ICARDA’s commitment to ethics
ICARDA does not tolerate illegal or unethical conduct and will do whatever is reasonably possible to prevent, deter, identify, and sanction such behaviours.
ICARDA is also committed to adhering to the highest ethical standards in its research and respect for the principles of integrity, excellence in research, safety and well-being and respect for persons and ecosystems. ICARDA’s Research Ethics Policy can be found here. The CGIAR’s Research Ethics Code can be found here.
To ensure accountability, ICARDA welcomes reporting of any illegal or unethical conduct (e.g., corruption, fraud, misuse of resources, abuse of authority, etc.) by anyone associated with the Center’s work. ICARDA’s reporting mechanisms are available to everyone: staff, partners, contractors, suppliers, and anyone else who interacts with ICARDA, including the public at large.
If you are an employee of a CGIAR entity, please be read ICARDA’s staff whistleblowing policy which describes relevant reporting procedures and consider following those procedures first.
WHISTLEBLOWER HOTLINE
ICARDA’s whistleblowing hotline, through Lighthouse Services, Inc. and with the support of CGIAR, provides an independent, secure, and confidential way to report and is available 24/7 via a toll-free number or online. This underscores ICARDA’s commitment to fostering a strong ethical environment and provides a protected channel to report possible misconduct. Reporters can remain anonymous or chose to identify themselves. If a reporter elects to report anonymously, no efforts can or will be made to identify the reporter. Whether via phone or online, the hotline has a script to help get the necessary details while maintaining anonymity if that is the reporter’s choice.
Information regarding making a report by telephone is available here.
ICARDA has established this whistleblowing hotline for a specific purpose. That purpose is to report fraud, unlawful, unethical and other types of improper behaviour. This hotline is not a substitute for routine communications within ICARDA between employees and their supervisors and managers, particularly as to workplace duties. Likewise, it does not replace communications with human resources staff about benefit issues or other job-related issues. Regular business matters that do not require anonymity should be directed to the employee’s supervisor and should not be submitted using this service.