Experts from the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Collective Action (ICCA) contributed to the specialised training of officials from Egypt’s Administrative Control Agency, the country’s anti-corruption body. The training, which took place from 12 to 16 February 2017, was organised by the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Arab States in partnership with the Arab Anti-Corruption and Integrity Network (ACINET) and the Ministry of International Cooperation in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The objective of the training was to promote the development of anti-corruption prevention strategies, as set out in Egypt’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2014 to 2018. To that end, Gemma Aiolfi, Head of the ICCA, presented a half-day module highlighting various options for pursuing Collective Action, including through the use of High Level Reporting Mechanism as currently operating in Colombia and the Ukraine Business Ombudsman Council.

The ICCA welcomed this opportunity to tailor its training on Collective Action for a government authority that up to now has been more involved with the prosecution of corruption rather than strengthening the preventive aspects. This afforded an opportunity for lively exchanges with the Egyptian officials and hearing their perspectives on stakeholder outreach to the private sector and civil society on anti-corruption prevention.

The ICCA stands ready to provide further advice on developing more concrete implementation strategies involving Collective Action for the Egyptians and the wider region should the need arise.