Transparency International Defence and Security
Program
Vulnerability to Corruption Assessment Training
Session 1.4 Vulnerability to Corruption
Assessment Guidance
By Donald Bowser
January 27, 2017
VCA Methodology
 Question 1: Explain what integrity vulnerabilities or opportunities
for corruption that exist in the sector/institution?
 Notes to Question 1: This question acts as an icebreaker as well as
serves establishing exactly what it is we are examining. A description of
vulnerabilities and corruption will probably be necessary.
VCA Questions
 Question 2: What about …. ?
 Notes to Question 2: Question 1 sought to have the interviews focused
on where the vulnerabilities exist within the operations. The second
question is concentrated on using specific vulnerability examples that
have been given by other interviewees or ones they themselves can
foresee in specific aspects of the operations. Question 2 is used to elicit
further responses if the interviewee is not forthcoming after Question 1.
It seeks to ascertain where specific lapses have occurred in the
experience of the interviewee or where they can foresee lapses in the
system that can allow corruption to occur.
VCA Questions
 Question 3: Incidences of Corruption from Firsthand Experience
 Notes to Question 3: This question aims at
presenting the prevalence of corrupt practices in the
sector by providing relative frequencies of which
people claim they have actually seen or participated
in activities relating to corruption. This question is
aimed at personalizing the experience of corruption
without associating blame. The question will help to
establish the focus on the system rather than pointing
fingers at the interviewee although past experience
shows that often they volunteer information of their
involvement as ‘victims’. Also, the interviewers will
elicit information on the relative frequencies for
selected practices.
VCA Questions
 Question 4: Where do Vulnerabilities still Exist for
Corruption in the Sector?
 Notes to Question 4: This question seeks real life or
typical examples of corruption as the interviewees
see them from their own experience in sectors. This
will allow them to give many examples and some
explanations. The responses will be noted and coded
after the discussions with the aim of mapping out how
corruption schemes work.
VCA Questions
 Question 5: Which Areas of Operations in the ???
System are Most at Risk to Corruption?
 Notes to Question 5: This question will solicit
information on how the factors previously discussed
separately play together in a systemic manner. This
will complete the understanding of the interplay of
factors described in the Integrity Vulnerability Matrix.
The participants will be asked to identify these steps
in the flow of operations
VCA Questions
 Question 6: Any other Examples of Failures of the
System to Enforce Integrity in the Sector?
 Notes to Question 6:This question will allow the
interviewers and practitioners to return to clarify
specific issues and also allow the facilitators to bring
up previous answers to act as a control and
verification mechanism.