Corruption has infiltrated political, economic and societal structures over the past decades, eroding governments' ability to serve their citizens and achieve sustainable development. It perpetuates poverty and inequality, fuels crime and shatters public trust. 

Increasingly weaponised in domestic and geopolitical power plays, corruption fosters political radicalisation, undermines citizens' rights, weakens global governance and threatens security at all levels.

At the Basel Institute, combating corruption is more than a legal or ethical obligation – it's integral to our mission to build a more peaceful, just and sustainable world.

Learn more in our strategy and approach 2023–2030.

Frequently asked questions

 

Who are the people behind the Basel Institute?

Elizabeth Andersen has led the Basel Institute since March 2025, together with her Management Team.

The Basel Institute was founded in 2003 by Prof. Mark Pieth, Emeritus Professor at the University of Basel and a prominent international anti-corruption expert. Gretta Fenner led the Institute's development from 2005–2008 and from 2011 to her sudden passing in April 2024. See tributes to Gretta Fenner from colleagues, friends and partners.

Peter Maurer succeeded Mark Pieth as President of the Board in 2022 and also served as acting Managing Director from April 2024 to February 2025.

Our global team is made up of over 150 staff from 32 countries and a wide range of professional backgrounds. So we are both a multi-disciplinary and a multinational team. Gender balance is equal. Some of our staff are based at our headquarters in Basel and others are duty-stationed in partner countries around the world.

Most of our colleagues are practitioners with many years of experience working in anti-corruption prevention or law enforcement as part of governments, in companies and in field research organisations.

What is your mission?

Our core mission is to contribute to global efforts to prevent and combat corruption and strengthen governance.

We see anti-corruption and good governance as critical components to achieve sustainable and equitable development around the world.

How is the Basel Institute funded?

The Basel Institute on Governance is a Swiss not-for-profit foundation ("Stiftung") with an annual budget of approximately CHF 15 million.

We receive core funding from bilateral governmental (development aid) agencies including: 

• Government of Jersey
• Principality of Liechtenstein
• Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) 
• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

These core contributions support the operations of our International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR). In addition, the Principality of Liechtenstein provides core funding to our Green Corruption programme. 

Several dedicated country programmes received additional earmarked support from our core donors' country offices. Our Public Finance Management programme in Peru is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. The Basel Institute also benefits from multiple project-specific grants from international development partners.

The Siemens Integrity Initiative has funded a significant part of our Collective Action work since 2010, including the development of the B20 Collective Action Hub resource centre.

Other direct income comes from a variety of corporate foundations and initiatives, development agencies and research grant facilities. 

If any surplus is generated from advisory services or subscriptions to our Basel AML Index, we reinvest this to fund research and technical assistance programmes in our partner countries.

Audited financial accounts

The Basel Institute’s annual financial accounts are prepared according to Swiss law, GAAP FER principles and the Basel Institute’s bylaws. They are audited independently each year by BDO.

• Financial Statement 2024
• Financial Statement 2023
• Financial Statement 2022
• Financial Statement 2021
• Financial Statement 2020
• Financial Statement 2019
• Financial Statement 2018
• Financial Statement 2017
• Financial Statement 2016
• Financial Statement 2015
• Financial Statement 2014
• Financial Statement 2013
• Financial Statement 2012

How do you define corruption?

See our definition of corruption here.

How do you work?

We work across three intersecting and complementary areas that are vital to tackling corruption and promoting good governance: 

1. Asset recovery and enforcement: We help to build the enforcement capacity and systems needed for countries to effectively investigate corruption and recover illicit funds.
2. Anti-corruption and prevention: We uncover the root causes of corruption, create innovative tools for prevention and assist partners in implementing successful anti-corruption strategies.
3. Business integrity and governance: We support the development of resilient, ethical companies and business environments characterised by integrity, transparency and fair competition.

At the core is our effort to tackle global challenges together. We empower, enable and connect practitioners to collectively address corruption as an obstacle to progress on the environment, security and other global challenges.

What are the Basel Institute’s main areas of expertise?

Our projects deal with a number of cross-cutting anti-corruption and good governance issues. Specifically, our teams work on:

• Asset recovery assistance, capacity building and policy guidance through our International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) and – on environmental topics – Green Corruption programme.
• Anti-corruption research, training and assessments through our Prevention, Research and Innovation team.
• Engagement with the private sector by providing anti-corruption compliance assistance and by advancing multi-stakeholder Collective Action.
• Countering corruption that impacts the environment through our Green Corruption programme.
• Technical assistance for Public Finance Management (PFM), specifically in Peru where we support 11 subnational governments through a long-term assistance programme.

In which countries do you work?

Our headquarters are located in the city of Basel, Switzerland, but we have a major office in Lima, Peru and field operations in a further dozen countries. 

What is the relationship between the Basel Institute and the University of Basel?

The Basel Institute is an Associated Institute of the University of Basel. Through this special arrangement we enjoy close collaboration with the University’s faculties and research groups, and can more easily access certain University facilities.

Starting in 2025, we run two postgraduate courses with the University of Basel under our new Basel STUDY initiative.

Our Working Paper and Policy Brief series are available on the University Library Basel's Open Publishing Platform, eterna. Our Head of Prevention, Research and Innovation has taught at the University and also leads some of the activities of the Centre for African Studies’ Research Network Africa initiative.

Administratively and financially we are independent from the University.

What is unique about the Basel Institute?

1. Deep and wide-ranging expertise and long experience in anti-corruption and related fields, with a 360-degree view on the issues and a robust and versatile methodology.
2. Context-sensitive and comprehensive approaches aiming at long-term impact.
3. Multidisciplinary and practice-oriented perspective, working at all levels across the public and private sectors, civil society, academia and multilateral institutions.
4. Independent and agile, offering operational flexibility, adaptability and speed.
5. Well-recognised professional reputation, extensive network and convening power.
6. Innovative and iterative methods, drawing on in-house tech expertise, transforming research into practice, continuously enhancing evidence-based solutions and exchanging insights with others to advance the anti-corruption field. 
7. Tailor-made and needs-based advice, assistance and training drawing on many years of experience.