News & Blog

Mark Pieth, Professor Emeritus of the University of Basel President of the Board of the Basel Institute on Governance, offers an insight into the risks of human rights and environmental harms in gold supply chains. Where are the risks and responsibilities? Collective Action with gold refineries, suppliers and other stakeholders, he concludes, could help ensure more responsible and sustainable sourcing of gold. What is gold laundering? On its way from the ground to your wedding ring or mob

In March 2017, the World Customs Organization (WCO) formally adopted Collective Action as an innovative approach to enhance integrity and combat corruption in Customs administrations – a development that we welcomed and supported. On 21 February 2020, I returned to the WCO’s [Integrity Sub-Committee](http://www.wcoomd.org/en/about-us/wco-working-bodies/capacity_building/integrity_sub

The Basel Institute has been collaborating with the OECD’s Trust in Business Initiative on an innovative project to build anti-corruption capacity in state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Compliance without Borders is a project co-developed with industry leaders under the B20 Argentina presidency. It brings together experienced compliance experts via short-term secondments to SOEs to help them build their compliance capacity and address corruption-rela

Industry leaders committed to tackling wildlife crime gathered at St. James’s Palace today for a high-level joint meeting of the United for Wildlife Taskforces. The UfW Transport and Financial Taskforces, an initiative of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, bring together major transport companies and financial institutions from around the world with law enforcement and experts in illegal wildlife trade (IWT). Today’s meeting marks a new phase of joint action against th

A new Working Paper by our Collective Action experts explores private-sector engagement in the fight against illegal wildlife trade. Part of a multi-disciplinary Basel Institute programme focused on financial crime in illegal wildlife trade (IWT), the working paper explores efforts by and with private-sector organisations to combat the multibillion-dollar illegal trade and strengthen their resistance to the risks it poses to their business. Despite

The Basel Institute on Governance is pleased to announce that it has received renewed funding to deepen its anti-corruption Collective Action work from the Siemens Integrity Initiative’s Third Funding Round. The project will run from 2019 through 2024 and will be implemented in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The [Siemens Integrity Initiative]

Congratulations to our partners in Malawi on the launch of the new Malawi National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS II). We are delighted to have been able to contribute our multi-disciplinary expertise to what we believe is a state-of-the-art anti-corruption strategy that will have real impact on corruption in Malawi over the next five years. What makes Malawi’s new strategy stand out NACS II is evidence-based. It draws on multi-stakeholder consultations and extensive research on the state

The Banknote Ethics Initiative (BnEI) and Basel Institute on Governance are partnering to promote the use of Integrity Pacts in banknote-related procurement to further promote the highest standards of integrity and fair competition in the industry. Established in 2013, the BnEI is a Collective Action Initiative that promotes tailored anti-corruption and fair competition standards for the banknote sector. Currently, 14 accredited member companies have passed rigorous audi

Following the inaugural OECD Trust in Business Forum that took place in Paris on 1-2 October 2019, we are pleased to announce that Gemma Aiolfi, Head of Compliance, Corporate Governance and Collective Action, has become an official member of the Trust in Business Network (TriBuNe), the advisory board of the [OECD’s Trust in Business initiative](http://www.oecd.org/corporate/t

The B20 – or Business 20 – is an engagement group that brings the voice of the business community to the G20 process.  The G20/B20 presidency rotates on an annual basis with Saudi Arabia succeeding Japan in this role in December. We have actively supported the B20 process over the past ten years, with a particular emphasis since 2013 when the Basel Institute was mandated to host the B20 Anti-Corruption Collective Action Hub. As a Network Partner, alongside the World Economic Forum, the Internat

Given the vast dimensions of the multibillion-dollar illegal wildlife trade (IWT), it may be surprising that until recently, global efforts to tackle IWT came mainly from the conservation sector. This has typically consisted of numerous donor-funded efforts to catch poachers and raise public awareness of the plight of endangered species. Valuable as those efforts are, they do little to impact the organised crime networks, corruption and illicit financial flows that allow the lucrative illegal

We are pleased to once again confirm our commitment to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and its Ten Principles and submit our third biannual Communication on Engagement. Our efforts around the world to strengthen governance and counter corruption and other financial crimes directly fulfil the UNGC’s [10th Principle on Anti-Corruption](https://www.un

Does your company do business in emerging markets? Wouldn’t it be helpful if you could really rely on the certification of a local business partner in those markets? If you know you can trust the certifier and the certification process, due diligence will be quicker and easier - at least in theory. The Basel Institute’s International Centre for Collective Action is launching an innovative project to explore certification and its role in anti-corruption due diligence. If you’re interested in b

The International Centre for Collective Action (ICCA) has launched two projects to bolster the evidence base and business case for two different types of Collective Action initiatives: Integrity Pacts and Certification Initiatives. With financial support from the KBA-NotaSys Integrity Fund, the projects involve analysis and sharing of lessons learned. Findings and new resources on Integrity Pacts and Certification Initiatives will be added to the ICCA’s B20 Collective Action Hub.

“Evolution to Revolution” was the theme of the year for the Basel Institute’s activities promoting Collective Action in 2018. Endorsement of anti-corruption Collective Action in 2018 by the B20 Argentina and UK Anti-Corruption Strategy supports growing acceptance of the concept as a useful tool to tackle bribery. Collective Action is gradually moving towards becoming a global norm. We are delighted to have contributed to these achievements and look forward to continuing to promote the potential

The Basel Institute is providing anti-corruption guidance services to SMEs as part of the UK government’s pioneering Business Integrity Initiative. Subsidised by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for eligible SMEs, the guidance services are focused on: Anti-corruption compliance Corruption and bribery prevention Anti-corruption Collective Action Find out more about the services and how to app

Mirna Adjami of the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Collective Action attended the 18th Annual Currency Conference in Dubai, U.A.E. from 7–10 April 2019, in the context of the Basel Institute’s ongoing collaboration with the Banknote Ethics Initiative (BnEI). The BnEI and Basel Institute are working together to advise Central Banks and Monetary Authorities of the option of implementing Integrity Pacts or othe

There’s no time like the present for anti-corruption Collective Action in Malawi, as the country gears up to review and update its National Anti-Corruption Strategy. Malawi, also known as the warm heart of Africa, is famous for its open and welcoming people and of course for one of the most spectacular lakes in the world, but it is also a county that has been shaken-up by massive corruption scandals in the past decade that have left their mark. To this day Malawi is recovering from the fall-ou

Some 13 students from all over the world are in Basel this week completing the final sessions of their International Master in Anti-Corruption Compliance and Collective Action, awarded by the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA). The final course includes an intensive series of sessions on Collective Action taught by members of the [International Centre for Collective Action](https://www.baselgovernance.org/collectiv

The Basel Institute will be launching an innovative project promoting systematic, intelligence-led action against illegal wildlife trafficking (IWT) networks along the East Africa – Southeast Asia trading chain. Supported by PMI Impact’s Second Funding Round, the project focuses on uncovering and targeting illicit financial flows, strengthening the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute transnational IWT-related financial crimes, and imp

The Basel Institute is delighted about and welcomes the Wolfsberg Group’s endorsement of the United for Wildlife Financial Taskforce Mansion House Declaration. This is a significant step in gaining the active support of the financial sector in combating the multibillion-dollar illegal wildlife trade. The Basel Institute is the implementing partner of the intelligence-sharing mechanism of the [United for Wildlife Financial Taskforce](https://www.unitedforwildlife.org/projects/financial-taskforce

There’s a lot of buzz about Collective Action as a means to tackle corruption. But what is it exactly? What is its value? How is it good for business? Who gets involved in Collective Action initiatives and why? This week, we will be releasing five short videos about Collective Action. Filmed during the International Centre for Collective Conference in November 2018, they feature leading voices in the field of anti-corruption Collective Action. Here is the first video: [What is Collective Actio

We are delighted that a tailored High Level Reporting Mechanism will be established for the construction of the first line of the Bogotá Metro. The HRLM will allow complaints related to possible acts of corruption to be analysed rapidly and dealt with pragmatically and transparently. Developed by the Basel Institute on Governance, OECD and Transparency International, the HLRM is designed to meet private sector demands for a fast, independent and effective mechanism to address bribe solicitatio

The Basel Institute was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Rafael Merchan, the former Secretary of Transparency of Colombia, at his home over the Christmas holiday. He had been due to testify in the Odebrecht related case concerning the Ruta del Sol road development; his death follows the suspicious demise of another witness in the case, the former auditor [Jorge Enrique

Globally operating companies increasingly feel the pressure to ensure their compliance and integrity standards are maintained throughout their supply-chain. This has led to a transfer of pressure all the way down to the weakest link, the small and medium-sized businesses. As a result, many small and medium-sized business supplying large international companies are faced with unreasonable demands when it comes to their compliance programs that neither reflect their business environment nor their

What role can compliance certification play in anti-corruption Collective Action? The discussion around the ISO 37001 standard, published late 2016, created something of a debate on the pros and cons of certifying companies’ compliance programs. And while many welcomed the introduction of a uniform international standard for the prevention and detection of bribes other familiar criticisms of certification remain. These include the cost, the burdensome internal processes, and of course the bu

There is a strong business case for Collective Action against corruption - and more and more companies, law enforcement agencies, international organisations and civil society representatives are willing to engage. Which is good, because we need all players around the table to achieve sustainable change. These were key recurring messages during the Basel Institute’s 3rd International Collective Action Conference, which

The official launch of the Tainted Assets Initiative took place on 15 November 2018 at the Basel Institute on Governance’s Conference on Collective Action. This event marks the formation of the Project’s secretariat at the Basel Institute. With the support of the OECD Secretariat, this multi-stakeholder initiative aims to develop a practical resolution mechanism to enable companies and countries to address historic “tai

The Basel Institute on Governance is pleased to launch two new resources on the High Level Reporting Mechanism (HLRM) as a corruption prevention tool. The HLRM concept was jointly developed by the Basel Institute, OECD, and Transparency International in response to private sector concerns over the absence of quick and effective mechanisms for addressing bribe solicitation by some public officials in certain markets. An HLRM is a way for governments to demonstrate their high-level

Our programme of work in Malawi, led by the International Centre for Asset Recovery with funding support from the UK Department for International Development, has been expanded to complement its original focus on corruption investigations and the recovery of stolen assets with prevention components. These include assistance with a review of the national anti-corruption strategy, fresh engagements with the private sector and training on research methods and corruption risk assessment