Advisory services – Guidance provided by OIG to FAO personnel, FAO offices or third parties on integrity‑related matters, including OIG's mandate, how to lodge a complaint, FAO policies, and processes.

 

Intake – An initial assessment to determine whether incoming complaints fall within OIG's investigative mandate and what would be the most appropriate way to address them. Based on this determination, a case can be closed at intake stage or proceed to preliminary review.

Preliminary review – The process of collecting, preserving, securing, and evaluating basic evidence to determine whether there is a legitimate basis to warrant an investigation. Based on this determination, a case can be closed following the preliminary review or proceed to investigation.

Investigation – The process of gathering all reasonably available evidence, both inculpatory and exculpatory, to establish the material facts and conclude whether misconduct occurred. On this basis, OIG formulates a recommendation, which in turn allows the Organization to decide on any appropriate action.

Fraud and Corrupt Practices - Under FAO Administrative Circular 2024/13, this includes fraudulent, corrupt, collusive, coercive, and obstructive practices, as well as the improper use of the Organization’s resources by FAO personnel. 

Vendor Sanctions - Under FAO Administrative Circular 2014/27, this includes fraudulent, corrupt, collusive, coercive, and obstructive practices, as well as other unethical practices, including sexual exploitation and sexual abuse and undisclosed conflict of interest as defined in the UN Supplier Code of Conduct, engaged in by a bidder, vendor, or other third party entity that is engaged or seeking to engage in contractual relations with FAO.

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse - Under FAO Administrative Circular 2024/09, this includes the abuse of power, trust, or vulnerability for sexual purposes, along with other forms of prohibited sexual conduct with beneficiaries of FAO projects and programmes as defined in the policy committed by FAO personnel.

Retaliation against Whistleblowers - Under FAO Administrative Circular 2021/10, this includes any direct or indirect detrimental action, or threat thereof, taken against an individual for reporting misconduct or cooperating in an oversight activity in good faith.

Workplace Environment - Under FAO Administrative Circular 2025/06, this includes conduct in the workplace or in connection with work that undermines a respectful, inclusive, and safe working environment, including workplace harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination.

Gross negligence - Under FAO Administrative Circular 2026/23, is negligence of a very high degree, characterized by an extreme and willful or reckless failure to act as a reasonable person in applying, or failing to apply, the Organization’s regulations and rules, where such conduct is likely to cause foreseeable grave injury or harm.

Outside Activities - Under FAO Administrative Circular 2022/14, refers to any unauthorized continuous or recurring outside occupation or employment activities undertaken by FAO personnel in a personal capacity outside their official FAO duties, regardless of whether that activity is renumerated or not, especially when the activity could give rise to actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest with the Organization.

FAO Manual Provisions – this includes various other provisions in the FAO Administrative Manual including misuse of official position with the Organization for personal benefit, damage to the image of the Organization, lack of neutrality, undisclosed conflicts of interest, improper receipt of gifts, unauthorized disclosure of non-public information, and prohibited use of FAO IT resources.

The Framework for Environmental and Social Management - Under the “Compliance Reviews Following Complaints Related to the Organization’s Environmental and Social Standards Guidelines”, this includes claims of non-compliance with FAO’s Environmental and Social Standards including in the areas of natural resources management, biodiversity, genetic resources for food and agriculture, pest and pesticide management, resettlement and displacement of people, decent working conditions, gender equality, the treatment of Indigenous Peoples, and safeguarding of cultural heritage.

Outside of mandate - This includes issues that do not, in principle, constitute misconduct under applicable FAO policies, but concern administrative, operational, managerial, or programmatic matters better addressed by other offices, or relate to individuals or entities not subject to OIG’s jurisdiction. Matters assessed as outside of mandate are not pursued by OIG and may, where appropriate, be referred to other offices.