The purpose of this Code is to ensure a clear, achievable and relevant standard of ethical conduct for the activities and decision-making of members of the Board of Directors and its Standing Committees, as a good practice that will help protect GPE partners, especially children, and ensure broad public trust and confidence in GPE operations.

This Code should be interpreted to be consistent with other GPE policies. It is not designed to be an all-inclusive rubric for ethical behavior, but instead provides a framework that serves to structure understanding and increase awareness. Governance officials are therefore expected to conduct themselves according to both the language and spirit of this Code.

The Code is also designed to help inform the expected behavior of GPE partner focal points and GPE funded delegates during their participation in GPE activities (e.g. GPE-branded meetings and events arranged by the Secretariat) and during their interaction with fellow governance officials and members of the Secretariat.

While the conduct of staff of the GPE Secretariat is subject to the rules of the World Bank Group including its own Code of Conduct, the behavior and standards expected of the GPE Secretariat is informed by this Code. Any allegations of misconduct against staff of the GPE Secretariat may be reported confidentially to the Ethics and Business Conduct Department.