Cairo, Egypt, March17 2025
On the sidelines of the regional meeting “Towards Building the Way Forward: Enhancing Business Integrity in the MENA Region,” organized by UNODC in collaboration with the Administrative Control Authority (ACA) of Egypt, the National Anti-Corruption Academy (NACA), the League of Arab States (LAS), and the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), UNODC conducted insightful interviews with companies benefiting from anti-corruption initiatives.
We had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Joseph Hannah and Ms. Johanna Freeman, founders of "Dancing Bean Espresso," who shared their experiences in adopting integrity-driven business practices. Established in 2012 as Egypt’s first specialty coffee roaster, Dancing Bean Espresso has grown into a leading name in the industry. Recently awarded as Egypt’s No. 1 Specialty Coffee Roaster, the company operates across multiple sectors, including importing, manufacturing, retail, and wholesale.
Since its founding over 13 years ago, integrity has been at the heart of Dancing Bean Espresso’s operations. For us, integrity is a guiding principle that encompasses compliance, financial transparency, and ethical workplace culture. We recognized early on that fostering a culture of integrity within our workforce is fundamental to long-term sustainability and success.
Our commitment to integrating integrity principles stemmed from a deep understanding that ethical business practices not only mitigate operational risks but also strengthen trust with stakeholders. Our collaboration with UNODC played a pivotal role in enhancing our knowledge of anti-corruption frameworks. Through workshops, dialogues, and training sessions with UNODC experts, we learned how to translate these principles into actionable strategies, ensuring that integrity is embedded across all levels of our organization.
Like many small and medium-sized enterprises, Dancing Bean Espresso encountered several challenges in adopting integrity frameworks. One major obstacle was limited resources, which made it difficult to hire dedicated compliance specialists. Additionally, unethical behaviors, such as staff stealing products, posed a threat to operational efficiency and profitability. Another key challenge was the lack of awareness regarding the role of national entities in providing guidance on integrity frameworks and anti-corruption measures.
Our partnership with UNODC was instrumental in addressing these challenges. In collaboration with national authorities in Egypt, including the Administrative Control Authority and the National Anti-Corruption Academy, UNODC provided tailored workshops and practical tools designed specifically for SMEs like ours. One of the most impactful resources was the Online Corruption Risk Assessment Tool, which generated detailed reports on internal controls and highlighted corruption risk scenarios that were previously difficult to detect. This tool helped us identify vulnerabilities in corporate governance, supply chains, and reporting mechanisms.
Moreover, through our exposure to UNODC experts, we gained access to structured methodologies for implementing integrity frameworks across all departments. This included mechanisms for reporting corrupt practices and corrective action plans that emphasized behavioral improvement over punitive measures. Instead of resorting to employee dismissal as a first course of action, we adopted a corrective system that encourages ethical behavior while minimizing business disruptions. Furthermore, UNODC’s initiatives facilitated dialogue between businesses and national anti-corruption bodies, bridging the knowledge gap on compliance and ethical best practices.
We have seen significant improvements on both operational and human levels. Operationally, Dancing Bean Espresso has adopted anti-corruption tools provided by UNODC, leading to a confidentiality agreement between the enterprise and suppliers. This agreement ensures a relationship built on integrity, making the company's products available to the consumers. Additionally, we established a Corporate Integrity Manual, which instills integrity principles across management and staff. As part of this effort, we now require all job applicants to read and acknowledge the manual, fostering awareness and commitment to ethical standards early on.
On a human level, we have cultivated a safer and more transparent work environment. Employees have shown noticeable behavioral improvements, recognizing that management prioritizes integrity without resorting to punitive measures. This sense of security has boosted staff team respect and cohesive work community which has in turn, boosted product quality, customer service and overall productivity.
