[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":293},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-6th-basel-arbitration-amp-crime-conference-updating-the-toolkit-2437":3,"news-6th-basel-arbitration-amp-crime-conference-updating-the-toolkit-2437-similar":43,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":288},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"date":12,"topic":13,"slug":15,"activity":16,"nid":19,"topics":20,"activities":21,"programme":22,"area":22,"websites":23,"language":22,"image":25,"translation_of":22,"countries":37,"tags":38,"authors":39,"images":40,"translations":41,"content":42},10360,"published","2023-05-12T07:28:55.000Z","2026-04-15T22:28:51.000Z","6th Basel Arbitration & Crime Conference: Updating the Toolkit","News","Over 60 arbitrators, lawyers, forensics and researchers met at the University of Basel on 5 May 2023 to discuss the legal issues and current risks facing arbitrators in terms of corruption and money laundering.\n\nThe discussions will be used to update the 2019 [Toolkit for Arbitrators](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-publication-toolkit-arbitrators-guidelines-corruption-and-money-laundering-international), developed around a similar gathering in 2018-2019 to provide guidance to arbitrators who suspect, or are confronted with, alleged corruption or money laundering in relation to the underlying dispute.  \n\n### A proactive responsibility\n\nIn a keynote speech, Nadia Darwazeh of Clyde & Co emphasised the proactive responsibility arbitrators must take to combat corruption in their industry, stating that the “legitimacy of the arbitration system is at stake”. Her speech set the scene for expert panels focusing on:\n\n*   Applicable law and public policy for addressing corruption in commercial and investor-state arbitration, including domestic law, international law and transnational public policy.\n*   The definition of corruption in the Toolkit – should it include trading in influence? Should it refer to criminal conduct related to sanctions?\n*   Role and application of _mens rea_.\n*   Issues of evidence, including the way the “red flag” method is used, the question whether the burden of proof can shift, the varying standards of proof and the use of adverse inferences.\n*   The legal consequences of corruption unearthed in arbitration cases – the impact on jurisdiction, admissibility and merits, and the question whether more nuanced approaches are needed, ensuring proportionality.\n*   A comparative analysis of award enforcement and the appeals processes in France, Switzerland and the UK, and a discussion of how the finality of arbitral awards relates to international public policy.\n\nA common emphasis throughout the day was on the importance of clear definitions, coherence and consistency.\n\n### Updated guidance\n\nThe evolving issues and practices discussed in the conference will inform the new edition of the Toolkit, so that it can continue to provide up-to-date guidance for arbitrators into the future.\n\nThe conference was organised by the [Arbitration and Crime Competence Centre](https:\u002F\u002Farbcrime.org\u002F) led by [Professor Mark Pieth](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pieth.ch\u002F) and [Dr Kathrin Betz](https:\u002F\u002Fbetz-law.ch\u002Fen\u002Fhome), with the support of the [Basel Institute on Governance](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002F) and [The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002F).\n\nThe organisers wish to thank the sponsors: [EY](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ey.com\u002Fen_ch), [BDO](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bdo.ch\u002Fde-ch\u002Fhome-de) and [Bonifassi Avocats](https:\u002F\u002Fbonifassi-avocats.com\u002Fen\u002F).","2023-05-12",[14],"","6th-basel-arbitration-amp-crime-conference-updating-the-toolkit-2437",[17,18],"Events","Presentations",2437,[],[17,18],null,[24],"Main page",{"id":26,"storage":27,"filename_disk":28,"filename_download":29,"title":30,"type":31,"created_on":32,"modified_on":32,"charset":22,"filesize":33,"width":34,"height":35,"duration":22,"embed":22,"description":22,"location":22,"tags":22,"metadata":36,"focal_point_x":22,"focal_point_y":22,"tus_id":22,"tus_data":22,"uploaded_on":32},"ad8ab6a8-0c22-4d07-8c78-b7a930957196","local","ad8ab6a8-0c22-4d07-8c78-b7a930957196.webp","tmp.webp","6th Basel Arbitration & Crime Conference: Updating the Toolkit","image\u002Fwebp","2025-05-12T21:12:04.000Z",110728,1400,935,{},[],[],[],[],[],[],[44,83,108,133,162,182,202,236,260],{"id":45,"body":46,"status":6,"type":10,"date":47,"slug":48,"title":49,"image":50,"countries":51,"topic":52,"activity":54,"tags":56,"nid":69,"topics":70,"activities":72,"authors":73,"images":74,"websites":75,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":76,"translation_of":22,"user_created":77,"date_created":78,"user_updated":79,"date_updated":80,"content":81,"link":82},10302,"The 6th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptocurrencies ([#6CRC](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002F6crc)) – a two-day gathering of thousands of crypto specialists and financial investigators from law enforcement, regulators and the private sector – came to an end today at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands.\n\nAs cryptocurrency use expands into practically every country and sector, so does its abuse to commit new forms of crime and launder dirty money, said speakers.\n\nYet with the right tools, capacity and cooperation, the unique characteristics of blockchain-based technologies offer an unprecedented opportunity to investigate organised crime and money laundering networks and to recover stolen funds.\n\n### Keeping up as crypto enters the mainstream\n\nThe speeches and panels painted a picture of how “traditional” and virtual organised crime and money laundering typologies are merging. Cryptocurrencies are increasingly involved in trade-based money laundering cases, for example, and linked to a broad range of crimes including drug smuggling, sports match fixing and proliferation financing.\n\nProfessional money launderers are taking advantage of the ever-growing options provided by crypto assets – from mining to decentralised services – to launder proceeds from both physical and cyber crimes.\n\nBut law enforcement, regulators and the private sector are working hard to stay ahead of those who abuse crypto assets to commit crimes and launder money.\n\n*   Legislation is tightening. New EU regulations, for example, will ensure that crypto assets are treated like any other assets for the purposes of anti-money laundering regulation and supervision.\n*   Multiple successful cases, some laid bare during the conference, illustrate how investigators are taking advantage of the unique characteristics of blockchain-based technologies to “follow the money”. This has allowed them to identify not only scammers and hackers but also more traditional organised crime groups and money laundering networks.\n*   Law enforcement and judicial authorities are increasingly treating virtual assets like any other asset from a legal perspective, easing their seizure, management and eventual transformation into fiat currency.\n*   Private companies are innovating fast to provide the tools and analytical capacity to trace funds laundered across multiple blockchains using different obfuscation techniques.\n\nIncreasing understanding and capacity in the crypto sphere among all players – regulators, law enforcement, the private sector – is vital to tackling organised crime and money laundering, both physical and virtual.\n\n### About the conference\n\nThe 6th edition of the annual Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptocurrencies took place in hybrid format on 1–2 September 2022. The conference was hosted by Europol with the support of the Basel Institute on Governance through the joint Working Group on Criminal Finances and Cryptocurrencies.\n\nWith over 1,700 registered participants from 119 countries, the first day was dedicated to public-private cooperation and exchange. Speakers represented regulators (European Parliament), law enforcement (Europol), think tanks (Royal United Services Institute), virtual asset service providers (Binance), and specialised companies involved in crypto investigations, data analysis and asset recovery (Asset Reality, Chainalysis, CipherTrace, Sportradar and TRM Labs).\n\nThe second day of the conference was strictly limited to law enforcement and related public authorities, such as financial intelligence units. Specialised cryptocurrency investigators from France, Korea, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States shared case studies and experiences with their international colleagues, which numbered more than 1,100 from 95 countries.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   See the joint recommendations: [Seizing the opportunity: 5 recommendations for crypto assets-related crime and money laundering](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fseizing-opportunity-5-recommendations-crypto-assets-related-crime-and-money-laundering) \n*   To view recommendations and videos from the previous (2021) conference, which was hosted by the Basel Institute on Governance, see [baselgovernance.org\u002F5crc](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002F5CrC).\n*   Media enquiries: [press@europol.europa.eu](mailto:press@europol.europa.eu) (Europol); [monica.guy@baselgovernance.org](mailto:monica.guy@baselgovernance.org) (Basel Institute on Governance).","2022-09-02","cryptocurrencies-key-to-tackling-organised-crime-europol-and-basel-institute-on-governance-2279","Cryptocurrencies key to tackling organised crime – Europol and Basel Institute on Governance ","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F280823ad-8d5f-4dc5-bc9f-c70a9a12144e?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[53],"Asset Recovery",[17,55],"Partnerships",[57,61,65],{"tags_id":58},{"id":59,"name":60},854,"Virtual assets",{"tags_id":62},{"id":63,"name":64},879,"Money laundering",{"tags_id":66},{"id":67,"name":68},967,"Organised crime",2279,[71],"Asset Recovery and Enforcement",[17,55],[],[],[24],[],"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","2022-09-06T14:07:42.000Z","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6","2026-05-29T22:22:23.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fcryptocurrencies-key-to-tackling-organised-crime-europol-and-basel-institute-on-governance-2279",{"id":84,"body":85,"status":6,"type":10,"date":86,"slug":87,"title":88,"image":89,"countries":90,"topic":91,"activity":93,"tags":96,"nid":97,"topics":98,"activities":99,"authors":100,"images":101,"websites":102,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":103,"translation_of":22,"user_created":77,"date_created":104,"user_updated":79,"date_updated":105,"content":106,"link":107},10326,"As the use of crypto assets expands into practically every country and sector, so does its abuse to commit new forms of crime and launder criminal proceeds. Yet with the right tools, capacity and cooperation, the unique characteristics of blockchain-based technologies offer an unprecedented opportunity to investigate organised crime and money laundering networks and to recover stolen funds.\n\nThat is the main message of a set of five recommendations issued jointly by Europol and the Basel Institute on Governance following the 6th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptocurrencies earlier this year. \n\nThe Recommendations are intended to highlight broad approaches and best practices. They are designed to help public and private actors stay one step ahead of those seeking to abuse crypto assets (also known as virtual assets) and services to make, hide and launder illicit money.\n\nThe five recommendations are, in brief:\n\n### 1\\. Break down silos between “traditional” and “crypto”\n\nThe separation between “traditional” and “crypto” organised crime and money laundering is increasingly unhelpful. Specialised crypto expertise remains essential for both law enforcement and anti-money laundering (AML) compliance teams in the private sector. This is in part due to the highly technical nature and fast evolution of blockchain-based technologies. But recent trends in criminal activity and the use of cryptocurrencies to launder money show how the two worlds are merging.\n\nEfforts to combat such crimes in both the public and private sectors need to do the same.\n\n### 2\\. Regulate broadly and make full use of existing laws\n\nExisting financial crime laws can be (and are being) applied to prosecute crimes and money laundering involving crypto assets and to recover illicit funds. Legislators can make it easier for law enforcement, prosecutors and judges to deal with cases involving crypto assets by considering these when developing new financial crime laws or revising existing legislation.\n\nIt is essential that crypto assets are treated like any other asset for the purposes of AML\u002FCFT supervision and enforcement.\n\n### 3\\. Take advantage of the blockchain to disrupt organised crime\n\nThe blockchain technology that forms the backbone of crypto assets and services offers numerous opportunities to investigate crime and money laundering schemes, gather intelligence, and freeze and confiscate illicit assets.\n\n### 4\\. Raise crypto literacy through capacity building and clear communication\n\nIncreasing general understanding of crypto assets and services is vital to tackle organised crime and money laundering, both physical and virtual. Finding smart ways to communicate about crypto also pays off.\n\n### 5\\. Increase public-private cooperation\n\nPublic entities, including law enforcement bodies, can gain significantly by harnessing the tools, data and analytics expertise of the private sector. Closer cooperation with crypto asset service providers can also speed up law enforcement requests to assist investigations and freeze funds.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Download [Seizing the opportunity: 5 recommendations for crypto assets-related crime and money laundering](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2022-12\u002F2022_Recommendations_Joint_Working_Group_on_Criminal_Finances_and_Cryptocurrencies.pdf) (PDF)\n*   Learn more about the [6th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptocurrencies](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fcryptocurrencies-key-tackling-organised-crime-europol-and-basel-institute-governance) and joint Working Group.\n*   See the Basel Institute's [virtual group courses on cryptocurrencies and anti-money laundering](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcourses-and-events\u002Fcryptocurrencies-and-anti-money-laundering-training), offered several times per year.","2022-12-07","seizing-the-opportunity-europolbasel-institute-recommendations-on-tackling-crypto-crime-and-money-laundering-2327","Seizing the opportunity: Europol–Basel Institute recommendations on tackling crypto crime and money laundering","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F91c27125-4a06-4688-a693-6012b59a321e?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[92,53],"Anti-Money Laundering",[94,55,95],"Insights","Media releases",[],2327,[92,71],[94,55,95],[],[],[24],[],"2022-12-07T17:01:25.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:24.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fseizing-the-opportunity-europolbasel-institute-recommendations-on-tackling-crypto-crime-and-money-laundering-2327",{"id":109,"body":110,"status":6,"type":10,"date":111,"slug":112,"title":113,"image":114,"countries":115,"topic":117,"activity":120,"tags":121,"nid":122,"topics":123,"activities":124,"authors":125,"images":126,"websites":22,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":127,"translations":128,"translation_of":22,"user_created":77,"date_created":129,"user_updated":77,"date_updated":130,"content":131,"link":132},10601,"The only international anti-corruption Collective Action Conference is back!\n\nAre you working on corruption prevention in the private sector, government, civil society or academia?\n\nThen join us for the sixth edition of this biannual landmark event on 9–10 June in Basel, Switzerland.\n\nOver one and a half days of expert sessions, fireside chats and networking, we’ll bring together practitioners from around the world to build and strengthen communities of practice in Collective Action.\n\nThis edition will focus on concrete measures to make markets fairer and more transparent – with a strong hands-on approach:\n\n*   What does Collective Action look like in practice, and what makes it work?\n*   How can a multi-stakeholder approach help organisations respond more effectively to global business challenges?\n\nThe 6th International Collective Action Conference is supported by the Siemens Integrity Initiative. Participation is free of charge, but places are limited and subject to approval. \n\nLearn more on the [official event page on the B20 Collective Action Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2026) and [submit your registration request here](https:\u002F\u002Fdocs.google.com\u002Fforms\u002Fd\u002Fe\u002F1FAIpQLSeoO9mw-xZxNATMMIIr7vPqUqBPEWuOXW-AT2t3WXiYYMysaw\u002Fviewform).\n\n### Sponsorship opportunities\n\nWe are seeking a limited number of sponsors to support the conference and help advance practical, multi-stakeholder approaches to business integrity and anti-corruption. [See more information on sponsorship options and benefits](https:\u002F\u002Fb20-dev.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fb9939e69-4813-4b44-903e-2ab705068d45) and don't hesitate to get in touch.","2026-02-16","registration-open-6th-international-collective-action-conference-2933","Registration open: 6th International Collective Action Conference","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F40e65081-b8a4-44f9-b6d1-b16f6a5083be?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[116],7804,[118,119],"Collective Action","Private Sector",[17,55],[],2933,[118,119],[17,55],[],[],"English",[],"2026-02-27T15:07:17.000Z","2026-02-27T15:07:18.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fregistration-open-6th-international-collective-action-conference-2933",{"id":134,"body":135,"status":6,"type":10,"date":136,"slug":137,"title":138,"image":139,"countries":140,"topic":142,"activity":143,"tags":146,"nid":151,"topics":152,"activities":153,"authors":154,"images":155,"websites":156,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":157,"translation_of":22,"user_created":77,"date_created":158,"user_updated":79,"date_updated":159,"content":160,"link":161},9891,"Within the context of a three-year initiative on \"Mapping and Visualising Cross-Border Crime” funded by the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme and launched in 2014, experts from the Basel Institute’s [International Centre for Asset Recovery](\u002Fnode\u002F25\u002F) (ICAR) and the [Journalism Development Network](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.occrp.org\u002Fen\u002Fjdn) (JDN) conducted their 6th and final workshop on Financial Investigations and Asset Recovery – “Follow the money” in February 2019.\n\nAs with previous workshops in Bucharest, Romania and Basel, it explored opportunities to develop relationships between law enforcement agencies and investigative journalists.\n\nThe workshop was attended by 23 presenters and participants including staff of the Basel Institute, investigative journalists, a diplomat, a senior KYC\u002FAML bank official and a compliance operations manager.\n\nThe training workshop covered topics such as JDN’s “Investigative Dashboard” research platform and the [Basel Open Intelligence](\u002Fnode\u002F556) (BOI), a new online targeted search tool developed by the Basel Institute for identifying links between individuals, companies and criminal activities.\n\nPresentations on the use of offshore structures to conceal beneficial ownership and the virtual currency, Bitcoin, served to raise awareness of tools and mechanisms for laundering the proceeds of crime. One practical exercise required participants to put themselves in the position of a criminal, seeking to derive benefit from the sale of cocaine and a subsequent money laundering scheme designed to conceal the source of the illegal funds.\n\n### The role of investigative journalism in curbing corruption\n\nLaw enforcement seeks to secure convictions and identify, trace and recover criminal proceeds stashed away in foreign jurisdictions. In contrast, investigative journalists focus on exposing criminals and disrupting criminal activity. They are not required to operate within the same strict legal confines. However, despite this fundamental difference, the end goal remains the same: to curb crime and ensure that it does not pay.\n\nInvestigative journalism plays a crucial role in bringing allegations of corruption to light. International consortiums of investigative journalists reflect international cooperation that contributes to bringing financial and economic crime to the attention of the public and law enforcement authorities.","2019-02-15","final-workshop-on-mapping-and-visualising-cross-border-crime-620","Final workshop on Mapping and Visualising Cross-Border Crime","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F38a04d24-f859-4994-9023-0ebab31c274c?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[141],7499,[53],[144,55,145],"Training","International cooperation",[147],{"tags_id":148},{"id":149,"name":150},1375,"Civil society",620,[71],[144,55,145],[],[],[24],[],"2022-05-26T22:57:10.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:02.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Ffinal-workshop-on-mapping-and-visualising-cross-border-crime-620",{"id":163,"body":164,"status":6,"type":10,"date":165,"slug":166,"title":167,"image":168,"countries":169,"topic":170,"activity":171,"tags":172,"nid":173,"topics":174,"activities":175,"authors":176,"images":177,"websites":22,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":127,"translations":178,"translation_of":22,"user_created":77,"date_created":179,"user_updated":22,"date_updated":22,"content":180,"link":181},10610,"Nominations are now open for the [International Anti-Corruption Collective Action Awards 2026](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fawards\u002F), recognising organisations and initiatives that demonstrate leadership, impact and innovation in advancing Collective Action to prevent corruption and strengthen business integrity.\n\nThe awards will be presented at the [International Collective Action Conference 2026](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fregistration-open-6th-international-collective-action-conference), taking place on 9–10 June 2026 in Basel, Switzerland.\n\nOrganisations and initiatives can submit their nomination for two award categories:\n\n*   Gretta Fenner Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action 2026 – acknowledging significant contributions towards fairer market conditions and the prevention of corruption through engagement in Collective Action.\n*   Collective Action Inspirational Newcomer 2026 – showcase accomplishments of initiatives that have been active in the field of anti-corruption Collective Action for less than two years.\n\nNomination are open until 27 March 2026.\n\nThe anti-corruption Collective Action Awards are non-monetary and will only be granted to organisations, not individuals. \n\n### Selection process\n\nEligible nominations will be reviewed by an international jury of experts. The three highest-scoring initiatives in each category will be shortlisted as finalists. Winners will then be determined through a combined vote of the jury and the public, with each jury member and the public vote carrying equal weight.\n\nPublic voting will take place online and will be anonymous. \n\n#### Jury members\n\nThe 2026 jury includes:\n\n*   Nathalie Delapalme, Chief Executive Officer of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation\n*   Nicola Bonucci, Board Member of the Basel Institute on Governance and former Director for Legal Affairs at the OECD\n*   Rhoda Weeks-Brown, Founder and CEO of Cape Palmas Global Advisors LLC and former General Counsel of the IMF\n\nThe awards are presented with the support of the [Siemens Integrity Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fbasel-institute-awarded-new-siemens-integrity-initiative-evolve-funding-advance-global).\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   For more information on the eligibility criteria, the selection process and the public vote, see our [award methodology](https:\u002F\u002Fb20-dev.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fa54d560f-0d11-439a-ac88-8bf89a6a2120).\n*   Learn more on the [B20 Collective Action Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F), the Basel Institute's platform for knowledge and engagement on anti-corruption Collective Action.","2026-03-04","international-collective-action-awards-2026-nominations-open-2941","International Collective Action Awards 2026: nominations open","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F7d9267b4-5c9c-4c0d-81a2-a1ca5c34eaa9?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[118,119],[17],[],2941,[118,119],[17],[],[],[],"2026-04-15T22:45:21.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Finternational-collective-action-awards-2026-nominations-open-2941",{"id":183,"body":184,"status":6,"type":10,"date":185,"slug":186,"title":187,"image":188,"countries":189,"topic":190,"activity":191,"tags":192,"nid":193,"topics":194,"activities":195,"authors":196,"images":197,"websites":22,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":127,"translations":198,"translation_of":22,"user_created":77,"date_created":199,"user_updated":22,"date_updated":22,"content":200,"link":201},10616,"From grassroots transparency tools to global business integrity networks, this year’s finalists for the [International Collective Action Awards](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fawards) show the breadth, creativity and growing impact of Collective Action around the world.\n\nPublic voting is now open and everyone is invited to help choose the winners.\n\nThe Awards recognise organisations advancing business integrity through Collective Action – bringing together businesses, governments, civil society and other stakeholders to tackle corruption and strengthen fairer, more transparent markets. The winners will be announced during the [6th International Collective Action Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2026) in Basel, Switzerland, on 9–10 June 2026.\n\nPresented by the Basel Institute on Governance since 2022, the Awards celebrate initiatives that demonstrate how Collective Action can deliver practical solutions to shared integrity challenges across sectors and regions.\n\n### A diverse field of finalists\n\nThis year’s finalists reflect the growing diversity of Collective Action initiatives worldwide. They range from long-running international integrity networks supporting small businesses, to innovative digital tools improving transparency in public infrastructure, to emerging platforms creating new opportunities for business engagement in global anti-corruption policymaking.\n\nThe shortlisted initiatives also highlight the geographical reach of Collective Action efforts today, with finalists working across Africa, Latin America, Europe and global multilateral platforms.\n\nAn international jury selected the finalists from a strong field of nominations representing a wide variety of sectors, approaches and partnerships.\n\n### Gretta Fenner Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action\n\nThis category is named in honour of the Basel Institute’s late Managing Director, [Gretta Fenner](https:\u002F\u002Fgretta.baselgovernance.org\u002F). It recognises organisations that have made a sustained and significant contribution to advancing Collective Action and promoting business integrity over time.\n\nThe 2026 finalists are:\n\n*   Alliance for Integrity – a global multi-stakeholder initiative that has built integrity networks across 16 countries and supported hundreds of trainers and companies in strengthening compliance and anti-corruption practices, particularly among SMEs.\n*   Anti-Corruption Collective Action Impact Centre – hosted by the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), the Centre supports locally led anti-corruption initiatives worldwide through mentorship, training and practical implementation support.\n*   Integridad Corporativa 500 (IC500) – a Mexican transparency benchmark initiative that evaluates the anti-corruption policies and governance practices of the country’s 500 largest companies, helping drive measurable improvements in corporate transparency.\n\n### Collective Action Inspirational Newcomer\n\nThe Inspirational Newcomer category recognises initiatives active for fewer than two years that have already shown strong promise and early impact.\n\nThis year’s finalists are:\n\n*   COSP Private Sector Platform – launched by the United Nations Global Compact and UNODC to create new opportunities for private sector participation in global anti-corruption policymaking linked to the UN Convention against Corruption.\n*   CoST Malawi Infrastructure Transparency Initiative: Red Flags Algorithm – an innovative digital tool that uses data analysis to identify potential corruption and procurement risks in public infrastructure projects in Malawi.\n*   TRIPODE: Collective Action for Business Integrity and SME Inclusion in Mexico – a joint initiative helping companies, especially SMEs, navigate integrity expectations through practical guidance, peer learning and public-private dialogue.\n\nAlthough very different in focus, the finalists all demonstrate the value of collaborative approaches in addressing complex integrity challenges – whether through technology, policy engagement or hands-on support for businesses.\n\n### An international jury with deep expertise\n\nThe finalists were pre-selected by an international jury bringing together expertise from governance, anti-corruption, journalism, international law and public policy.\n\nThe jury included Nathalie Delapalme, CEO of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Nicola Bonucci, former OECD Director of Legal Affairs and Basel Institute Board member, Rhoda Weeks-Brown, former General Counsel of the IMF, and award-winning investigative journalist Sheila S. Coronel of Columbia Journalism School.\n\nTheir collective experience spans anti-corruption policy, rule of law, investigative journalism, international governance and responsible business conduct, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of Collective Action itself.\n\n### Cast your vote\n\nPublic voting is open until 2 June 2026.\n\nVisit the [Awards page on the B20 Collective Action Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fawards) to learn more about the finalists and cast your vote in each category.\n\nThe Collective Action Awards are supported by the Siemens Integrity Initiative.","2026-05-20","cast-your-vote-in-the-2026-collective-action-awards-2969","Cast your vote in the 2026 Collective Action Awards","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fa69747f0-c2e6-48f5-8e19-4e059e545b2f?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[118,119],[14],[],2969,[118,119],[],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:46.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fcast-your-vote-in-the-2026-collective-action-awards-2969",{"id":203,"body":204,"status":6,"type":205,"date":206,"slug":207,"title":208,"image":209,"countries":210,"topic":211,"activity":212,"tags":213,"nid":225,"topics":226,"activities":227,"authors":228,"images":229,"websites":22,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":127,"translations":230,"translation_of":22,"user_created":77,"date_created":231,"user_updated":232,"date_updated":233,"content":234,"link":235},10621,"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.\n\nAt its core, anti-corruption Collective Action is about tackling corruption challenges together, rather than alone. Collective Action is primarily driven by businesses, often in collaboration with government representatives and civil society, to address a shared challenge and attain a common objective.\n\nBuilding trust is one critical element of Collective Action efforts, as it requires a genuine and sustained willingness from all involved stakeholders to collaborate.\n\n### Trust across sectors: the foundation of effective markets\n\nMarkets depend on trust – not only between businesses and their customers or employees and their organisational leadership, but between the institutions that shape the business environment:\n\n*   Business relies on regulatory bodies to create fair and predictable markets.\n*   Governments depend on businesses to act with integrity, beyond merely meeting compliance requirements.\n*   Civil society holds both public and private sectors accountable whilst advancing transparency and public confidence.\n\nWhere these relationships are founded in trust, business ecosystems function more effectively and markets remain stable.\n\nYet, cross-sector trust is increasingly under strain. Geopolitical volatility, tightening regulations and elevated complexity within supply chains are creating distance between the very actors who need to collaborate.\n\n### The cost of low-trust systems\n\nWhen trust between the private sector, government and civil society breaks down, the consequences are immediate: slower transactions, higher compliance costs and due diligence burdens, duplicated oversight and heightened reputational risk. Oversight becomes adversarial, compliance turns reactive and businesses invest more time managing risks than creating value.\n\nIn an era of heightened competitiveness, trust across sectors becomes the most valuable currency. Where it is systemically weak, a vicious cycle takes hold: low trust demands heightened scrutiny and more controls, which in turn erode trust further. Government enforcement of standards becomes inconsistent and civil society turns sceptical rather than being a partner.\n\nBreaking this cycle requires a different approach – one built on shared commitment, sustained engagement and coordinated action. This is where Collective Action comes into play.\n\n### Collective Action as a trust-building mechanism\n\nIn practice, Collective Action enables organisations to jointly raise integrity standards across industries, develop sector-specific norms and tackle systemic risks such as bribery and unethical conduct. Its ultimate objective – and the key incentive to participate in Collective Action initiatives – is to create fairer, more transparent markets where companies can compete on equal terms.\n\nBut beyond its role as an anti-corruption approach, Collective Action also serves as a powerful trust-building mechanism. In a low-trust environment, individual organisations acting ethically on their own can find themselves at a disadvantage. Collective Action changes this dynamic. Shared commitments level the playing field, the involvement of multiple stakeholders builds credibility and joint accountability mechanisms increase transparency.\n\nOver time, this collaborative approach fosters trust where it is hardest to achieve – between actors with different roles, responsibilities and pressures. The result is a shift in systemic behaviour that lowers the cost of doing business and drives a more predictable business environment.\n\n### From compliance to competitive advantage\n\nToo often, doing business with integrity is treated as a compliance obligation rather than a source of competitive advantage. Yet, in high-trust business environments, stronger partnerships and faster decision-making enable organisations to withstand disruptions. Organisations invested in building trust across their business ecosystem are better positioned to navigate complexity and sustain long-term value.\n\nCollective Action supports this shift by helping to shape markets that reward integrity, moving beyond a risk mitigation exercise.\n\n### Building trust in practice\n\nThis is exactly the focus of the [6th International Collective Action Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2026), taking place on 9–10 June 2026 in Basel, Switzerland.\n\nBringing together leaders from business, government and civil society, the conference is designed as a space not just for dialogue, but for practical exchange. It showcases how Collective Action initiatives are being implemented across sectors, what makes them effective and how they can be adapted to different contexts.\n\nThe conference reflects a core conviction: trust across sectors does not happen by default but must be actively built. Organisations that commit to building trust together, as a collective, will not only manage risks more effectively, but help shape a new competitive advantage rooted in integrity.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   [6th International Collective Action Conference 2026](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2026)\n*   [B20 Collective Action Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com)\n*   Working Paper 56: [Anti-corruption Collective Action: A typology for a new era](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fpublications\u002F2397)\n*   Book: [Collective Action in practice: a game-changer for business integrity](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fpublications\u002F2407)","Blog","2026-04-20","building-trust-how-collective-action-strengthens-business-ecosystems-2959","Building trust: how Collective Action strengthens business ecosystems","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fc470512d-6eaf-404e-86ec-545ebd052655?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[118,119],[94],[214,217,221],{"tags_id":215},{"id":216,"name":118},909,{"tags_id":218},{"id":219,"name":220},830,"Business integrity",{"tags_id":222},{"id":223,"name":224},982,"Anti-corruption",2959,[118,119],[94],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:50.000Z","b0662e2a-864d-4888-a1b7-4342b7570b30","2026-06-05T10:40:20.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbuilding-trust-how-collective-action-strengthens-business-ecosystems-2959",{"id":237,"body":238,"status":6,"type":205,"date":239,"slug":240,"title":241,"image":242,"countries":243,"topic":245,"activity":246,"tags":247,"nid":248,"topics":249,"activities":250,"authors":251,"images":253,"websites":254,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":255,"translation_of":22,"user_created":77,"date_created":256,"user_updated":79,"date_updated":257,"content":258,"link":259},10473,"Those of us involved in corruption investigations and asset recovery know how important it is to gain fresh perspectives, contribute to international policy discussions, learn from others in the field and hopefully help them, too. In this spirit I am happy to share my experience from attending the 7th Session of the [Conference of the States Parties](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unodc.org\u002Funodc\u002Fen\u002Fcorruption\u002FCOSP\u002Fconference-of-the-states-parties.html) (COSP) in Vienna in November 2017.\n\nHeld every two years, the five-day Conference is the main policy-making body of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). I was invited to attend this important event in my role as Director General of the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) of Malawi.\n\nConference highlights\n---------------------\n\nDuring panel discussions organised by the [Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fstar.worldbank.org\u002F) (STAR) and the [International Centre for Asset Recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fforum.assetrecovery.org\u002F) (ICAR), I presented Malawi’s success – and challenges – in recent asset recovery activities. Discussions with fellow panellists and the audience were lively. How do you stop recovered assets being plundered again? What do pre- and post-confiscation plans look like? What is the role of civil society in asset recovery?\n\nThere was also a lot of buzz about a new online tool, the [Guidelines for the Efficient Recovery of Stolen Assets](https:\u002F\u002Fguidelines.assetrecovery.org\u002F)_,_ which was initiated by the Swiss Government and already received much attention during the 5th and 6th Sessions of the COSP. In providing practical guidance throughout the asset recovery process, it will be extremely valuable to the FIA and our equivalents worldwide.\n\nA presentation on the [G20 High Level Principles on Organizing Against Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.consilium.europa.eu\u002Fmedia\u002F23555\u002F2017-g20-acwg-anti-corruption.pdf) offered practical insights into how to make anti-corruption a reality in the public sector. It is clear that we need to implement these principles in Malawi, covering everything from administrative processes to recruitment, training and transparency.\n\nI was provided with yet another perspective during a session led by Alliance Integrity and Transparency International on promoting integrity in state-owned enterprises. The recently released [10 Anti-Corruption Principles for State-Owned Enterprises](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.transparency.org\u002Fen\u002Fpublications\u002F10-anti-corruption-principles-for-state-owned-enterprises) includes many of the principles we discussed during that session.\n\nPartnerships & support\n----------------------\n\nMy participation in the 2017 COSP is thanks to support from the Basel Institute, through ICAR and within a programme of work funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). ICAR’s experts have helped us greatly during the last three years, providing technical assistance and guidance on the ground. \n\nAt a working partnership lunch organised by ICAR, I had the chance to exchange experiences with other countries both supporting and benefiting from ICAR’s technical assistance. It was interesting that we all encounter similar challenges: building relationships with local and foreign counterparts, managing public expectations and dealing with lengthy timeframes for investigation, prosecution and recovery of stolen assets.\n\nThe challenges of financial investigation and asset recovery are too great for any one organisation or country to bear alone. Through networking, shaping policy and learning from one another at the COSP, we return to our countries with fresh perspectives and a renewed sense of belonging to a robust, international network of support.\n\n_By Atuweni Juwayeyi-Agbermodji, Director General, Financial Intelligence Authority, Malawi_","2018-05-28","conference-of-the-states-parties-sharing-insights-renewing-support-87","Conference of the States Parties: sharing insights, renewing support","\u002Fpics\u002Fimg-placeholder.png",[244],7535,[53],[17,94,145],[],87,[71],[17,94,145],[252],1281,[],[24],[],"2024-08-13T22:02:11.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:31.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fconference-of-the-states-parties-sharing-insights-renewing-support-87",{"id":261,"body":262,"status":6,"type":205,"date":263,"slug":264,"title":265,"image":266,"countries":267,"topic":268,"activity":270,"tags":271,"nid":276,"topics":277,"activities":278,"authors":279,"images":281,"websites":282,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":283,"translation_of":22,"user_created":77,"date_created":284,"user_updated":232,"date_updated":285,"content":286,"link":287},9796,"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. \n\nValuable as those efforts are, they do little to impact the organised crime networks, corruption and illicit financial flows that allow the lucrative illegal trade in wildlife products to continue. \n\nNow, triggered in part by recent high-profile conferences and initiatives targeting IWT, there is greater and growing awareness of the need to involve the private sector in efforts to combat the illegal trade.\n\n### Which industries are affected?\n\nThe transport and financial industries are the most clearly affected. Illegal products such as elephant ivory, rhino horn and timber are usually trafficked via commercial land, sea and air transport services, and financial transactions take place via regulated financial services providers and the global banking system. \n\nHowever, other industries are involved too. e-commerce and social media sites can be exploited as illegal trading platforms, and logistics or warehousing companies can unwittingly facilitate the storage and shipping of illegal goods.\n\n### IWT as a risk management issue\n\nCompanies in these sectors are starting to perceive of IWT not just as a conservation issue, and therefore confined to corporate social responsibility departments, but in terms of the risks this illegal trade presents to their business. \n\nThese risks are tightly intertwined with other risks, particularly corruption and security.\n\n*   Profits from wildlife crime that enter global financial markets are proceeds of crime, linked by default to other forms of financial crime such as money laundering and tax fraud. This leaves companies open to legal risks.\n*   Security is a major worry: if transport companies can be exploited through corruption or security loopholes to carry illegal wildlife products, what else might be stashed away in those dark lorries and containers?\n*   Reputational risks in this age of conscious consumerism are an additional, not insignificant category.\n\nThis shift in approach has started to trigger systemic and sustainable change in businesses worldwide.\n\n### Plus, it’s the law\n\nPrivate-sector efforts are being boosted by increasingly stronger laws and involvement of supervisory bodies. For example:\n\n*   The EU's [6th Anti Money Laundering Directive](https:\u002F\u002Feur-lex.europa.eu\u002Flegal-content\u002FEN\u002FTXT\u002F?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2018.284.01.0022.01.ENG) (6AMLD), which comes into effect in December 2020, makes environmental crimes a predicate offence to money laundering.\n*   The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has announced that illegal wildlife trade is _\"one of the priorities under the Chinese Presidency\"_ and has recently [launched a project](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.fatf-gafi.org\u002Fpublications\u002Ffatfgeneral\u002Fdocuments\u002Foutcomes-plenary-october-2019.html) \n>_\"to develop good practices in tackling the financial flows linked to illegal wildlife trade. This project will analyse common supply chains and payment methods, as well as case studies from countries that have experience in investigating the financial flows from illegal wildlife trade. It will also consider the role of public-private partnerships and international cooperation in combating this crime.\"_\n\nThese changes in the regulatory landscape evidence the shift from perceiving IWT as a conservation issue to recognising it as a serious transnational organised crime, with implications for both law enforcement and business.\n\n### Multi-stakeholder initiatives – the solution?\n\nCurrent multi-stakeholder initiatives aimed specifically at tackling industry-specific IWT risks, such as the [United for Wildlife](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unitedforwildlife.org\u002F) Transport and Financial Taskforces and the [ROUTES Partnership](https:\u002F\u002Froutespartnership.org\u002F) led by wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, show great promise to create a virtuous circle of engagement and action. But they face some major hurdles. \n\nChallenges include getting all relevant stakeholders around the table and building a strong business case for engagement that takes into account companies' specific risks and needs.\n\n### Companies want data\n\nA basic but major identified need is for more reliable, targeted and actionable information and intelligence on IWT, to enable companies to take informed internal measures, co-develop industry guidelines and effect real systems change. \n\nThis can best be achieved through mechanisms that allow all stakeholders to pool information and resources in pursuit of their common goals. The chance to share and benefit from valuable intelligence that enables businesses to strengthen their resilience against IWT, along with other forms of trafficking and financial crime, represent a powerful argument for companies to engage in multi-stakeholder initiatives against IWT. \n\nSuch an approach will also generate a sustainable and long-term engagement by the private sector.\n\n### The answer: Collective Action?\n\nThe challenges faced by multi-stakeholder initiatives focused on IWT echo some of the challenges addressed over the years by [Collective Action initiatives](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Finitiatives) focused on tackling shared corruption challenges. \n\nThis similarity, as well as the strong links between corruption and IWT, means that practitioners can benefit from lessons learned from anti-corruption Collective Action initiatives and do not need to reinvent the wheel. \n\nWhich is good, because there's still a long way to go and we'll need some fast wheels if we want to overtake the traffickers before any more endangered species go extinct.\n\n### More information\n\n*   Read the full [Working Paper 32 on Private-sector engagement in the fight against illegal wildlife trade](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fpublications\u002F1873).\n*   Find out more about the Basel Institute's programme to combat [financial crime in the illegal wildlife trade](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fillegal-wildlife-trade).\n*   [Download a PDF of this quick guide.](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-08\u002Fqg12_business_iwt.pdf)","2019-10-22","scarlet-wannenwetschs-quick-guide-to-the-role-of-business-in-tackling-illegal-wildlife-trade-1014","Scarlet Wannenwetsch’s quick guide to the role of business in tackling illegal wildlife trade","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F1ea0f630-0cbb-4b9d-aadd-ca26b63a8922?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[92,118,269],"Green Corruption",[94,145],[272],{"tags_id":273},{"id":274,"name":275},1303,"Environment",1014,[92,118,269],[94,145],[280],875,[],[24,118],[],"2022-05-26T22:55:48.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:59.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fscarlet-wannenwetschs-quick-guide-to-the-role-of-business-in-tackling-illegal-wildlife-trade-1014",{"left":289,"top":289,"width":290,"height":290,"rotate":289,"vFlip":291,"hFlip":291,"body":292},0,20,false,"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M17 10a.75.75 0 0 1-.75.75H5.612l4.158 3.96a.75.75 0 1 1-1.04 1.08l-5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.08l5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 1 1 1.04 1.08L5.612 9.25H16.25A.75.75 0 0 1 17 10\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\u002F>",1780676483600]