Continuous training, stronger monitoring and regional cooperation are crucial to sustaining anti-corruption efforts across Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies, according to APEC Policy Support Unit senior analyst Emmanuel San Andres and researcher Yan-Rong Chang.

In an online commentary, the two analysts said anti-corruption laws and digital tools are only as effective as the people and institutions using them. They noted that organizational culture influences employee decisions and public trust, making continued investment in the knowledge, skills and judgment of public officials essential.

“...So that integrity becomes part of everyday practice, not simply a principle written into policy. That foundation is essential to ensuring effective governance and building capacity to prevent, detect and respond to corruption,” they said.

Training investments aligned with corruption risks

The authors said anti-corruption training should be embedded in institutional mandates and professional development systems, rather than conducted on an ad hoc basis. Training investments should be aligned with corruption risks and institutional priorities, while agencies should retain flexibility to tailor programs to their specific needs.

“To ensure training continues beyond external funding cycles, economies could institutionalize continuous learning within domestic systems,” they said. “Integrating training into civil service induction, professional certification and performance management frameworks helps make integrity and anti-corruption part of everyday practice across prevention, detection and enforcement.”

San Andres and Chang also called for stronger monitoring and evaluation, noting that anti-corruption programs are often assessed by attendance rather than actual impact.

“APEC economies should invest in monitoring and evaluation systems that assess learning outcomes, behavioral changes, and institutional performance,” they said.