UnityNet International (UNI) Policy / Position Document (Rev. 1, 2025-10-28): Prevention and Management of Conflicts of Interest

Aligned with UNCAC, OECD, and G20 Principles on Transparency and Ethical Governance.

This official policy document from UnityNet International (UNI) establishes a rigorous framework for the Prevention and Management of Conflicts of Interest (COI), affirming that ethical coherence is foundational to planetary regeneration and peace.

The policy binds all UnityNet officers, partners, and affiliates to global best practices, aligning with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and complementary frameworks from the OECD, G20, and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

It defines COI as any circumstance where personal interests could improperly influence professional judgment, and outlines five guiding principles — Transparency, Accountability, Integrity, Fairness, and Stewardship — ensuring that all decisions uphold justice, trust, and the collective good.

The document mandates annual disclosures, immediate event-based recusals, independent oversight by an Ethics and Governance Office, and whistleblower protections. Violations carry clear sanctions, establishing UnityNet as a model for ethical leadership and regenerative governance across global partnerships.

#UnityNet #EthicalGovernance #Transparency #Integrity #Accountability #RegenerativeDevelopment #GlobalStandards #EthicalAI #DAWNFramework #EchoNode

1. Lloyd Helferty, Biochar Consulting Canada
Co-Founder and Concept Coordinator, UnityNet International
UnityNet International provides programs, services, tools and infrastructure for Workforce Development
in Under-served Communities & Emerging Markets related to Sustainable & Regenerative Development (#RD)
Goods, Services and Social Programs.
#UnityNet recognizes the traditional territories and ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples worldwide and
honors their enduring stewardship of the Earth.
UnityNet International
Policy / Position Document:
Prevention and Management of Conflict of Interest
Issued: October 2025
Reference: #UnityNet | #EthicalGovernance | #Transparency | #Integrity

1. Preamble
#UnityNet International is founded on the principle that ethical coherence is essential for planetary
regeneration and peace.

Our work — spanning Humanitarian Social Entrepreneurship (HSE), Climate Smart Regenerative
Finance (CSReFi), Ethical AI, and Foundational Security — depends on trust.

To safeguard that trust, all #UnityNet officers, partners, and affiliates are bound by this Conflict of
Interest Policy, which aligns with international law and global best practice, including:
 The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC);

 The G20 High-Level Principles on Preventing and Managing Conflicts of Interest;

 The OECD Guidelines for Managing Conflict of Interest in the Public Service;

 The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest.

#UnityNet affirms that conflict of interest is not a matter of morality alone but of governance
integrity, ensuring that all decisions are made in service to life, justice, and the public good.

2. Purpose and Scope
This policy aims to:
1. Prevent real, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest within all #UnityNet operations.

2. Protect the independence and credibility of #UnityNet’s global mission.

3. Ensure that personal interests never compromise community well-being, transparency,
or the regenerative economy we are building.

It applies to:
 All members of #UnityNet’s Boards, Councils, and Committees;

 Staff, volunteers, contractors, and partner organizations;

 Representatives of affiliated Watershed Peace Councils, Youth Peace Forums, and Centres
of Regenerative Excellence (CoRE).

2. Lloyd Helferty, Biochar Consulting Canada
Co-Founder and Concept Coordinator, UnityNet International
UnityNet International provides programs, services, tools and infrastructure for Workforce Development
in Under-served Communities & Emerging Markets related to Sustainable & Regenerative Development (#RD)
Goods, Services and Social Programs.
#UnityNet recognizes the traditional territories and ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples worldwide and
honors their enduring stewardship of the Earth.
3. Definitions
A Conflict of Interest (COI) arises when an individual’s personal, financial, or relational interests could
improperly influence — or appear to influence — their professional judgment, decisions, or actions
within #UnityNet.

Types include:
 Actual Conflict: A direct clash between private interest and official duty.

 Potential Conflict: Circumstances that may lead to a conflict in the future.

 Perceived Conflict: Situations that may reasonably appear to compromise impartiality.

4. Guiding Principles
#UnityNet adopts the following five principles consistent with UNCAC and OECD frameworks:
1. Transparency: Full disclosure of any personal, familial, or financial relationships that might
influence decision-making.

2. Accountability: Each individual is responsible for identifying and declaring potential
conflicts before participating in related activities.

3. Integrity: Decisions must always prioritize the collective good, not private benefit.

4. Fairness: All contracts, procurements, and partnerships must follow open, competitive, and
auditable processes.

5. Stewardship: Resources entrusted to #UnityNet — including funds, data, and social capital
— are sacred assets that must never be diverted for personal or political gain.

5. Disclosure and Management Procedures
1. Annual Declarations: All #UnityNet officers, staff, and affiliates must file annual Conflict of
Interest Disclosure Forms identifying external roles, investments, or relationships.

2. Event-Based Disclosure: Individuals must immediately declare any new potential conflict
arising during a project, negotiation, or partnership.

3. Recusal: Members with a declared conflict must abstain from related discussions or
decisions.

4. Independent Oversight: The #UnityNet Ethics and Governance Office (or equivalent
independent committee) reviews disclosures and enforces compliance.

5. Training: All #UnityNet members will receive regular orientation and updates on ethics,
anti-corruption, and COI management.

3. Lloyd Helferty, Biochar Consulting Canada
Co-Founder and Concept Coordinator, UnityNet International
UnityNet International provides programs, services, tools and infrastructure for Workforce Development
in Under-served Communities & Emerging Markets related to Sustainable & Regenerative Development (#RD)
Goods, Services and Social Programs.
#UnityNet recognizes the traditional territories and ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples worldwide and
honors their enduring stewardship of the Earth.

6. Whistleblowing and Reporting
#UnityNet maintains confidential and protected channels for reporting misconduct or conflicts of
interest.
 Reports may be submitted anonymously to the Ethics and Integrity Office or through a
secure digital mechanism managed by the Digital Governance Council (DGC).

 Whistleblowers are protected from retaliation under UNCAC Article 33 and corresponding
domestic laws.

7. Due Diligence and Partner Vetting
Before entering partnerships or contracts, #UnityNet conducts due diligence to ensure compliance
with international anti-corruption and COI standards.
This includes:
 Background checks on partner entities;

 Verification of beneficial ownership;

 Review of potential political or financial ties that could compromise #UnityNet’s
independence.

8. Enforcement and Sanctions
Violations of this policy constitute serious misconduct.
Depending on severity, sanctions may include:

 Written warnings and mandatory ethics training;

 Termination of employment or partnership;

 Reporting to appropriate legal or international authorities;

 Permanent disqualification from #UnityNet governance roles.

#UnityNet follows proportional justice principles consistent with UNCAC Article 30 and G20
accountability guidelines, ensuring penalties correspond to the gravity of the offense.

9. Alignment with #UnityNet’s Ethical Framework
This policy operationalizes the #UnityNet ethical charter:
“Let money serve love. Let work serve wisdom. Let every breath serve the renewal of life.”
By integrating international anti-corruption law with #UnityNet’s Ethical Alignment Framework
(EchoNode, DAWN, Wenelto), this policy ensures that our moral firewalls are both spiritual and legal —
preventing exploitation and preserving trust across all global collaborations.

4. Lloyd Helferty, Biochar Consulting Canada
Co-Founder and Concept Coordinator, UnityNet International
UnityNet International provides programs, services, tools and infrastructure for Workforce Development
in Under-served Communities & Emerging Markets related to Sustainable & Regenerative Development (#RD)
Goods, Services and Social Programs.
#UnityNet recognizes the traditional territories and ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples worldwide and
honors their enduring stewardship of the Earth.

10. Review and Continuous Improvement

This policy shall be reviewed biennially by the #UnityNet Governance and Peace Ethics Council,
ensuring continued alignment with evolving international standards and national legislation in every
jurisdiction where #UnityNet operates.


Issued under the authority of:

#UnityNet International Executive Secretariat

In partnership with:

 Friends of the African Union (FAU)

 World Conference of Mayors (WCM)

 Global Alliance for Ethical AI (see: Appendix A)

 #UnityNet Centres of Regenerative Excellence (CoREs)



Citation:

UnityNet International (2025). Prevention and Management of Conflicts of Interest: Policy / Position
Document.
Aligned with the following international legal and ethical frameworks:
• United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)
• G20 High-Level Principles on Preventing and Managing Conflicts of Interest
• OECD Guidelines for Managing Conflict of Interest in the Public Service
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest

© 2025 UnityNet International. All rights reserved.
Published by UnityNet International, Markham, Ontario, Canada.
Contact: [email protected] | https://www.linkedin.com/company/unitynet-international/

Citation URL: <TBD>
This publication is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike 4.0
International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).

5. Lloyd Helferty, Biochar Consulting Canada
Co-Founder and Concept Coordinator, UnityNet International
UnityNet International provides programs, services, tools and infrastructure for Workforce Development
in Under-served Communities & Emerging Markets related to Sustainable & Regenerative Development (#RD)
Goods, Services and Social Programs.
#UnityNet recognizes the traditional territories and ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples worldwide and
honors their enduring stewardship of the Earth.
Appendix A:
The Global Alliance for Ethical AI (GAEAI) is a nonprofit organization headquartered in
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It serves as a platform for companies and stakeholders to promote
ethical practices within the AI industry, focusing on respecting human rights and upholding high
ethical standards. The alliance is involved in strengthening technical capacities in ethics and AI,
designing Ethical Impact Assessment tools, and contributing to intelligent regional AI
regulations.
Members and Partners
GAEAI's membership includes:
 Companies and organizations dedicated to ethical AI development
 Experts and policymakers from various sectors
 The alliance actively collaborates with global bodies and tech industry players to advance
responsible AI use.
Headquarters
 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
The alliance participates in key partnerships, such as with ZWAG AI Solutions to develop bias-
free AI frameworks and ethical governance standards worldwide. It hosts councils focused on
innovation, education, and global policy to shape a responsible AI future.
In summary, the Global Alliance for Ethical AI is an India-based nonprofit uniting global
members and companies committed to AI ethics, transparency, and human-centered AI
governance.
1. https://www.gafai.org
2. https://ethicalaialliance.org
3. https://globethics.net/gef2025-harnessing-power-ai-safe-and-ethical-integration
4. https://www.unesco.org/en/forum-ethics-ai
5. https://srinstitute.utoronto.ca/news/the-path-to-safe-ethical-ai
6. https://in.linkedin.com/company/global-alliance-for-ethical-ai-innovation
7. https://www.globalalliancepr.org/guiding-principles-for-ethical-and-responsible-artificial-
intelligence
8. https://www.gafai.org/blog/global-alliance-for-artificial-intelligince-partners-with-zwag-to-
launch-world's-first-universal-interpretation-model-in-landmark-ethics-initiative
9. https://www.globalalliancepr.org/news/2025/10/6/global-alliance-launches-2025-syp-month-
highlights-the-power-of-communication-and-ai
10. https://initiatives.weforum.org/ai-governance-alliance/home