What is Ethical Edinburgh?
Edinburgh enjoys a reputation as a city where ethical considerations are taken seriously. Through its strong associations with fair trade, ethical investment, renewable energy, and financial probity, Scotland’s capital city is already seen to be taking the lead in promoting international best practice through a range of ethical initiatives.
The purpose of this web site is to facilitate informed and focussed debate about the possibility that Edinburgh could host an International Centre for Transparency in Construction, or ICTIC. This has tentatively been dubbed the “Ethical Edinburgh” initiative, though this name will not necessarily be retained. Visitors are specifically invited to provide feedback on one or more of three related questions:
- Is there a need for an ICTIC, and what should its functions be?
- Would Edinburgh be a suitable location?
- What existing institutions in Edinburgh could host and support it?
As yet, there is no clear answer to any of these questions. What is clear, however, is that if improved progress is to be made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, there are increasingly compelling reasons for practical ways to be found to ensure a more level playing field in the award of construction contracts. Only this will ensure that the consultants and contractors involved are the best, rather than those who are prepared to bribe in order to win work, or those who find discrete ways of ensuring that others do their dirty work for them. The proposed ICTIC is intended to facilitate this improvement in transparency. If Edinburgh proves to be well placed to serve as the host city, it is important that preparations are made sooner rather than later. If not, then this site could still help encourage the process of identifying and promoting alternative approaches.
Preliminary meeting of Working Group
A preliminary meeting of a Working Group of interested parties took place in Edinburgh on 30th November 2005. Chaired by Neill Stansbury, who together with Catherine Stansbury has since established the Global Infrastructure Anti-corruption Centre, the meeting was attended by a wide range of organisations and individuals, most but not all based in Scotland, with an interest in international development. These included the Scottish Institute for Sustainable Technology, (representing Engineering without Frontiers), Mercy Corps, the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland and several other Scottish NGOs and charities involved in international development. The conclusion reached was that sooner or later some institution or institutions would have to perform the functions proposed if real progress is going to be made in curbing corruption in international construction. The immediate challenge is now to identify a suitable host institution in Edinburgh while making a start in preparing to provide the required services through a dedicated centre. Though the centre should eventually be self financing, seed funding will be required during the initial stages. If you would like to contribute in any way to the ongoing work of this group, or can suggest a person or organisation that may be interested in doing so, then then please register your interest by visiting the contact page.