Compliance framework
Our compliance framework ensures that our values are embedded in everything we do. It provides the structure, policies and tools needed to promote integrity, transparency and accountability at all levels of the organisation.
Compliance Committee
The Compliance Committee was established on 1 September 2025 with the following standing members:
Relevant directors or senior staff may participate in Compliance Committee meetings, depending on the topic under discussion.
The Compliance Committee’s responsibilities cover: policies and procedures; general oversight; risk management and internal controls; and resourcing and capacity.
Policies and guidelines
Our policies and procedures are organised into three levels to ensure consistency and clarity.
Compliance policy hierarchy at the Basel Institute
Level 1: Code of Ethics
The Code of Ethics (also available in Spanish) sets out the core values and principles that guide the behaviour and decision-making of all staff. It defines the ethical foundations of our culture, promoting integrity, accountability and ethical conduct. It is the cornerstone of our compliance framework.
Level 2: Primary and secondary policies
Primary policies establish high-level rules and principles, grounded in relevant national and international laws, standards and best practices. This category includes the Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy, Data Privacy Policy, Safeguarding Policy (also in Spanish) and Staff Policy. Primary policies are reviewed and approved by the Foundation Board.
Secondary policies provide more detailed guidance on specific topics and help translate high-level principles into practice. Examples include the Procurement Policy, Security Policy and Communications Policy. Secondary policies are reviewed and approved by the Compliance Committee.
Level 3: Guidelines and procedural documents
Guidelines and manuals offer practical, day-to-day direction on how to implement our policies. They support staff in applying principles consistently and effectively across the organisation. Examples include our Visual Design Guidelines, Quality Assurance and Peer Review Guidelines, and Expense Claim Guidelines.
Compliance ambassador programme
To ensure that our compliance framework is applied consistently and remains sensitive to local realities, we launched the Compliance Ambassador Programme in September 2025.
An employee in each region — Latin America, Africa and Ukraine — dedicates part of their time to supporting the compliance programme locally. Their main tasks are to:
- Promote a culture of compliance and ethical conduct.
- Serve as a liaison between the Chief Compliance Officer and field staff, supporting training and communications.
- Support local risk assessments and monitoring activities as requested.
- Assist in the roll-out of new compliance initiatives and projects.
- Channel feedback from field staff to the Chief Compliance Officer, such as policy gaps or implementation challenges.
- Support translations of compliance-related documents, training and communications.