The corruption risk analyses consisted of five methodological components: planning the unit of assessment; tri-level risk identification; analysis, prioritisation, control; integrity planning; and finally, stakeholder participation. As implemented in Nigeria, corruption risk assessments focused on the “organisation” as the unit of analysis.

The Nigerian pilot programme focused on risks that affected three principal levels: macro-environmental, organisational, and personnel. The macro-environmental level identified political, economic, social, technological, and legal factors that promoted or constrained corrupt behaviour. The organisational level focused on the organisation's structure, processes, management practices, and internal ethics. The personnel level focused on the personal spending and lifestyles of individual officials and staff in relation to officially stated incomes.