Integrity Policy

KIT’s mission is to enhance the positive impact of agencies, governments and corporations on sustainable development in low- and middle-income countries. Using the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) as a general framework for action, we translate practice into global knowledge and bring global knowledge to inform best practices. The knowledge we generate is disseminated through advisory services, research, teaching, training, dialogue and discussion. Our landmark, historic premises in Amsterdam serve as a forum for the exchange of knowledge and intercultural cooperation.

Integrity cannot be guaranteed just by drawing up a number of rules of conduct. Attitude and “wanting to do things properly” are also important aspects of integrity. We can think of integrity as having a hard side and a soft side. The hard side consists of regulations, both internal and external, and the soft side is the organizational culture at KIT and KIT Scholarship Fund*. Integrity in an organization means being open and respectful towards one another, avoiding deception and that management sets good examples through exemplary conduct. Apart from the contents of the Integrity Policy, KIT employees are obliged to comply with legal requirements and abide by common social norms and values. In case of conflict between legal requirements and the Ethics policy, the legal requirements must prevail.

This Policy provides guidance to KIT employees during their professional activities. KIT does not seek to regulate employee’s private behavior. Nevertheless, employees should be aware that also at during time considered private, they can be perceived by others as representatives of KIT, especially while on duty travel. Employees are therefore expected to behave appropriately and make use of common sense.

*This integrity policy also applies to KIT Scholarship Fund

Values

KIT’s leadership is guided by a set of values that define our relationship with clients, partners, employees and the community in which we operate. They are Inclusion, Transparent, Independent and Sustainable.

  • Inclusion: The inclusion of all will be empowered and promoted, thus enhancing equity and equality.
  • Transparent: KIT is transparent. KIT strives to exchange all information required for successful collaboration, decision making and accountability purposes.
  • Independent: KIT is independent. KIT acts according to our own values and judgement, not colored by religion, politics, ethnicity or the influence of any group or class.
  • Sustainable: KIT strives for sustainable development. KIT takes a multistakeholder and long-term perspective.
  • Evaluation and Revision

    New employees are specifically informed about the Integrity Policy during their employment conditions interview. The Integrity Policy will also be addressed during the Performance Management Cycle.

    This policy will be periodically reviewed and modified to ensure that it remains relevant to the needs and realities of the organization. Any changes in the policy will be binding for all recipients from the moment the updated document has been communicated.

    This policy is addressed to KIT Staff, Associates, interns and volunteers; it consists of a Code of conduct, an Internal complaints procedure and a Whistleblowers procedure.