Paraguay's SMEs Embrace Ethics and Integrity with 'Integrity Seal' Incentives Programme

In a world increasingly focused on ethical values and corporate responsibility, companies are taking a critical role in promoting a culture of integrity. In this context, training programmes in ethics and integrity have become a beacon of light for companies in Paraguay.

One example for such an initiative is the 'Integrity Seal' incentives programme which is helping SMEs promote a culture of integrity. The programme provides companies with free ethics and integrity training, which helps them understand and apply ethical principles in their day-to-day operations. In addition, it aims to help companies integrate ethics into their identity and demonstrate the positive impact this has on their business.

Among the SMEs that have received the recognition of the Integrity Seal are Prana Desarrollo Inmobiliario, La Plataforma S.A., Jackman - Merge Relocation & Outsourcing, Freelancers del Paraguay S.A. and Delibebé & Kids. The companies commented on how their actions with integrity and transparency had a positive impact on their activities. Lilian Maneglia of Jackman S.A. stresses that integrity opens new business doors: "From sharing our experience and obtaining the Integrity Seal recognition, we noticed an increase in consultations from professionals who value this attribute, as well as from companies that were interested in our services and even offered the possibility of making strategic alliances for the development of new actions."

Jackman S.A. implemented, for example, a reporting channel on their website which allows any third party that interacts with the company to expose acts or symptoms of deviations in relation to the values of the company, committed by any of the collaborators that make up the organization. This way, the company also formalized its process.

The ‘Integrity Seal' programme counts with an adapted version of the Alliance for Integrity’s corruption-prevention training called DEPE (Spanish: De Empresas Para Empresas, English: From Companies to Companies) programme and is led by voluntary compliance experts from big companies in the country and region.

The Seal is promoted by the National Anticorruption Secretariat (SENAC) and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC). It also forms part of a trilateral cooperation project between Paraguay, Brazil, and Germany entitled "Strengthening integrity to overcome times of crisis." In addition, the programme has the support of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) and the Office of the Comptroller General of the Union in Brazil (CGU), which have actively supported the programme by transmitting their technical knowledge of the Pro-Ethics Programme, which is the inspiration for the Integrity Seal in Paraguay.

Since its launch in May 2022, the Integrity Seal has had a notable impact on the Paraguayan business sector. It has helped to raise awareness among companies of their role in preventing corruption and has promoted the dissemination of good integrity practices. "Before going through the ethics and integrity training programme, the actions we carried out were very informal. However, after the training, we manage to incorporate it into our day-to-day activities, allowing us to review our decisions, our vision, values, and ways of relating to others. It helped us manage tools and implement them. One of them is the code of ethics, which summarizes our values and the way we want to relate", says Patricia Paredes of Delibebé & Kids, a company dedicated to the production of healthy baby foods.

The winning companies of the Integrity Seal programme are inspiring examples of good integrity practices and ambassadors of excellence, contributing to the development of a more transparent, ethical, and sustainable business environment in Paraguay. As more companies join the initiative, Paraguay is moving towards a future where integrity is a core value in its business world.

Learn more about the success stories of Paraguay and the region and to know the experiences of SMEs: https://bit.ly/3sm1aN9 

SMEs interested in applying for the Seal can participate, voluntarily and free of charge. Learn more about the Integrity Seal and apply now: http://bit.ly/44l2eOP