Governance & Integrity
Managing conflicts of interest: a practical model
How to detect, document, and mitigate conflicts before they affect outcomes.
Why this matters
Credible accreditation depends on consistent methods, clear decisions, and evidence that stands up to independent review. This publication translates essential expectations into practical steps so teams can prepare, communicate, and operate with confidence.
Key requirements and expectations
- Separate evaluation from decision to protect impartiality.
- Document roles, responsibilities, and oversight mechanisms.
- Use risk-based controls to prevent bias or errors.
- Record evidence of review, approval, and follow-up.
- Disclosure must cover financial, relational, and prior involvement risks.
- Recusal steps should be documented for each decision.
- Conflict registers should be reviewed regularly.
Evidence and records to prepare
- Policies and committee terms of reference.
- Minutes from governance or impartiality meetings.
- Risk registers and mitigation actions.
- Corrective action records when issues are found.
- Signed disclosures for assessors and decision-makers.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Undocumented decision-making or informal approvals.
- Conflicts not disclosed or not managed to completion.
- Governance roles that are unclear or overlapping.
- Lack of evidence that actions were implemented.
- Relying on verbal disclosures without records.
Practical checklist
- Confirm governance roles and independence boundaries.
- Document conflict disclosure and recusal steps.
- Maintain an auditable decision trail.
- Verify corrective actions are closed effectively.
- Confirm disclosures are updated before each assessment cycle.