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What happens when different stakeholders, such as businesses, governments, civil society, international organisations and academia come together around shared integrity challenges? The 6th International Collective Action Conference, held in Basel in June 2026, offered a powerful answer: Collective Action gives actors the conditions they need to tackle integrity challenges together that no single one of them could address alone. Unde

In this article, Celia Lourens examines the role of cross-sectoral trust for a functional business environment. Collective Action, she argues, can be an approach to overcoming trust deficits between relevant stakeholders. Celia Lourens supports the organisation of our 6th International Collective Action Conference. At its core, anti-corruption Collective Action is about tackling corruption challenges together, rather than alone. Collective Action is primarily driven by businesses, often in coll

Women can play a crucial role in the fight against corruption. This is the conviction that underpins the work of SPAK Indonesia, the organisation awarded Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action at the International Collective Action Awards 2025. But why women, specifically? Because of their central role in transmitting moral and ethical values within their families and communities, shap

Around the world, businesses, civil society and governments are working together in initiatives to address corruption risks that no single actor can resolve on their own. Initiatives might be set up to reduce bribe demands in ports, for example, or harmonise compliance frameworks in the metals technology industry, or help small businesses in Thailand enhance their anti-corruption credentials and thereby improve their business prospects. We have recorded more than 300 such initiatives in the da

A joint blog by Vanessa Hans, Director, Private Sector, Basel Institute on Governance, and Elodie Beth, Senior Manager, Anti-corruption, Global Relations, Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The post is also published on the OECD website. Clean, ethical business practices build trust, attract in

In these times of geopolitical instability and changing government priorities, business integrity risks being sidelined – just when it’s needed most. Strong compliance programmes and ethical business environments are essential for navigating volatility, maintaining trust and ensuring resilience. And anti-corruption Collective Action has proven to be an effective, efficient way to both strengthen compliance and contribute to fair market

A joint blog by Naomi Roht-Arriaza, Distinguished Professor of Law (emerita), University of California Law, and Lucie Binder, Senior Specialist, Governance and Integrity, Basel Institute on Governance. Who are the real victims of corruption? Traditionally, the answer has been “the state.” This stems from the fact that corruption typically involves the misuse of public office and the theft or diversion of public funds. In this legal framework, the state prosecutes the crime, claims the damag

The following blog post is a guest contribution and reflects the views and opinions of the original author, which do not necessarily represent those of the Basel Institute. It is shared as-is for informational purposes only. By Pat Poitevin, Co-Founder – Executive Director, Canadian Centre of Excellence for Anti-Corruption (CCEAC) Member, Collective Action Mentoring Programme In the global effort to tackle corruption, the concept of collective action has moved from theory to ne

The following blog post is a guest contribution and reflects the views and opinions of the original author, which do not necessarily represent those of the Basel Institute. It is shared as-is for informational purposes only. Image source: © UNICEF/UNI687651/Khan | Emergency supplies of water, sanitation and hygiene arrive at a warehouse run by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Kabul, Afghanistan. By Arco Iris Santos and

With increasing geopolitical and regulatory volatility, the need for companies to develop resilience to market shocks and uncertain conditions is critical. One of the most effective ways to do this is by embedding strong compliance programmes into their operations that not only ensure adherence to laws and regulations, but also support positive, ethical work environments. Effective compliance programmes provide a foundation for businesses to act ethically by helping them to identify and manage

“Strong and productive partnerships across diverse sectors were everywhere in evidence at the OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum. Such solidarity and collaboration are critically important, particularly in the face of the headwinds confronting the anti-corruption movement today." – Elizabeth Andersen, Executive Director, Basel Institute on Governance _This blog by Lucie Binder, Senior Specialist, Governance and Integrity, reflects on the [2025 OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrit

J. Edward “Ned” Conway became Executive Secretary of the Wolfsberg Group on 1 November 2024, succeeding Alan Ketley. With its 12 member banks, the Wolfsberg Group is a globally respected source of expertise on financial crime risk management, setting industry standards and building bridges between financial institutions and other stakeholders. The Basel Institute serves as Secretariat to the Group, which is now in its 25th year. In this Q&A, Ned challenges us to

Twenty-five years after the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention came into force, companies are facing an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, not only on anti-corruption but also sustainability. In this blog, Vanessa Hans sheds light on recent corporate disclosure regulations and how companies can better meet stakeholders’ reporting expectations. ESG regulations tighten: time to break down siloes Most countries have had law

An interview with Martin Benderson by Nicolas Hocq. Maritime corruption poses significant challenges to global trade, inflating costs, delaying operations and undermining integrity in supply chains. The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), a leading international Collective Action initiative, has been at the forefront of addressing these issues through collaboration with governments, businesses and civil society. In this exclusive interview, Martin Benderson, Chief Pa

We are thrilled that anti-corruption Collective Action has received fresh impetus under the Brazilian presidency of the B20 – the voice of business of the G20 intergovernmental forum. This reflects a shift in mindset among global business leaders, towards recognising the power and necessity of multi-stakeholder collaboration for anti-corruption and integrity. Fostering Collective Action initiatives is one of three [policy recommendations of the B20 Integrity and Compliance Task Force](https://b

Shawn Teixeira became Head of the Siemens Integrity Initiative in 2024, having worked tirelessly together with Sabine Zindera over many years in the oversight of 85 projects in over 50 countries with around USD 120 million in committed funding. Under their leadership, the Siemens Integrity Initiative has been a driving force in the growth and evolution of anti-corruption Collective Action. Speaking at the 5th International Collective Action Conference in Basel, held with the support of Siemens,

As Chair of the Steering Committee of the Alliance for Integrity and Head of Compliance of Metro AG, Anke Struckmeier-Eickenberg has rich experience and deep insights to share with the Collective Action community. At the 5th International Collective Action Conference in Basel, she responded to a question about how can engaging in anti-corruption Collective Action initiatives help companies to navigate complex regulation and stakeholder expectations:

By Salifu Koray, Chief Revenue Officer, Ghana Revenue Authority Speaking at the Basel Institute’s International Collective Action Conference on 25–26 June 2024, Salifu Koray explained how the Ghana Revenue Authority was engaging in Collective Action through a World Customs Organization programme. The Anti-Corruption and Integrity Programme aims to restrict corrupt behaviour and promote good governance in customs operations and administration in Ghana and seven other countries. _In a short

An entrepreneur and vocal supporter of anti-corruption Collective Action, Norwegian-born Vibeke Lyssand Leirvag has two interesting perspectives: as a small business owner in Thailand and as Chairwoman of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce. In this short interview on the sidelines of the Basel Institute’s International Collective Action Conference, Vibeke explained how engaging in a Collective Action initiative can help make the voice of business – whether an SME or a Chamber of Commerce –

By Oscar Caipo Ricci, President of the Empresarios por la Integridad initiative in Peru. The initiative is a member of the Basel Institute’s Mentoring Programme and recently became the national hub of Alliance for Integrity in Peru. _Speaking at the Basel Institute’s [International Collective Action Conference](https://collective-a

By Lisa Miller, Head of Integrity Compliance, World Bank Group. Speaking at the Basel Institute’s International Collective Action Conference on 25–26 June 2024, Lisa Miller explained why preventing fraud and corruption is essential for development banks like the World Bank Group to achieve their missions – and how engaging in Collective Action with other stakeholders can help. Video file

An interview with Nicola Bonucci by Lucie Binder, with input from Mirella Mahlstein and Anna Stransky. Our Collective Action Helpdesk has received several queries about the European Union (EU)’s introduction of two similarly named pieces of legislation: the [Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive](https://finance.ec.europa.eu/capital-markets-union-and-financial-markets/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/corporate-sust

The Basel Institute’s President Peter Maurer opened the 5th International Collective Action Conference on 24 June 2024 with an inspiring keynote speech about global challenges related to corruption and the role of Collective Action in addressing them. Setting out the current state of affairs, Peter Maurer highlighted disruption, instability and deep transformation of relations between states, international organisations and non-sta

Gemma Aiolfi led the Basel Institute’s Compliance and Collective Action work for many years, working closely with our late Managing Director Gretta Fenner as well as our former President Mark Pieth to transform private-sector engagement in the fight against corruption. At the 5th International Collective Action Conference on 24 June 2024, Gemma spoke of Gretta’s passion and efforts over the yea

Paris is known as the city of love. But once a year, during the OECD Global Anti-Corruption Forum (GACIF), it also becomes the beating heart of integrity – at least for the anti-corruption community. Under the theme “Designing our future with integrity”, this year’s Forum brought together anti-corruption experts from business, government and civil society from around the world to explore trends in the fight for integrity and against corruption. Amid the

Business integrity was among the priority topics at the 10th session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in December 2023. For the first time ever, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) together with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) hosted a Private Sector Forum in the margins of CoSP10. Serving as a partner of the Forum, the Basel Institute welcomes the UN’s efforts to bring businesses to the table on

This blog was originally published on the FCPA Blog, which was discontinued in February 2024. 2023 was a mixed bag for the business integrity community. On the one hand, the B20 – the voice of business of the G20 forum of major economies – had no Integrity & Compliance Task Force under the Indian Presidency. That was a major missed opportunity for all of us who care about raising standards of business integrity around the world. The B20 Integrity & Compliance [Task Force](https://collective-

As we expand our efforts to support Collective Action against corruption in Latin America, Private Sector Specialist Andrea Prieto takes stock of existing initiatives in the region. She and representatives from some of the initiatives discussed the Collective Action approach to fighting corruption in Lima, Peru at the Eighth Integrity Week organised by Alliance for Integrity. También disponible

A medida que ampliamos nuestros esfuerzos para apoyar la Acción Colectiva contra la corrupción en América Latina, Andrea Prieto, especialista en el sector privado, hace un balance de las iniciativas existentes en la región. Ella y representantes de algunas de las iniciativas discutieron el enfoque de Acción Colectiva para combatir la corrupción en Lima, Perú, en la Octava Semana de la Integridad _or