attitudes changing? What support should UNDP FairBiz be providing companies and governments with? How can we have more impact?
There was a consensus that corruption has become a major risk – emergency procurement has been particularly vulnerable to fraudulent practices as people sidestep the regulations in the interest of short cuts. Short-termism, as companies struggle to survive, has become more prevalent, leading to a reduction of interest in longer-term strategic goals such as sustainability and attaining SDGs.