Daily Star: What inspired you to start Transparency Int-ernational?

Eigen: The inspiration to found Transparency International came from the concern shared by many people around the world that corruption was a threat to human rights, the environment, and sustainable development, and that it could be ignored no longer. When we founded TI just over 10 years ago, speaking about corruption was taboo. Everyone knew that corruption was there, but nobody in global development circles -- and in many countries -- would speak about it. It was one of the few major issues of the planet's development that was ignored by NGOs and governments alike.

DS: How can you prove your corruption index is correct -- on what do you base the index?

Eigen: TI's Corruption Perceptions Index accurately measures what it sets out to measure: the perceptions of both residents and expatriates, business people, academia and risk analysts, of corruption in 133 countries around the world. The index provides a snapshot of the views of decision-makers, who take key decisions on investment and trade. It is a composite index, drawing on 17 different polls and surveys from 13 independent institutions . But it is not right to conclude that the country with the lowest score in the CPI 2003, i.e. Bangladesh, is the world's most corrupt country. Firstly, the country with the lowest score is the one perceived to be the most corrupt of those included in the index. The CPI is based on polls, which are snapshots in time and reflect both opinions and experience. Furthermore, there are almost 200 sovereign nations in the world and the CPI 2003 ranks only 133.

DS: Battling for corruption is very noble but how can you ever eliminate it?

Eigen: You will never be able to entirely eliminate corruption. The ultimate goal is to make corruption a "high risk" and "low return" undertaking. We strive to change systems (including the judiciary, legislature, executive, watchdog agencies, private sector) to prevent corruption from occurring in the first place, rather than relying on penalties after the event. Corruption can be prevented by strengthening good governance and accountability within the system, by introducing longer-term checks and balances.

DS: How is TI funded?

Eigen: TI receives funding from development agencies, foundations, and, to a lesser extent, the private sector and individuals. All of our donors are listed in our Annual Report [online].

DS: I understand you have 90 national chapters around the world. Are you going to increase the number or have you reached your target in this respect?

Eigen: We seek partners in every country, but we do not open chapters around the world in a top-down effort from the Secretariat. National Chapters are at the heart of the global TI movement. In order to achieve lasting change, these chapters need to be firmly rooted in their respective societies and they need to be owned by those most directly affected by corruption. For the same reason, TI chapters need to operate free from government intervention. TI chapters therefore do not exist in countries where civil society is not allowed to operate freely -- such as Cuba.

DS: How long do you think an organisation like TI need to exist? I mean if corruption is eliminated, TI will no longer be necessary . . .

Eigen: Our mission is to create change towards a world free of corruption. But this is a long-term effort. It will take generations to achieve.

DS: In your ten years as the chairman of TI what achievement gave you most satisfaction?

Eigen: Among the most satisfying effects has been to see how quickly and widely our vision of a world free of corruption has spread around the world. TI has national chapters on every continent, and the TI movement is filled with remarkable, courageous individuals that are fighting for development and against corruption.

TI has come further than any of us from the beginning could have imagined. Most importantly, the silence has been broken. In 1993, bribing was tax deductible in many European countries such as Germany and France. Today it is banned under the 1997 OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. We now have regional anti-corruption conventions -- the African Union convention, Organization of American States convention and the Council of Europe conventions. In a sign that the fight against corruption is truly becoming globalised, after ten years, we have now seen the birth of a new global instrument against corruption: the UN Convention against Corruption.