[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":315},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-annual-report-2020-on-fighting-the-pandemic-of-corruption-2071":3,"news-annual-report-2020-on-fighting-the-pandemic-of-corruption-2071-similar":79,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":310},[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":18,"topics":19,"activities":20,"programme":21,"area":21,"websites":22,"language":21,"image":24,"translation_of":21,"countries":35,"tags":36,"authors":37,"images":76,"translations":77,"content":78},9572,"published","2022-05-26T22:52:40.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:40.000Z","Annual Report 2020: On fighting the pandemic of corruption","Blog","Published today, our [Annual Report](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fannual-report-2020) celebrates the achievements of our teams and partners around the world that we are most proud of in 2020. It also reveals some of the hurdles we were challenged to overcome together. There are many of both, and a lot more stories and highlights in between. \n\nThis year's report offers deep dives into some of our key focus areas.\n\n*   Our International Centre for Asset Recovery explains why we are supporting the use of non-conviction based forfeiture mechanisms to recover stolen assets, why our training team has launched a new open course on cryptocurrencies and AML compliance, and how Mozambique established a new Asset Recovery Office with our support.\n*   Meanwhile, our Public Governance team reveals why networks, not just individuals, are crucial to understanding and countering corruption.\n*   The report sets out the new strategy we have launched to address Green Corruption – the corruption and other financial crimes that drive environmental degradation. The popularity of our Corrupting the Environment webinar series, which we are offering together with the OECD, has demonstrated the breadth and depth of interest in this field. \n*   In the contributions from our Compliance and Collective Action teams on their work with the private sector, we explore how state-owned enterprises can address their corruption and antitrust risks. We also illustrate efforts to create guidance on reporting on the effectiveness of anti-corruption compliance programmes, with the example of a Collective Action initiative between healthcare companies.\n*   In Peru, our 30+ Public Finance Management specialists are breaking new ground with their innovative training approach, using social media and peer-to-peer learning.\n*   We also look at what the Basel AML Index revealed about money laundering trends in 2020, the role of virtual training beyond the pandemic thanks to our new Basel LEARN virtual learning platform, and how lockdown opened up fresh opportunities to maximise the potential of open-source intelligence, including through our Basel Open Intelligence search tool.\n\nThroughout the Annual Report, it is clear that our achievements depend greatly on the efforts of our partners and donors. And so this is also a chance for us to thank them warmly and to demonstrate some of the impact we are having together on the fight against corruption around the world.\n\nPlease flick through and stop to read, to think and to send us your ideas and insights – by email, over social media or in any other way.\n\n### Foreword\n\n\"We must revive the global social contract to fight the pandemic of corruption\" begins the foreword by Gretta Fenner, Managing Director, and Mark Pieth, President of the Board. They continue:\n\n> While medical research has been quick to develop protection against Covid-19, another pandemic continues to rampage humankind and our attempts at stopping it continue to fall short.\n> \n> We are talking about the widespread disease of corruption, which has become deeply rooted in our societies, and which plagues our communities, their social cohesion and economic wellbeing. It leaps effortlessly between public officials and businesses regardless of political colour, nationality or sector, helped by professional middlemen and rule-free blind spots where dirty money can go on holiday.\n> \n> This has never been more apparent than when the two pandemics met. Initial research seems to indicate that corruption levels rose to even higher levels during the pandemic. It might also be that seeing its deadly consequences from closer quarters made it more visible.\n> \n> What is certain is that more people are seeing through the corruption fog. Political protests and toppled governments around the world show that more people are upset about it, and that is a good development. Those of us who work in the light can only fight a threat that is seen.\n> \n> The ophthalmologists in this case are the many individuals, the journalists, civil society activists, researchers and law enforcement officials who, courageously and often at great risk, are standing up to corruption and dragging it into the daylight. This is a tremendous help for our work, and we hope that our effort helps them.\n> \n> But many of these anti-corruption heroes still fight a lonely battle. What’s more, they are faced with the overwhelming resources and power of the grand transnational corrupt networks that, collectively, stifle sustainable development and undermine the economic and social wellbeing of our societies.\n> \n> To amplify the work of the many courageous people and organisations, nation states, global enterprises and governance bodies should be coming together. But instead, what we see and what is of major concern is an increasing breakdown of global solidarity and a return of increasingly divisive and at best nationalistic domestic and global politics.\n> \n> So we urge politicians and business leaders to revitalise the global social contract – which is competently guided by the Sustainable Development Goals – by showing true and courageous leadership that disregards geographical, social, economic or other borders.\n> \n> But before we are misinterpreted: We are not waiting for another global leaders’ declaration; there are plenty of those. We are waiting for these key stakeholders to really do what they preach. And in doing so, to ask more of themselves and of each other than ever before. This means not just meeting but going beyond the requirements of international treaties and standards.\n> \n> Those who risk their lives to fight corruption, and those who lose their lives because of corruption, every day, in every corner of the world, deserve at least that.\n> \n> So, as we rightly celebrate the healthcare workers and other providers of essential services that are helping their fellow citizens get through the Covid-19 pandemic, let us also celebrate – and actively support – those individuals who resist, stand up and fight against corruption.\n> \n> We have done our best to do just that throughout last year, and we will continue on this mission, hopefully with more backing from true leadership, for the good of everyone in this world.\n\n[Download our Annual Report 2020](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fannual-report-2020)","2021-08-13",[14],"","annual-report-2020-on-fighting-the-pandemic-of-corruption-2071",[17],"Reports",2071,[],[17],null,[23],"Main page",{"id":25,"storage":26,"filename_disk":27,"filename_download":28,"title":9,"type":29,"created_on":30,"modified_on":30,"charset":21,"filesize":31,"width":32,"height":33,"duration":21,"embed":21,"description":21,"location":21,"tags":21,"metadata":34,"focal_point_x":21,"focal_point_y":21,"tus_id":21,"tus_data":21,"uploaded_on":30},"191b6cd3-28c7-4b7d-b21b-ef0cec06cdae","local","191b6cd3-28c7-4b7d-b21b-ef0cec06cdae.webp","tmp.webp","image\u002Fwebp","2025-05-12T21:17:51.000Z",19652,1400,933,{},[],[],[38,59],{"id":39,"news_id":40,"authors_id":55},1187,{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":41,"date_created":7,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":25,"date":12,"topic":43,"slug":15,"activity":44,"nid":18,"topics":45,"activities":46,"programme":21,"area":21,"websites":47,"translation_of":21,"language":21,"countries":48,"tags":49,"authors":50,"images":52,"translations":53,"content":54},"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","b0662e2a-864d-4888-a1b7-4342b7570b30",[14],[17],[],[17],[23],[],[],[39,51],1188,[],[],[],{"id":56,"name":57,"position":21,"image":58},297,"Gretta Fenner","06f7143f-fe9b-45df-87a0-8c2e8f721109",{"id":51,"news_id":60,"authors_id":72},{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":41,"date_created":7,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":25,"date":12,"topic":61,"slug":15,"activity":62,"nid":18,"topics":63,"activities":64,"programme":21,"area":21,"websites":65,"translation_of":21,"language":21,"countries":66,"tags":67,"authors":68,"images":69,"translations":70,"content":71},[14],[17],[],[17],[23],[],[],[39,51],[],[],[],{"id":73,"name":74,"position":21,"image":75},302,"Mark Pieth","2f4f2174-a03c-4bd1-9cbc-848efef795c6",[],[],[],[80,102,135,161,194,216,241,264,287],{"id":81,"body":82,"status":6,"type":10,"date":83,"slug":84,"title":85,"image":86,"countries":87,"topic":88,"activity":89,"tags":90,"nid":91,"topics":92,"activities":93,"authors":94,"images":96,"websites":97,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":98,"translation_of":21,"user_created":41,"date_created":99,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":8,"content":100,"link":101},9740,"We are delighted to release our Annual Report 2019 – [view it here](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FBasel%20Institute%20Annual%20Report%202019.pdf).\n\nThe report highlights our achievements in the past year, but it also looks forward to the future. It is a chance to reflect on how corruption and governance are changing around the world and how we are adapting to new challenges. It is also a chance to thank, once again, our partners and donors for their unwavering support. \n\nHere is the foreword by Managing Director Gretta Fenner and President of the Board Mark Pieth.\n\n### Corruption and poor governance: enemies of the people\n\nAs we write this note for our annual report, the world has become a different place. A global pandemic is spreading fast, globalisation has come to a virtual standstill, and almost everything we took for granted is no longer a given.\n\nWe have been warned. Not specifically about covid-19, but about the risk of a global pandemic. Yet in many countries we see that structures are not in place and warnings have been ignored for too long. As we are still grappling to understand what is happening, one cannot help but ask, whether governance systems have failed us.\n\nWhen essential services are deprived of funding because it does not fit the political agenda of those in charge, this points to distorted governance systems that fail to set the right priorities for the public good. And can we really disregard the role corruption has played in fuelling this crisis? No, we cannot. It is clear that public officials have received grease payments to turn a blind eye to illegal trade in endangered species and disregard sub-standard hygiene in markets from where the  virus has seemingly spread.\n\nFighting corruption and strengthening governance may not be at the top of most officials’ priority lists right now as they are busy trying to control the spread of the virus and keep mortality levels low. But when we take a step back and have more space to reflect on underlying causes, we will have a terrible re-awakening to the realisation that corruption and bad governance are devastating our world and our lives.\n\nThat’s why at the Basel Institute, we see our mission of combating corruption and strengthening governance not as a cause in itself. Instead, we see it as our contribution to sustainable development, equitable growth, stability, respect for human rights and peace.\n\nOur team has worked hard again in 2019 to make inroads toward these overarching global goals. We are proud of our achievements, and acutely aware how our work interplays with the work of many others, be it in anti-corruption and governance or in other fields. This includes health, where corruption and weak governance compromise the achievement of better development outcomes. \n\nOur partnerships with governments, the private sector, other international organisations and civil society are critical. The covid-19 crisis has shown us like nothing else that we need to come together to go forward.\n\nWe hope that the work we describe in our annual report inspires you. By now, when we write this foreword, we know only too well what topic will dominate the year 2020. We sincerely hope to make a contribution to fighting the root causes of this pandemic, so that we may come out of this tragic crisis not only with losses, but also with a new understanding of our global responsibilities, individually and collectively.\n\n[Download the annual report here](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FBasel%20Institute%20Annual%20Report%202019.pdf).","2020-05-17","our-annual-report-2019-looking-back-but-mostly-forward-1747","Our Annual Report 2019: looking back, but mostly forward","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Ffbcf85c1-981c-4bb2-8107-c4a6bde291e6?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[17],[],1747,[],[17],[95],1232,[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:55:01.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Four-annual-report-2019-looking-back-but-mostly-forward-1747",{"id":103,"body":104,"status":6,"type":10,"date":105,"slug":106,"title":107,"image":108,"countries":109,"topic":111,"activity":114,"tags":117,"nid":122,"topics":123,"activities":125,"authors":126,"images":127,"websites":128,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":129,"translation_of":21,"user_created":41,"date_created":130,"user_updated":131,"date_updated":132,"content":133,"link":134},10466,"Media reports of corruption arising from coronavirus-related aid and emergency procurement are starting to circulate. Crises such as the current one, in common with [natural disaster situations](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fcorruption-natural-disaster-situations-can-our-experiences-help-prevent-corruption-related), inevitably increase the risks of corruption. And that increases the importance of strong corruption prevention.\n\nMary Phombeya is Director of Corruption Prevention at the [Anti-Corruption Bureau](http:\u002F\u002Facbmw.org\u002F) (ACB) in Malawi. In this short text for our [2019 Annual Report](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FBasel%20Institute%20Annual%20Report%202019.pdf), she explains what the ACB is doing to prevent corruption in Malawi with the help of the Basel Institute, and particularly our Public Governance team.\n\n> Through our corruption prevention initiatives at the ACB, we are laying a firm foundation for the fight against corruption in Malawi. I believe our efforts will have a positive impact in the near future and contribute to the betterment of Malawi in the long term.\n> \n> The continued and unwavering support of the Basel Institute on Governance in these corruption prevention initiatives is invaluable.\n> \n> A training workshop delivered by the Basel Institute’s Public Governance team to Officers in the Prevention and Education Department has created a strong base for implementation of our Anti-Corruption Research and Anti-Corruption Interventions.\n> \n> The Basel Institute has also ably coordinated the implementation of a Corruption Risk Assessment Project, which has been piloted in four District Councils. This helped us to unearth corruption risks and to develop, in conjunction with the Councils, appropriate mitigation measures.\n> \n> Lastly, I would like to mention our new National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which we launched in 2019. During the review, the Basel Institute’s team helped us conduct a series of thorough nationwide consultations across all sectors. This has proved vital in ensuring the new strategy is inclusive, relevant and meets the needs of all Malawians. \n\n### Find out more\n\n*   Learn more about [Malawi's National Anti-Corruption Strategy II](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fmalawis-new-national-anti-corruption-strategy-state-art-approach) (NACS II) and why we believe it's a state-of-the-art approach.\n*   See a [timeline of the NACS II review](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FNACS%20review%20timeline.jpg) and how we supported the process.\n*   Learn about the Public Governance team's [training workshops](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fpublic-governance\u002Ftraining-courses) and [technical assistance](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fpublic-governance\u002Ftechnical-assistance) services in support of corruption prevention initiatives.","2020-05-28","in-fighting-corruption-in-malawi-prevention-is-better-than-cure-1756","In fighting corruption in Malawi, prevention is better than cure","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F71565855-b659-45ac-b455-17ee8f59862c?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[110],7418,[112,113],"Prevention"," Research and Innovation",[115,116],"Anti-corruption interventions","Partnerships",[118],{"tags_id":119},{"id":120,"name":121},1373,"Corruption prevention",1756,[124],"Prevention Research and Innovation",[115,116],[],[],[23],[],"2024-08-13T22:01:56.000Z","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6","2026-05-07T21:29:56.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fin-fighting-corruption-in-malawi-prevention-is-better-than-cure-1756",{"id":136,"body":137,"status":6,"type":10,"date":138,"slug":139,"title":140,"image":141,"countries":142,"topic":144,"activity":146,"tags":148,"nid":149,"topics":150,"activities":152,"authors":153,"images":154,"websites":155,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":156,"translation_of":21,"user_created":41,"date_created":157,"user_updated":131,"date_updated":158,"content":159,"link":160},10353,"Amid the current buzz around virtual training, it's good to be reminded that effective capacity building is about a lot more than just learning new skills. Some of the most important aspects of our International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) workshops can't easily be transferred to cyberspace.\n\nMartin Chipofya, a Senior Resident Magistrate in Blantyre, Malawi, sent us this feedback last year and we republished it in our 2019 Annual Report. It sums up beautifully the value that ICAR training programmes provide in terms of getting staff from different agencies to work together better.\n\n> Recent events in Malawi have made me reflect on the training programmes that the Basel Institute on Governance has conducted through its International Centre for Asset Recovery. I had the chance to attend two in 2019: on Financial Investigations and Asset Recovery, and on Offshore Structures and Mutual Legal Assistance. \n> \n> What I earnestly appreciate about these training programmes is that they are not just about training in the narrow sense. Although the skills we learn are extremely important, it is also important that participants are drawn from different law enforcement agencies. During group work, the trainers make sure that each group has officers from different agencies. That is crucial for getting to know each other and understanding the challenges that our counterparts face. \n> \n> The training programme is also a platform for getting feedback on how our agencies are performing and how we are complementing or assisting the work of officers in other agencies. If it turns out we are involuntarily impeding or frustrating the actions of others, it helps us to jointly find the solution. \n> \n> There are many of us in Malawi who are passionate about fighting corruption and financial crime generally in our country. We are determined to trace and recover the proceeds of crime for the benefit of our people. To succeed in this frankly challenging task, we in the law enforcement community need assistance and coordination – between ourselves as well as at an international level. \n> \n> I am glad that, with the help of the Basel Institute’s ICAR training team, I have been able to appreciate the value of such assistance and coordination. This opportunity has also motivated me to specialise in financial crimes in my future studies. \n\n### Find out more\n\n*   Learn about [ICAR's training programmes](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery\u002Ftraining-programmes) in financial investigations, asset recovery and related skills, which are delivered at the request of partner countries.\n*   Read our [quick guide to effective training on financial investigations](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fphyllis-atkinsons-quick-guide-effective-training-financial-investigations) by Head of Training ICAR, Phyllis Atkinson.\n*   Download our [2019 Annual Report](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FBasel%20Institute%20Annual%20Report%202019.pdf).","2020-05-31","working-together-against-a-common-enemy-how-icar-training-promotes-inter-agency-relations-1758","Working together against a common enemy: how ICAR training promotes inter-agency relations","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F43962f7f-d261-4e61-bfc8-445bb0ce8d95?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[143],7417,[145],"Asset Recovery",[147],"Training",[],1758,[151],"Asset Recovery and Enforcement",[147],[],[],[23],[],"2023-03-27T08:29:57.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:25.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fworking-together-against-a-common-enemy-how-icar-training-promotes-inter-agency-relations-1758",{"id":162,"body":163,"status":6,"type":10,"date":164,"slug":165,"title":166,"image":167,"countries":168,"topic":169,"activity":171,"tags":173,"nid":182,"topics":183,"activities":184,"authors":185,"images":187,"websites":188,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":189,"translation_of":21,"user_created":41,"date_created":190,"user_updated":131,"date_updated":191,"content":192,"link":193},9549,"As world leaders gather this week at COP26 to negotiate their climate change commitments, we ask – will they include a credible commitment to fight corruption?\n\nBecause if there is one thing that will scupper efforts to address the climate crisis, it is corruption. Yet corruption is strangely missing from the conversation. Here are some things that deserve to be talked about louder.\n\n### Stealing money from climate and clean energy projects\n\nAt a basic level, renewable energy and climate mitigation or adaptation projects are as vulnerable to embezzlement and fraud as any other major public investment.\n\nIndeed clean energy is a lucrative business for criminals. When a [Sicilian renewable energy entrepreneur](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fworld\u002F2019\u002Foct\u002F01\u002Fsicilys-king-of-wind-guilty-of-bankrolling-top-mafia-fugitive) was jailed in 2018 for a corrupt scheme involving securing windfarm permits, EUR 1.3 billion in illicit funds were confiscated plus assets including 43 companies, 98 properties and fleets of cars and boats.\n\nDid you pay extra to offset your carbon footprint last year? Carbon offsetting programmes and nature-based climate mitigation solutions, like the [REDD+ forest conservation scheme](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.u4.no\u002Fpublications\u002Fredd-integrity-an-evidence-based-approach-to-anti-corruption-in-redd) and [similar internationally funded projects](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cmi.no\u002Fpublications\u002Ffile\u002F4478-unready-for-redd.pdf), are a really important part of our global response to climate change. But they are also vulnerable to corruption. They can even fuel it, by channelling cash into contexts with weak governance and few controls.\n\nCorrupt elites have a lot of practice in [capturing foreign aid](http:\u002F\u002Fdocuments1.worldbank.org\u002Fcurated\u002Fen\u002F493201582052636710\u002Fpdf\u002FElite-Capture-of-Foreign-Aid-Evidence-from-Offshore-Bank-Accounts.pdf). So when there is a lack of transparency and accountability in the allocation and tracking of climate funding – not to mention allegations of [financial mismanagement](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.thegenevaobserver.com\u002Fpost\u002Fundp-s-global-environment-facility-linked-once-again-with-allegations-of-fraud-and-corruption) – corrupt officials find it even easier to game the system.\n\nAnd at an even bigger scale are the [corruption risks in emissions trading schemes](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.u4.no\u002Fpublications\u002Fcarbon-market-corruption-risks-and-mitigation-strategies), important to achieving net zero, but only effective when they are free from corruption.\n\n### Weakening laws, skewing incentives, undermining investment\n\nBeyond the usual theft of funds, corruption in climate finance is known to “negatively impact climate change interventions, undermining mitigation efforts to reduce emissions and decreasing the quality of adaptation infrastructure”, according to this [U4 Brief on Corruption and Climate Finance](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.u4.no\u002Fpublications\u002Fcorruption-and-climate-finance).\n\nBribery, kickbacks, conflicts of interest and other forms of corruption can among other things:\n\n*   Weaken environmental regulations, for example with the result that consumers are sold [illegally logged wood](https:\u002F\u002Feia-global.org\u002Freports\u002F20190325-toxic-trade), eat fish from a global catch that is alleged to be up to [50 percent illegal, unregulated and unreported](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.economist.com\u002Finternational\u002F2020\u002F10\u002F24\u002Fillegal-fishing-fleets-plunder-the-oceans), and drive electric vehicles packed with minerals from a mining sector plagued by [corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fnews\u002F2017\u002Fdec\u002F22\u002Fparadise-papers-us-sanctions-billionaire-dealings-drc) and other abuses.\n*   Negatively influence project choices by skewing decision-makers’ incentives towards building unnecessary [infrastructure](https:\u002F\u002Finfrastructuretransparency.org\u002F) or opting for large and [non-renewable energy projects](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.u4.no\u002Ftopics\u002Foil-gas-and-mining\u002Fbasics) that offer greater possibilities for nepotism and bribes.\n*   Enable industry lobbies to have undue influence on government policies, which may explain some countries’ reluctance to move away from fossil fuels and even to attempt to [water down the findings](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fnews\u002Fscience-environment-58982445) of scientific reports.  \n\nIf the above factors weren’t enough to stymie investment in sensible and well-governed climate mitigation and adaptation projects, there’s another: numerous studies [such as this one by the EBRD](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ebrd.com\u002Fdocuments\u002Foce\u002Fdoes-corruption-matter-for-sources-of-foreign-direct-investment.pdf) show that “corruption imposes additional costs on investors and increases uncertainty surrounding future costs and revenues”. And we stand now at a point in history in which effective climate-related investment is an essential driver for slowing down and stopping climate change.\n\n### Destroying trust, hindering humanitarian action\n\nWhatever happens at COP26 and beyond, we can expect climate change to deliver us more frequent humanitarian disasters in the form of floods, droughts, heatwaves and the resulting mass migration.\n\nYet when disaster strikes, corruption and its co-conspirators – lack of transparency and accountability – [hinder humanitarian action](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fcorruption-natural-disaster-situations-can-our-experiences-help-prevent-corruption-related).\n\nAnd it’s not just about cash and emergencies, of course, but about the corrupt [informal networks](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublic-governance\u002Fresearch-projects\u002Finformal-governance) and collusion that stifle progress towards the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and destroy social trust.\n\n### Can real commitments to fight corruption contribute to climate change goals?\n\nYes, they can and they must.\n\nFirst, for the money. If corruption deprives countries of funds desperately needed to address climate change and achieve the SDGs, then there is an obvious solution.\n\nThe World Economic Forum [estimated in 2019](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.weforum.org\u002Fagenda\u002F2019\u002F12\u002Fcorruption-global-problem-statistics-cost\u002F) that “Corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion, and other illicit financial flows cost developing countries $1.26 trillion per year.”\n\nThat is more than 10 times the [USD 100 billion that rich countries promised](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nature.com\u002Farticles\u002Fd41586-021-02846-3) to send annually to help developing countries address climate change under the 2015 Paris Agreement (that promise was broken, but that is a different story).\n\nIt is more than double even the UN’s [highest estimate](https:\u002F\u002Fnews.un.org\u002Fen\u002Fstory\u002F2021\u002F06\u002F1094762) of annual investment needed for climate adaptation in developing countries, which ranges from USD 140 to 500 billion per year.\n\nYou could do any number of sums with any number of estimates – the results give the same clear message. Stop corruption, Minister, and there’s your budget for the ambitious climate change strategy that your people and the planet need. With change to spare.\n\nSecond, fighting corruption is not only about the money. It’s about creating just, safe societies where citizens can trust politicians and institutions to act in their interest.\n\nIn our work at the Basel Institute, we see that this vision can be very real. We see how anti-corruption and asset recovery efforts can not only mobilise significant funding for sustainable development, but also, as we show in our [Working Paper on Recovering Assets in Support of the SDGs](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fworking-paper-29-recovering-assets-support-sdgs-soft-hard-assets-development) “strengthen some of its key foundations of sustainable development, such as the rule of law and strong, transparent and accountable institutions”.\n\nPrecisely the level of governance that is needed to bring everyone on board in tackling climate change, domestically and internationally.\n\n### Corruption affects the whole of humanity and our future world\n\nCorruption is not a standalone topic to be dealt with at [corruption-focused conferences](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unodc.org\u002Funodc\u002Fen\u002Fcorruption\u002FCOSP\u002Fconference-of-the-states-parties.html) or only by government anti-corruption agencies, corporate compliance departments and civil society organisations with an anti-corruption mission.\n\nCorruption affects the whole of humanity and profoundly hurts people, especially the most vulnerable, directly and indirectly through its negative impact on climate change. [Green corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) destroys our environment, our wildlife and biodiversity, and the natural resources we depend upon for our lives and livelihoods, at a time they most need protection.\n\nSo as the politicians debate their climate commitments at COP26 this week, perhaps those who really care about the planet and its people can bring corruption into the conversation.","2021-11-01","cop26-is-corruption-on-the-agenda-2125","COP26: Is corruption on the agenda?","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F67e35acf-439a-4423-bed1-d20d802ce501?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[145,170,112,113],"Green Corruption",[172],"Insights",[174,178],{"tags_id":175},{"id":176,"name":177},1303,"Environment",{"tags_id":179},{"id":180,"name":181},1380,"Sustainability",2125,[151,170,124],[172],[186],1180,[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:52:20.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:41.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fcop26-is-corruption-on-the-agenda-2125",{"id":195,"body":196,"status":6,"type":10,"date":138,"slug":197,"title":198,"image":199,"countries":200,"topic":202,"activity":203,"tags":204,"nid":205,"topics":206,"activities":207,"authors":208,"images":209,"websites":210,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":211,"translation_of":21,"user_created":41,"date_created":212,"user_updated":131,"date_updated":213,"content":214,"link":215},9731,"As we write in our 2019 Annual Report, our [International Centre for Asset Recovery](\u002Fnode\u002F25) continues to be one of the only organisations specialised in the recovery of stolen assets. Our focus is on supporting our partner countries in particularly complex cases and the introduction of new working methods and legal and investigative tools.\n\nIn this short piece published in the Annual Report, Dr Hamilton Castro, Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor in Peru, explains how the impacts of our joint work go far beyond the money recovered:\n\n> In 2019 I celebrated, with my colleagues in the Peruvian justice system and partners at the Basel Institute, a landmark decision in Peru’s first ever asset recovery case based on a new non-conviction-based confiscation law. \n> \n> The case relates to a bank account containing laundered money from a Peruvian navy general who is now deceased. For this reason, a criminal conviction of the general was not possible. The Peruvian courts have declared that the money belongs to Peru and should be returned in line with precedents in cases involving Luxembourg and Switzerland. \n> \n> This case, like many others in my career, has benefited greatly from strategic advice and assistance in international judicial cooperation provided by the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery. The experts’ support in these matters has so far helped my office to recover around USD 35 million in funds that were stashed in foreign accounts and linked to serious acts of state corruption in Peru. \n> \n> I believe the benefits to Peru go far beyond the money recovered. All the cases on which we have worked together are helping to build pathways for greater international collaboration on asset recovery. They are helping to restore citizens’ trust in the judicial system. \n> \n> And our joint achievements deliver an implicit message to criminals: justice may take time, but she does not forget. \n\n### Find out more\n\n*   Read an interview with Dr Hamilton Castro describing the case and its implications in detail in English ([Landmark asset recovery case puts Peruvian non-conviction-based confiscation legislation to the test](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Flandmark-asset-recovery-case-puts-peruvian-non-conviction-based-confiscation-legislation-test)) and Spanish ([Un caso histórico de recuperación de activos pone a prueba la legislación peruana de Extinción de Dominio](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fun-caso-historico-de-recuperacion-de-activos-pone-prueba-la-legislacion-peruana-de-extincion)).\n*   See the submission by the Basel Institute on Governance to the [UNGASS on enabling full cooperation in asset recovery matters](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Frecommendations-ungass-enabling-full-cooperation-asset-recovery-matters), which includes a recommendation on Non-Conviction Based Confiscation (NCBC) measures such as the one used in this case.\n*   Download our [2019 Annual Report](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FBasel%20Institute%20Annual%20Report%202019.pdf).","our-message-to-criminals-justice-may-take-time-but-she-does-not-forget-1760","Our message to criminals: justice may take time, but she does not forget ","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F58c08f24-0f94-4274-970f-09727936347a?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[201],7416,[145],[116],[],1760,[151],[116],[],[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:54:54.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:52.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Four-message-to-criminals-justice-may-take-time-but-she-does-not-forget-1760",{"id":217,"body":218,"status":6,"type":219,"date":220,"slug":221,"title":222,"image":223,"countries":224,"topic":226,"activity":227,"tags":230,"nid":231,"topics":232,"activities":233,"authors":234,"images":235,"websites":236,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":237,"translation_of":21,"user_created":41,"date_created":238,"user_updated":131,"date_updated":213,"content":239,"link":240},9736,"In her Annual Report presentation to the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique broadcast on national television, the Attorney General of Mozambique, Beatriz Buchili, emphasised the need for approval of a new Asset Recovery Bill.\n\nThis important law will provide Mozambique with more effective ways to recover stolen assets. It also establishes the new Mozambican Asset Recovery Office and Asset Management Office.\n\nThe creation of the Asset Recovery Office, also highlighted by the Attorney General in her presentation, is crucial to the success of the country's efforts to recover the illicit proceeds of corruption and other crimes. These multidisciplinary teams help to build sustainable specialist capacity and to facilitate inter-agency and international cooperation.\n\nThe Basel Institute's International Centre for Asset Recovery ([ICAR](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery)) encourages the creation of these specialist asset recovery units, having seen the success of similar models in its other partner countries. In Peru, for example, a specialist asset recovery unit established in 2017-18 with ICAR support continues to drive forward major asset recovery cases. It is also behind efforts to develop a comprehensive asset recovery system and maximise the potential of new confiscation laws.\n\nIn her speech, the Attorney General warmly acknowledged the support received from cooperation partners. A team of ICAR experts has been providing technical assistance to the Mozambican Prosecutor General's Office since December 2018, with funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.\n\nFind out more in our [Annual Report 2019](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FBasel%20Institute%20Annual%20Report%202019.pdf) and view a [timeline of our team's activities](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FMozambique%20tech%20assistance%20timeline.jpg) in the country.","News","2020-05-26","a-milestone-in-mozambique039s-journey-to-more-effective-recovery-of-stolen-assets-1752","A milestone in Mozambique's journey to more effective recovery of stolen assets","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F6698cb88-ff0b-42dd-bc35-86a85f3df1f5?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[225],7420,[145],[228,116,229],"Presentations","International cooperation",[],1752,[151],[228,116,229],[],[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:54:58.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fa-milestone-in-mozambique039s-journey-to-more-effective-recovery-of-stolen-assets-1752",{"id":242,"body":243,"status":6,"type":10,"date":244,"slug":245,"title":246,"image":247,"countries":248,"topic":250,"activity":252,"tags":253,"nid":254,"topics":255,"activities":256,"authors":257,"images":258,"websites":259,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":260,"translation_of":21,"user_created":41,"date_created":261,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":8,"content":262,"link":263},9728,"In these times of global crisis, strong and transparent management of public finances is even more essential. How governments manage their money has a real and immediate impact on peoples’ lives. It affects critical issues such as access to education and whether hospitals have enough trained staff and medical equipment.\n\nWe live our lives at a local level, so a country's ability to withstand a crisis depends on local and regional government officials – not just central government – having the capacity to plan, implement and execute public budgets with transparency and accountability, in line with national priorities.\n\nIn this text for our 2019 Annual Report, Ricardo Valderrama, Mayor of the Province of Cusco, Peru, offers an insight into the challenges of providing efficient public services in his province and how our team of Public Finance Management experts is helping.\n\n> The Provincial Municipality of Cusco has in its hands the government of a city that demands efficiency in public services. We strive every day to provide suitable and high-quality services for the people of Cusco and the thousands of tourists who arrive daily in our city. Their expectations are high and all of us in the public sector do everything we can to meet their demands. Services such as public safety, waste management and urban mobility are among the most important. \n> \n> In these efforts, we value greatly the support of consultants of the Subnational Public Finance Management Strengthening Programme of the Swiss SECO Cooperation. They are always by our side. With their help, we are better able to keep our sights set on the ultimate goal of our work. This enables us to achieve the sustainability, technical precision and coordination with the key sectors that we need to carry out our intended reforms.\n> \n> We hope that this work will continue with those who inherit our efforts. Cusco needs them. We are very grateful to our friends in Switzerland and to the Basel Institute on Governance as implementers of the programme.\n\n### Find out more\n\n*   Find out more about our [Public Finance Management programme in Peru](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fpublic-finance-peru). \n*   Visit the programme's [GFP Subnacional website](https:\u002F\u002Fgfpsubnacional.pe\u002F) (in Spanish).\n*   Download our [2019 Annual Report](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FBasel%20Institute%20Annual%20Report%202019.pdf).","2020-06-03","cusco-needs-them-how-strengthening-public-finance-management-helps-us-better-serve-our-citizens-1768","Cusco needs them: how strengthening Public Finance Management helps us better serve our citizens","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F26bb44ce-179c-483d-a58c-3539dbaf0798?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[249],7415,[251],"Public Finance Management",[116],[],1768,[251],[116],[],[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:54:52.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fcusco-needs-them-how-strengthening-public-finance-management-helps-us-better-serve-our-citizens-1768",{"id":265,"body":266,"status":6,"type":219,"date":267,"slug":268,"title":269,"image":270,"countries":271,"topic":273,"activity":274,"tags":275,"nid":276,"topics":277,"activities":278,"authors":279,"images":280,"websites":281,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":282,"translation_of":21,"user_created":41,"date_created":283,"user_updated":131,"date_updated":284,"content":285,"link":286},9631,"Our partners and team of asset recovery specialists in Mozambique are celebrating the entry into force of a new law on asset recovery. It significantly extends Mozambique’s capability to recover illicit assets arising from corruption and other criminal activity.\n\nThe team of experts from our International Centre for Asset Recovery ([ICAR](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery)) supported the Mozambique Office of the Attorney General in its contributions to the proposed asset recovery law. The team will continue their support following the law’s enactment, as part of a long-term assistance programme funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).\n\n### New possibilities for recovering illicit assets\n\nThe law, entitled _Regime Jurídico Especial de Perda Alargada de Bens e Recuperação de Activos_, has now been published in the official gazette. It introduces:\n\n*   New provisions for traditional confiscation of assets as well as extended confiscation (_perda alargada)._ The clear and straightforward wording of the law will help prosecutors and judges to understand the important distinction between these types of confiscation.\n*   Provision for a basic form of non-conviction based confiscation of assets as part of criminal proceedings.\n*   A special regime for gathering evidence that empowers prosecutors to order the breaking of banking and tax secrecy rules to obtain evidence.\n*   The creation of an Asset Recovery Office within the Attorney General’s Office. This formalises the work of the Multidisciplinary Team that our ICAR team has been working hard to develop over the last two years. These multidisciplinary teams or offices help to build sustainable specialist capacity and to facilitate inter-agency and international cooperation.\n*   The creation of an Asset Management Office within the department responsible for managing state property.\n\n### Milestones and the journey ahead\n\nThese are huge milestones in Mozambique’s efforts to recover the proceeds of corruption and other crimes.\n\nWe congratulate Mozambique on this step and highlight the strong support provided by the Attorney General Beatriz Buchili, who last year emphasised the need for approval of the Asset Recovery Bill in her [annual address to parliament](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fmilestone-mozambiques-journey-more-effective-recovery-stolen-assets).\n\nWe look forward to continuing to support our partners as they face the challenge of implementing and maximising the potential of the new law.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Learn more about the difference between traditional and extended confiscation of assets in [Carla Monteiro’s quick guide to financial investigations and asset recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fcarla-monteiros-quick-guide-financial-investigations-and-asset-recovery).\n*   See local media articles about the new law in Portuguese: DW: [Moçambique: Lei de recuperação de ativos aprovada com consenso de todos os partidos](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dw.com\u002Fpt-002\u002Fmo%C3%A7ambique-lei-de-recupera%C3%A7%C3%A3o-de-ativos-aprovada-com-consenso-de-todos-os-partidos\u002Fa-55500917) and Carta de Moçambique: [Já temos Lei de Recuperação de Activos](https:\u002F\u002Fcartamz.com\u002Findex.php\u002Fpolitica\u002Fitem\u002F6484-ja-temos-lei-de-recuperacao-de-activos).\n*   See a [timeline](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FMozambique%20tech%20assistance%20timeline.jpg) of our team’s assistance to the Mozambique Attorney General’s Office, as published in our 2019 Annual Report.","2021-01-20","mozambique-asset-recovery-bill-becomes-law-heralding-new-era-in-the-fight-against-corruption-1960","Mozambique: Asset Recovery Bill becomes law, heralding new era in the fight against corruption","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fa97ee25f-7716-4b60-b0c4-79da5355f9fc?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[272],7357,[145],[116],[],1960,[151],[116],[],[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:53:32.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:47.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fmozambique-asset-recovery-bill-becomes-law-heralding-new-era-in-the-fight-against-corruption-1960",{"id":288,"body":289,"status":6,"type":10,"date":244,"slug":290,"title":291,"image":292,"countries":293,"topic":294,"activity":298,"tags":299,"nid":300,"topics":301,"activities":302,"authors":303,"images":304,"websites":305,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":306,"translation_of":21,"user_created":41,"date_created":307,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":8,"content":308,"link":309},9729,"The [Banknote Ethics Initiative](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.bnei.com\u002F) (BnEI) has made great strides since 2013 in promoting the highest standards of integrity and fair competition in the banknote sector. Now it's one of the first business-led initiatives to promote Integrity Pacts as a tool to safeguard banknote-related procurement from corruption risks.\n\nThe high level of confidentiality needed in this sector adds an extra challenge to the mix. The BnEI's Chairman, Antti Heinonen, gives a short insight into the project in the text below, which also appears in our 2019 Annual Report:\n\n> BnEI is a Collective Action that focuses on preventing corruption and compliance with antitrust law within the banknote industry. Central banks are the major customer group of the industry, and BnEI has teamed up with the Basel Institute to develop new preventive approaches to safeguard banknote procurement e.g via Integrity Pacts. \n> \n> The highlight in 2019 was the joint staffing by the BnEI and Basel Institute of an information booth at the 2019 Currency Conference with more than 700 delegates and representation from 70 central banks. \n> \n> The information booth represented an excellent opportunity to make contacts within the target audience, and provided increasing attention and scrutiny by central banks to the integrity practices within the industry. It also resulted in the first invitation by a central bank to provide an in-depth presentation and has provided us with greater insights to better define our strategy going forward. \n\n### Find out more\n\n*   See our news item about how the Basel Institute on Governance and BnEI are partnering to [raise integrity and transparency in the banknote industry](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fraising-integrity-and-transparency-banknote-industry-through-integrity-pacts) through Integrity Pacts.\n*   Download a flyer on the [BnEI Integrity Pacts project](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-04\u002FBNEI_Basel_flyer.pdf) published in collaboration with the Basel Institute.\n*   Read an article on [Integrity Pacts to Prevent Corruption in Banknote Procurement](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2019-02\u002Fintegritypactsbanknotes.pdf) by Mirna Adjami, published in _Currency News_ in 2018. \n*   Visit our [Integrity Pacts resource site](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnode\u002F1526) on the B20 Collective Action Hub.\n*   Download our [2019 Annual Report](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-05\u002FBasel%20Institute%20Annual%20Report%202019.pdf).","developing-new-preventive-approaches-to-safeguard-banknote-procurement-1759","Developing new preventive approaches to safeguard banknote procurement","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F9be0f1f7-7650-41a2-986f-af4214dc0e2b?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[295,296,297],"Collective Action","Integrity Pacts","Private Sector",[116],[],1759,[295,296,297],[116],[],[],[23,295],[],"2022-05-26T22:54:53.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fdeveloping-new-preventive-approaches-to-safeguard-banknote-procurement-1759",{"left":311,"top":311,"width":312,"height":312,"rotate":311,"vFlip":313,"hFlip":313,"body":314},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>",1780676369723]