Code of Conduct

Living Our Values – The World Bank Group Code of Conduct

Sooner or later in our professional lives, we will face an ethical dilemma - a situation where the appropriate response is not clear, because the answer does not exist in a Rule or policy. When faced with such a situation, what would you do? The World Bank Group's Code of Conduct has been updated to provide practical advice on handling a broad range of situations that can arise.

The Code has three parts to meet different needs:

• Code of Conduct (10.6MB) - Articulates the application of the Core Values in our Relationships with stakeholders
• Code at a Glance (3.24 MB) - One-page summary of the key messages in the Code, which staff can share with stakeholders
• Code of Conduct Questions and Answers (4.7 MB) - the "living" part of the Code based on questions raised by staff, which will be regularly updated.

Key New Features of the Updated Code

• A Stakeholder Framework, focusing on our relationships with
  • Colleagues and Clients
  • The World Bank Group, (focusing on our responsibilities to the institution)
  • Civil society: Being Good Global Citizens
• Enhanced Resources section
  • Descriptions of broad range of Internal Justice System and other staff resources
  • Icons specifying the resources that assist with various issues and questions
  • References to Staff Rules and policies where detailed information on topics can be found
  • Description of the process and protections afforded when staff raise concerns
• Provides Tools and Decision-making Criteria
  • Not just “the answers” – criteria to think through to make the right choice – e.g. see box on Code page 15 on criteria to evaluate conflicts of interest

Foreign Language Translations
(One-page summary of the key messages in the Code, which staff can share with stakeholders)

• Chinese: Code at a Glance (577 KB)
• Japanese: Code at a Glance (577 KB)
• Hindi: Code at a Glance (757 KB)
• Bahasa: Code at a Glance (681 KB)
• French: Code at a Glance  (577 KB)
• Arabic:  Code at a Glance  (447 KB)

For Additional Information
Contact the Office of Ethics and Business Conduct
Tel: 202-473-0279
Fax: 202-522-3093
ethics_helpline@worldbank.org
Ethics Helpline (24 hours 7 days a week): 800-261-7497

Codes of Other Organizations (External Sites) 

External