Project Third-Party Integrity Screening Course

Course Introduction

Projects frequently depend on external organizations and individuals to deliver specialized services, supply critical materials, manage subcontracted work, provide technical expertise, and facilitate regulatory or commercial activities. These relationships can introduce integrity risks that are difficult to identify through routine procurement checks alone. The Project Third-Party Integrity Screening Course equips professionals with structured methods for evaluating the integrity, credibility, ownership, conduct, and risk profile of suppliers, contractors, consultants, agents, intermediaries, and other external stakeholders. Participants learn how to identify potential warning signs before engagement, assess risk proportionately, and support defensible decisions throughout the third-party relationship lifecycle.

Third-party integrity screening is an important component of project governance because external parties can expose organizations to bribery, corruption, fraud, conflicts of interest, sanctions violations, human rights concerns, procurement misconduct, financial crime, and reputational damage. These risks may arise directly from a prospective partner's conduct or indirectly through beneficial owners, affiliated companies, subcontractors, politically exposed persons, or undisclosed intermediaries. This course examines the different dimensions of integrity risk and explains how to identify relevant screening triggers, assess the credibility of adverse information, and distinguish material concerns from unverified allegations or misleading data. Participants develop a disciplined approach to evaluating third-party information without relying on assumptions or superficial indicators.

Effective screening requires a consistent process that combines reliable information sources, risk-based assessment criteria, documented decision-making, and appropriate escalation arrangements. Participants explore how to establish screening requirements during onboarding, tender evaluation, contract award, and subsequent relationship reviews. The course addresses identity verification, beneficial ownership analysis, sanctions and watchlist checks, adverse media research, conflict-of-interest identification, corporate affiliation reviews, litigation and enforcement indicators, and integrity questionnaires. It also considers how screening depth should vary according to the third party's role, jurisdiction, transaction value, access to decision-makers, use of intermediaries, and potential influence over sensitive project activities.

Third-party screening is not a one-time administrative exercise. Ownership structures change, sanctions lists are updated, enforcement actions emerge, management teams are replaced, and business relationships can evolve in ways that materially alter the original risk assessment. The course therefore examines ongoing monitoring, event-driven rescreening, periodic reassessment, risk indicators, and procedures for responding to newly identified concerns. Participants learn how to document screening findings, evaluate information reliability, assign risk ratings, define acceptance criteria, and establish enhanced due diligence or other proportionate measures where warranted. They also examine the limitations of automated screening systems, including false positives, incomplete records, transliteration differences, inconsistent identifiers, and the risk of overlooking indirect relationships.

Strong integrity screening must balance effective risk management with legal compliance, fairness, confidentiality, data protection, and operational practicality. Participants consider how to establish transparent screening policies, maintain appropriate access controls, protect personal information, and document decisions in a manner that supports auditability and independent review. The course also explores how screening findings should influence supplier selection, contract terms, approval authority, mitigation plans, and ongoing oversight. Particular emphasis is placed on avoiding automatic rejection based solely on unverified information, ensuring that material concerns receive appropriate review, and maintaining a clear distinction between substantiated findings, credible allegations, and unresolved questions.

By the end of the course, participants will be better equipped to establish and apply a practical third-party integrity screening framework tailored to project risks and organizational requirements. They will understand how to identify higher-risk relationships, assess ownership and conduct concerns, coordinate due diligence activities, and translate screening results into proportionate commercial and governance decisions. These capabilities are valuable in infrastructure development, engineering and construction, public procurement, energy, technology implementation, international contracting, and other complex project environments. By integrating integrity screening into procurement and contract management, organizations can improve transparency, reduce avoidable exposure, strengthen stakeholder confidence, and support more responsible project delivery.

Duration

5 days

Who Should Attend

• Project managers responsible for evaluating external parties and maintaining integrity standards across project delivery.

• Procurement and sourcing professionals involved in supplier selection, tender evaluation, onboarding, and contract award.

• Third-party risk managers responsible for due diligence frameworks, integrity screening, and ongoing relationship monitoring.

• Compliance officers overseeing anti-bribery, anti-corruption, sanctions, conflicts of interest, and business integrity requirements.

• Legal professionals advising on third-party engagement, contractual safeguards, regulatory obligations, and integrity-related concerns.

• Contract administrators and commercial managers managing supplier obligations, subcontractor arrangements, and integrity provisions.

• Internal auditors and assurance specialists assessing due diligence effectiveness, screening records, and third-party control compliance.

• Supply chain managers evaluating supplier reliability, subcontracting structures, geographic exposure, and continuity risks.

• Finance and accounts payable professionals identifying suspicious payment arrangements, unusual intermediaries, and ownership-related concerns.

• Project directors and program managers overseeing high-value contracts, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and complex delivery arrangements.

• Ethics and governance professionals responsible for integrity policies, disclosure procedures, and conflict-of-interest management.

• Corporate security and investigations professionals supporting background checks, adverse information reviews, and integrity-related escalation.

• PMO and project assurance professionals standardizing third-party approval processes, documentation, and risk reporting.

• Senior executives and investment decision-makers approving significant third-party relationships or accepting material residual integrity risks.

Course Objectives

• Explain the principles of third-party integrity screening and distinguish initial screening, enhanced due diligence, ongoing monitoring, and broader commercial risk assessment.

• Identify integrity risks involving bribery, corruption, fraud, sanctions exposure, conflicts of interest, beneficial ownership, misconduct, and reputational concerns.

• Develop risk-based screening procedures that reflect third-party roles, geographic exposure, transaction value, ownership complexity, and potential influence over project decisions.

• Apply structured methods for verifying identities, investigating corporate ownership, reviewing affiliations, and evaluating information from credible external sources.

• Assess sanctions results, adverse media findings, enforcement records, litigation indicators, and other integrity signals while distinguishing verified facts from unsubstantiated allegations.

• Establish consistent screening criteria, risk-rating methodologies, approval thresholds, and escalation requirements that support transparent and repeatable decisions.

• Evaluate the suitability and limitations of automated screening tools, data sources, matching rules, and identity resolution procedures used in third-party reviews.

• Design ongoing monitoring and event-driven rescreening arrangements that detect changes in ownership, conduct, legal status, or other material risk factors.

• Integrate integrity screening findings into procurement decisions, contract safeguards, enhanced due diligence, remediation measures, and documented risk acceptance.

• Strengthen screening governance through appropriate recordkeeping, confidentiality, data protection, independent review, quality assurance, and periodic framework improvement.

Comprehensive Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Third-Party Integrity Screening

• Define third-party integrity screening and distinguish it from supplier qualification, financial assessment, technical evaluation, and general onboarding checks.

• Examine how external relationships can expose projects to corruption, fraud, sanctions breaches, conflicts of interest, and reputational harm.

• Identify relevant third-party categories, including suppliers, subcontractors, agents, consultants, distributors, joint venture partners, and intermediaries.

• Establish screening principles covering proportionality, objectivity, reliable evidence, documented decisions, confidentiality, and accountable oversight.

Module 2: Third-Party Risk Identification and Segmentation

• Map third-party relationships across procurement, engineering, construction, logistics, consulting, regulatory engagement, and project support activities.

• Assess inherent risk factors such as jurisdiction, contract value, service type, government interaction, ownership complexity, and intermediary involvement.

• Develop risk segmentation criteria to determine standard screening, enhanced due diligence, approval requirements, and review frequency.

• Identify common risk combinations that warrant additional scrutiny, including opaque ownership, unusual payment arrangements, and access to sensitive decisions.

Module 3: Identity Verification and Beneficial Ownership Analysis

• Establish procedures for confirming legal entity names, registration details, operating addresses, directors, authorized representatives, and relevant identity information.

• Examine ownership structures, controlling interests, affiliated entities, parent companies, subsidiaries, and ultimate beneficial owners.

• Identify indicators of concealed ownership, nominee arrangements, unexplained corporate layering, inconsistent registration information, and undisclosed relationships.

• Document ownership findings, source reliability, unresolved information gaps, and the implications of complex structures for integrity risk decisions.

Module 4: Sanctions, Watchlists, and Adverse Media Screening

• Understand the purpose and limitations of sanctions lists, enforcement databases, politically exposed person information, and other relevant screening sources.

• Apply appropriate matching and identity verification procedures using names, aliases, dates, locations, corporate identifiers, and related contextual information.

• Evaluate adverse media, regulatory notices, litigation records, enforcement actions, and credible allegations while considering source quality and recency.

• Resolve potential false positives and ambiguous matches through documented review, escalation, and proportionate verification procedures.

Module 5: Anti-Bribery, Corruption, and Conflict-of-Interest Risks

• Identify third-party risk indicators involving facilitation payments, improper commissions, gifts and hospitality, undisclosed benefits, and questionable intermediary fees.

• Assess conflicts of interest arising from personal relationships, financial interests, former employment, family connections, and decision-maker affiliations.

• Evaluate exposure associated with public officials, politically exposed persons, government-linked entities, and third parties engaged to influence official decisions.

• Establish disclosure, approval, verification, and escalation procedures for integrity concerns that may affect supplier selection or contract award.

Module 6: Screening Procedures and Due Diligence Methodologies

• Design screening workflows covering request initiation, identity verification, database checks, source review, risk classification, approval, and record retention.

• Develop proportionate due diligence questionnaires addressing ownership, management, compliance policies, litigation, enforcement history, and relevant business relationships.

• Determine when enhanced due diligence, additional documentation, independent verification, specialist review, or site-based assessment may be appropriate.

• Establish clear decision rules for incomplete disclosures, inconsistent records, unresolved alerts, and third parties requiring additional integrity safeguards.

Module 7: Risk Rating, Decision-Making, and Mitigation

• Develop risk-rating frameworks that distinguish inherent risk, screening findings, control effectiveness, residual risk, and uncertainty in the available evidence.

• Define risk acceptance criteria, approval authority, escalation thresholds, and circumstances requiring a pause in engagement pending further review.

• Select proportionate mitigation measures, including enhanced oversight, contractual representations, audit rights, payment safeguards, and additional approval requirements.

• Document screening conclusions, supporting evidence, outstanding questions, mitigation commitments, and the rationale for approving, restricting, or declining a relationship.

Module 8: Ongoing Monitoring and Relationship Lifecycle Management

• Establish periodic rescreening schedules based on third-party risk levels, contractual significance, jurisdiction, and changes in business circumstances.

• Identify event-driven review triggers, including ownership changes, new enforcement information, adverse media, unusual transactions, and changes in project responsibilities.

• Integrate monitoring results with supplier performance reviews, contract renewals, payment controls, subcontractor approvals, and broader project risk reporting.

• Define procedures for reassessment, escalation, enhanced oversight, suspension, or controlled termination when material integrity concerns emerge.

Module 9: Screening Technology, Data Quality, and Governance

• Evaluate screening platforms, workflow automation, data aggregation, alert management, and case management capabilities for third-party integrity processes.

• Address data quality challenges involving duplicate records, name variations, transliteration, incomplete identifiers, outdated information, and inconsistent source coverage.

• Establish governance controls for system access, screening configuration, evidence retention, decision audit trails, privacy, and appropriate handling of personal data.

• Monitor screening performance through indicators such as review timeliness, unresolved alerts, false-positive rates, overdue reassessments, and control exceptions.

Module 10: Practical Case Studies and Framework Implementation

• Analyze a project supplier onboarding case involving ownership uncertainty, adverse information, conflicting records, and decisions about enhanced due diligence.

• Evaluate an intermediary engagement scenario involving potential conflicts of interest, unusual compensation, and elevated exposure to improper influence.

• Develop a documented screening decision that incorporates evidence reliability, risk rating, escalation requirements, mitigation options, and approval accountability.

• Prepare an implementation roadmap covering policy requirements, role assignments, screening workflows, training, reporting, quality assurance, and continuous improvement.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue 

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group (at a discount of 10% to 50%) at requested location all over the world. The Onsite course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, buffet lunch, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, and guided tour.

Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment:

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.