[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":362},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-cop26-is-corruption-on-the-agenda-2125":3,"news-cop26-is-corruption-on-the-agenda-2125-similar":100,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":357},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"date":12,"topic":13,"slug":18,"activity":19,"nid":21,"topics":22,"activities":25,"programme":26,"area":26,"websites":27,"language":26,"image":29,"translation_of":26,"countries":40,"tags":41,"authors":79,"images":97,"translations":98,"content":99},9549,"published","2022-05-26T22:52:20.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:41.000Z","COP26: Is corruption on the agenda?","Blog","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",[14,15,16,17],"Asset Recovery","Green Corruption","Prevention"," Research and Innovation","cop26-is-corruption-on-the-agenda-2125",[20],"Insights",2125,[23,15,24],"Asset Recovery and Enforcement","Prevention Research and Innovation",[20],null,[28],"Main page",{"id":30,"storage":31,"filename_disk":32,"filename_download":33,"title":9,"type":34,"created_on":35,"modified_on":35,"charset":26,"filesize":36,"width":37,"height":38,"duration":26,"embed":26,"description":26,"location":26,"tags":26,"metadata":39,"focal_point_x":26,"focal_point_y":26,"tus_id":26,"tus_data":26,"uploaded_on":35},"67e35acf-439a-4423-bed1-d20d802ce501","local","67e35acf-439a-4423-bed1-d20d802ce501.webp","tmp.webp","image\u002Fwebp","2025-05-12T21:17:26.000Z",50872,1400,880,{},[],[42,63],{"id":43,"news_id":44,"tags_id":60},5781,{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":45,"date_created":7,"user_updated":46,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":30,"date":12,"topic":47,"slug":18,"activity":48,"nid":21,"topics":49,"activities":50,"programme":26,"area":26,"websites":51,"translation_of":26,"language":26,"countries":52,"tags":53,"authors":55,"images":57,"translations":58,"content":59},"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6",[14,15,16,17],[20],[23,15,24],[20],[28],[],[43,54],5782,[56],1180,[],[],[],{"id":61,"name":62},1303,"Environment",{"id":54,"news_id":64,"tags_id":76},{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":45,"date_created":7,"user_updated":46,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":30,"date":12,"topic":65,"slug":18,"activity":66,"nid":21,"topics":67,"activities":68,"programme":26,"area":26,"websites":69,"translation_of":26,"language":26,"countries":70,"tags":71,"authors":72,"images":73,"translations":74,"content":75},[14,15,16,17],[20],[23,15,24],[20],[28],[],[43,54],[56],[],[],[],{"id":77,"name":78},1380,"Sustainability",[80],{"id":56,"news_id":81,"authors_id":93},{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":45,"date_created":7,"user_updated":46,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":30,"date":12,"topic":82,"slug":18,"activity":83,"nid":21,"topics":84,"activities":85,"programme":26,"area":26,"websites":86,"translation_of":26,"language":26,"countries":87,"tags":88,"authors":89,"images":90,"translations":91,"content":92},[14,15,16,17],[20],[23,15,24],[20],[28],[],[43,54],[56],[],[],[],{"id":94,"name":95,"position":26,"image":96},296,"Monica Guy","6d95cf25-5e8f-4eb1-b46a-daca726475db",[],[],[],[101,134,165,188,212,245,268,296,317,338],{"id":102,"body":103,"status":6,"type":104,"date":105,"slug":106,"title":107,"image":108,"countries":109,"topic":113,"activity":114,"tags":116,"nid":123,"topics":124,"activities":125,"authors":126,"images":127,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":128,"translations":129,"translation_of":26,"user_created":45,"date_created":130,"user_updated":45,"date_updated":131,"content":132,"link":133},10613,"Carbon markets are meant to help finance forest protection and climate action. Yet too often they are undermined by weak governance, corruption risks and a lack of transparency.\n\nConcerns over the credibility of some carbon credits erode trust in a system designed to channel climate finance and support forest-dependent communities.\n\nA new international project aims to address these challenges head-on by strengthening governance and anti-corruption safeguards across forest carbon markets. The Basel Institute on Governance is pleased to join this effort as a project partner, contributing its expertise through the Green Corruption programme.\n\n### A collaborative effort for better carbon market governance\n\nThe project, [Towards Inclusive Governance for Forest Carbon Markets](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.transparency.org\u002Fen\u002Fprojects\u002Ftowards-inclusive-governance-for-forest-carbon-markets), is led by Transparency International and funded by the UK Government through the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) [Forest Governance, Markets and Climate](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gov.uk\u002Finternational-development-funding\u002Fforest-governance-markets-and-climate-fgmc2-programme-accountable-grants) programme.\n\nRunning until March 2028, the initiative brings together a consortium including the Basel Institute on Governance, Resource Extraction Monitoring and local Transparency International chapters in focus countries. Together, the partners will work to reduce corruption risks in forest carbon markets and strengthen the integrity of carbon credit systems.\n\nThe project will focus on three key countries – Indonesia, Ghana and Cameroon – supporting governments, civil society organisations, certifiers, private sector actors and forest-dependent communities to better identify and mitigate corruption risks linked to carbon credit projects.\n\nCarbon markets are inherently transnational: credits may be generated in one country, verified in another and purchased in a third. This complexity creates opportunities for corruption networks to exploit regulatory gaps, conflicts of interest and weak oversight mechanisms. The project aims to close those gaps by combining evidence generation, national advocacy and international engagement.\n\n### Bringing anti-corruption expertise to forest carbon markets\n\nThe Basel Institute will play a central role through our [Green Corruption programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption), which focuses on tackling corruption linked to environmental crimes and natural resource governance.\n\nOur team is leading the project’s first major output: consolidating available data, gathering evidence to identify typologies of corruption risks in forest carbon markets and developing global, gender-sensitive guidelines to help prevent them.\n\n*   Working closely with partners and national stakeholders, we are leading the organisation of corruption risk identification workshops in Indonesia and Ghana. These workshops will bring together key actors across the carbon market ecosystem to map corruption vulnerabilities in carbon markets systems and identify practical actions to mitigate these risks. The findings will feed into country-specific risk assessments.\n*   In parallel, our team is conducting an assessment of global carbon markets governance dynamics and vulnerabilities to corruption.\n*   Ultimately national and international assessments will inform the development of global guidelines, which will be designed to strengthen anti-corruption safeguards across carbon markets.\n*   These global guidelines will then support advocacy and reform efforts led by Transparency International and its national chapters.\n*   We will also contribute to global advocacy efforts by advising international certification bodies and other actors on improving safeguards and governance standards in carbon markets.\n\nDr Amanda Cabrejo le Roux, Deputy Director of the Basel Institute’s Green Corruption programme, said:\n\n> _“Carbon markets hold real promise for forests, communities, and the climate_ _— but promise alone isn't protection. Like any system that moves money at scale, they are vulnerable to those who would bend the rules for personal gain. The first step is a rigorous analysis of corruption risks: mapping_ _scenarios and building clear typologies, through sector-wide workshops and consultations with all key stakeholders. From there, those same actors can work together to develop practical mitigation measures_ _— building a system that is genuinely resilient. That is exactly what this project sets out to do.\"_\n\n### Part of a wider “green” governance agenda\n\nThe project aligns with the Basel Institute’s Green Corruption strategy, which increasingly focuses on corruption and governance challenges linked to climate change and the global energy transition.\n\nForest carbon markets involve complex financial flows, transnational actors and high-stakes environmental outcomes, making strong governance and anti-corruption safeguards essential.\n\nWith years of experience analysing corruption risks in environmental and natural resource sectors and beyond, the Basel Institute is well placed to contribute to this work.\n\nBy contributing our expertise to the project, we aim to help ensure that carbon markets deliver on their promise: protecting forests, supporting communities and advancing credible climate action.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   View the full [project overview](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.transparency.org\u002Fen\u002Fprojects\u002Ftowards-inclusive-governance-for-forest-carbon-markets) on the Transparency International website.\n*   Interested in corruption and governance in the environmental space? Join the [Countering Environmental Corruption Practitioners Forum](https:\u002F\u002Fenvironmental-corruption.org\u002F), a global community of practitioners jointly led by the Basel Institute on Governance, Transparency International, WWF and TRAFFIC.","News","2026-05-27","new-international-project-targets-corruption-risks-in-carbon-markets-2973","New international project targets corruption risks in carbon markets","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F2c25ec09-133d-47b9-a236-7cdd888ae525?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[110,111,112],7810,7811,7812,[15],[115],"Partnerships",[117,121],{"tags_id":118},{"id":119,"name":120},859,"Corruption risks",{"tags_id":122},{"id":61,"name":62},2973,[15],[115],[],[],"English",[],"2026-06-04T21:13:42.000Z","2026-06-04T21:13:43.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-international-project-targets-corruption-risks-in-carbon-markets-2973",{"id":135,"body":136,"status":6,"type":104,"date":137,"slug":138,"title":139,"image":140,"countries":141,"topic":143,"activity":144,"tags":145,"nid":156,"topics":157,"activities":158,"authors":159,"images":160,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":128,"translations":161,"translation_of":26,"user_created":45,"date_created":131,"user_updated":45,"date_updated":162,"content":163,"link":164},10614,"Malawi’s forests and wildlife are under growing pressure from illegal exploitation, driven by rising demand for natural resources and enabled by corruption and illicit financial flows. From illegal logging to wildlife trafficking, environmental crimes not only threaten biodiversity and local livelihoods, but also weaken public institutions and deprive the country of vital resources for sustainable development.\n\n> Charcoal illustrates the complex challenges involved: According to Malawi’s National Charcoal Strategy 2017–2027, 97% of households rely on illegally and unsustainably sourced charcoal and firewood for cooking and heating. In response to the resulting deforestation and forest degradation, the government has tightened enforcement against illegal wood harvesting and charcoal production while promoting alternative cooking fuels.\n\nBuilding on several years of collaboration with government partners in Malawi, the Basel Institute on Governance is launching a new project to strengthen the country’s response to environment-related financial crime and corruption.\n\nThe three-year initiative, _Mainstreaming Malawi’s progress in tackling environment-related financial crime and corruption_, is funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and implemented through the Basel Institute’s Green Corruption programme.\n\nActivities have commenced on the ground and will run through to June 2028.\n\n### A joined-up approach: enforcement and prevention\n\nThe project supports Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Department of Forestry and Anti-Corruption Bureau in strengthening both enforcement capacities and corruption prevention systems linked to wildlife and forestry crimes.\n\nRather than focusing solely on individual criminal cases, the initiative takes a broader institutional approach. It combines financial investigation techniques and case-based mentoring with efforts focusing on prevention to strengthen internal controls, improve inter-agency coordination and reduce corruption vulnerabilities within environmental agencies themselves.\n\nAmong the planned activities are:\n\n*   mentoring investigators and prosecutors working on corruption and money laundering cases linked to wildlife and forestry crime;\n*   supporting the development of digital case registration and tracking systems to strengthen case management from investigation to prosecution;\n*   helping Institutional Integrity Committees and internal auditors identify and mitigate corruption risks; and\n*   developing training, practical guidance and knowledge products to support long-term institutional capacity.\n\nDr Amanda Cabrejo le Roux, Deputy Director of Green Corruption and the project lead, said:\n\n> _“This project represents a significant step forward in our efforts to support environmental agencies in protecting Malawi’s wildlife and natural resources, while also reinforcing institutional integrity. By combining financial investigation techniques with robust prevention systems, we help our government partners create a sustainable framework for countering financial crime linked to the environment.”_\n\n### Building on proven partnerships\n\nThe project expands on [earlier DEFRA-funded work](https:\u002F\u002Fiwt.challengefund.org.uk\u002Fproject\u002FXXIWT117) implemented jointly by the Basel Institute and the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, which helped strengthen anti-corruption responses to wildlife crime through a combination of enforcement support and corruption prevention measures.\n\nThrough this and over a decade of engagement in Malawi, we enjoy strong working relationships with Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Department of Forestry and Malawi Police Service – partnerships that now provide the foundation for broader and more ambitious work on environment-related financial crime.\n\nThe initiative also connects to the Basel Institute’s wider Green Corruption programme, which supports governments and partners around the world in addressing corruption linked to environmental crime, climate change and the global energy transition.\n\nAs global demand for timber, minerals and other natural resources increases, corruption risks linked to environmental exploitation are becoming more complex and transnational. Through our work in Malawi and beyond, the Basel Institute aims to strengthen the governance systems needed to protect natural resources, safeguard communities and ensure environmental policies can be effectively enforced.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Find out about the [Green Corruption programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption).\n*   Interested in corruption and governance in the environmental space? Join the [Countering Environmental Corruption Practitioners Forum](https:\u002F\u002Fenvironmental-corruption.org\u002F), a global community of practitioners jointly led by the Basel Institute on Governance, Transparency International, WWF and TRAFFIC.","2026-05-26","advancing-malawis-efforts-against-corruption-and-environmental-crime-2974","Advancing Malawi’s efforts against corruption and environmental crime","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F40863cc9-1058-40d7-a0e5-404a96dc9ae9?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[142],7813,[15],[115],[146,148,152],{"tags_id":147},{"id":61,"name":62},{"tags_id":149},{"id":150,"name":151},1373,"Corruption prevention",{"tags_id":153},{"id":154,"name":155},1374,"Law enforcement",2974,[15],[115],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:44.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fadvancing-malawis-efforts-against-corruption-and-environmental-crime-2974",{"id":166,"body":167,"status":6,"type":104,"date":168,"slug":169,"title":170,"image":171,"countries":172,"topic":174,"activity":175,"tags":177,"nid":178,"topics":179,"activities":180,"authors":181,"images":182,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":128,"translations":183,"translation_of":26,"user_created":45,"date_created":184,"user_updated":46,"date_updated":185,"content":186,"link":187},10605,"> These administrative steps are where asset recovery really happens… when dirty assets are transformed into resources that support law enforcement and serve the public good.\n\nWith these words, [Oscar Solórzano](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fpeople\u002Foscar-solorzano), Head of Latin America at the Basel Institute on Governance, captured the often unseen but transformative impact of asset recovery. \n\nHis remark follows a high-level meeting in Peru marking the final phase of a pioneering international agreement.\n\nOn 26 March 2026, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Peru hosted the Meeting of the States Parties to the [Tripartite Agreement between Peru, Switzerland and Luxembourg](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fit-takes-three-tango-switzerland-luxembourg-and-peru-sign-agreement-return-usd-26-million) on the transfer of confiscated assets. \n\nOpened by Minister Luis Enrique Jiménez Borra, the meeting brought together key Peruvian institutions alongside representatives of the Swiss authorities to review progress, assess institutional impact and discuss the next steps towards closure.\n\n### From frozen assets to public benefit\n\nThrough this cooperation, assets derived from corruption cases and previously frozen abroad have been returned to Peru and reinvested in strengthening the justice system. \n\nProjects funded under the agreement have enhanced the capacity to investigate and prosecute corruption and organised crime, improved coordination between institutions and strengthened mechanisms for asset recovery and asset management.\n\nThe National Program for Seized Assets ([PRONABI](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gob.pe\u002Fpronabi)) has overseen the transparent and accountable administration of these funds, ensuring they directly support institutions at the forefront of combating corruption.\n\nHighlighting the broader significance of the initiative, Minister Jiménez Borra stated:\n\n> International cooperation can turn assets derived from corruption into concrete tools for strengthening justice and public integrity. The Tripartite Agreement shows how recovered assets can be reinvested to benefit citizens and strengthen the rule of law.\n\n### Strong international partnership and Swiss engagement\n\nPeru’s tripartite collaboration with Switzerland and Luxembourg has provided a strong framework for cooperation. It demonstrates how countries can work together to return illicit assets in a transparent and impactful way. \n\nThe Basel Institute on Governance, through its [International Centre for Asset Recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery) (ICAR), has played a central role in supporting implementation by providing technical advice and accompanying institutions throughout the process. \n\nPaul Garnier, Ambassador of Switzerland to Peru, noted: \n\n> This meeting provides an important opportunity to review the current status of the project and the progress achieved so far. Switzerland also values the continued technical support provided by the Basel Institute on Governance throughout the implementation of this initiative. \n\nDuring the technical session, Oscar Solórzano and [Límberg Chero](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fpeople\u002Flimberg-chero), a senior member of the Basel Institute’s [Public Finance Management programme in Peru](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublic-finance-peru), shared reflections on the implementation, impact and sustainability of the projects.\n\nCelso Alfredo Saavedra Sobrados, Executive Coordinator of PRONABI, emphasise that:\n\n> PRONABI has worked to ensure that the restituted funds are administered with transparency, efficiency and accountability, so that they directly contribute to strengthening the institutions responsible for combating corruption.\n\nHe also highlighted the close and timely technical support provided by the Basel Institute on Governance during the implementation of the project.\n\n### Setting a regional example for asset recovery\n\nThe experience demonstrates how sustained international cooperation, combined with targeted technical support, can ensure that recovered assets deliver tangible benefits for citizens and reinforce the rule of law.\n\nIt also offers a compelling example for other jurisdictions, showing that asset return can be both practical and impactful when underpinned by trust, transparency and shared objectives. \n\nThe hope is that this model will inspire further mutually beneficial efforts to return stolen assets and put them to work for the public good.","2026-04-02","where-asset-recovery-really-happens-peru-advances-landmark-restitution-initiative-2949","Where asset recovery really happens: Peru advances landmark restitution initiative","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Facf1f9c4-3c0f-46da-a4c6-cb846ceacb26?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[173],7806,[14],[176],"International cooperation",[],2949,[23],[176],[],[],[],"2026-04-15T22:45:17.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:39.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fwhere-asset-recovery-really-happens-peru-advances-landmark-restitution-initiative-2949",{"id":189,"body":190,"status":6,"type":104,"date":191,"slug":192,"title":193,"image":194,"countries":195,"topic":197,"activity":198,"tags":200,"nid":203,"topics":204,"activities":205,"authors":206,"images":207,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":128,"translations":208,"translation_of":26,"user_created":45,"date_created":184,"user_updated":45,"date_updated":209,"content":210,"link":211},10606,"A high-level meeting in La Paz, Bolivia brought together senior government officials and international partners to address a key driver of environmental crime: corruption. The event was one of the first public activities under the Basel Institute on Governance’s new UK-funded programme, _“Building a global network to prevent biodiversity-related corruption.”_\n\nParticipating authorities signed a joint declaration to strengthen integrity and prevent “green corruption” in the management of natural resources. \n\nThis is an important step. Strong political will is essential to tackle corruption risks that undermine conservation. The declaration shows a clear commitment by government partners to take action.\n\nThe event in March 2026 was jointly organised by the Basel Institute’s [Green Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) team in Latin America, Bolivia’s Vice Ministry of Transparency, Legal Certainty and Human Rights, and the Forest and Land Authority (ABT).\n\nSessions combined international perspectives – including from Peru’s Secretariat for Public Integrity and Basel Institute experts – with practical group work. Participants analysed real corruption risks affecting environmental governance and explored concrete prevention measures. \n\nThe event built on previous programmes in Bolivia and the region, particularly in the forestry sector, where partners have already made important progress in strengthening integrity systems.\n\n### A major driver of biodiversity loss? Corruption\n\nCorruption is a major enabler of environmental crime and illegal wildlife trade. It weakens law enforcement, undermines regulations and reduces the impact of conservation efforts. \n\nYet most responses still focus on enforcement alone. Preventing corruption risks in the first place remains largely overlooked.\n\n### Prevention, not just enforcement\n\nThis is what the Basel Institute’s new programme aims to change. Running until the end of 2028, the programme supports government partners in Bolivia, Indonesia, Madagascar and Malawi. It is funded by the [Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund](https:\u002F\u002Fiwt.challengefund.org.uk\u002F) of the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.\n\nInstead of focusing only on catching crimes, it focuses on stopping them from happening. \n\nA particular focus is on strengthening everyday administrative systems. This is where corruption most often undermines conservation outcomes. The programme will help partner agencies to identify where corruption occurs in processes such as licensing, inspections and resource management.\n\nOur teams will then help partners to design and implement practical measures to reduce those risks. It is in this patient, detailed work with frontline officials that the real impact actually happens.\n\n### A safe space for governments to learn from each other\n\nA key innovation is the creation of a Wildlife Corruption Prevention Support Network.\n\nThis network brings together government practitioners from different countries to openly discuss challenges, share experiences and test ideas. This kind of frank, practical exchange is rare, but essential.\n\nIt allows partners to learn directly from each other, avoid repeating mistakes and move faster.\n\n### Scaling what works globally\n\nThe programme will also develop a global database of tested anti-corruption measures. This will capture practical tools, lessons learned and real-world examples.\n\nTogether, the network and the database will help countries scale what works, rather than starting from scratch.\n\nBy strengthening systems and connecting practitioners, the programme aims to reduce corruption risks at their source. In the long term, this will help protect biodiversity, curb illegal wildlife trade and support more sustainable and equitable use of natural resources.","2026-03-30","authorities-step-up-action-on-green-corruption-in-bolivia-as-new-global-programme-launches-2950","Authorities step up action on “green corruption” in Bolivia as new global programme launches","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fd223ad45-f203-45ff-8f5f-3afe47d88307?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[196],7807,[15],[199,115],"Events",[201],{"tags_id":202},{"id":61,"name":62},2950,[15],[199,115],[],[],[],"2026-04-15T22:45:18.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fauthorities-step-up-action-on-green-corruption-in-bolivia-as-new-global-programme-launches-2950",{"id":213,"body":214,"status":6,"type":10,"date":215,"slug":216,"title":217,"image":218,"countries":219,"topic":220,"activity":221,"tags":223,"nid":228,"topics":229,"activities":230,"authors":231,"images":232,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":128,"translations":233,"translation_of":26,"user_created":45,"date_created":209,"user_updated":46,"date_updated":234,"content":235,"link":244},10607,"Corruption is not just a collection of isolated acts by individuals. It is a complex, adaptive system that evolves in response to efforts to control it. And seeing it this way opens up new possibilities to tackle it more effectively.\n\nThis was the central message of a recent Basel Institute on Governance research webinar exploring how corruption evolves and what this means for designing interventions that remain effective over time.\n\nTwo senior researchers from the Basel Institute's Prevention, Research and Innovation – Dr Claudia Baez Camargo and Dr Jacopo Costa – were joined by Dr Maria Nizzero, Head of Sanctions Policy at UK Finance and Associate Research Fellow at RUSI, to explore corruption's networked nature and its implications.\n\nThese implications are practical as much as conceptual. Understanding corruption as a networked, adaptive system changes how corruption, organised crime, sanctions evasion and related threats need to be addressed in practice.\n\n### Corruption as a dynamic system\n\nA recent [academic paper](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fconceptualizing-evolution-corruption-empirical-analysis-italy) by Dr Baez Camargo and Dr Costa highlights a key gap in how corruption is typically analysed. While it is widely accepted that corrupt and criminal strategies change over time, the mechanisms driving that change have received far less attention.\n\nTheir analytical framework suggests that corruption evolves through changes in the behaviour of individuals within networks, shaped by shifts in the broader environment. These shifts may include stronger enforcement, legal and regulatory reforms, technological developments, or wider political and economic change. When new strategies prove effective, they spread across networks through collaboration, brokerage and imitation.\n\nA case study of Italy illustrates this process. In the early 1990s, corruption operated through relatively centralised, pyramidal structures linked to political parties. Over time, following scandals, reforms and increased scrutiny, this system became more fragmented and decentralised. Corrupt practices moved away from formalised exchanges and became more networked, informal and embedded in relationships.\n\nThe outcome was not less corruption, but different corruption.\n\nAs Dr Costa noted, corruption and anti-corruption are engaged in an “uninterrupted dance”, in which “very often, corrupt actors are two steps ahead of us”.\n\n### The concept of the “kleptocratic enterprise”\n\nLooking at corruption through a network lens also opens up new ways of thinking about how to tackle it.\n\n[Research by Dr Nizzero and co-authors](https:\u002F\u002Fgiace.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002FGIACE_Kleptocratic-Enterprises_NizzeroHeathershawMayne.pdf) Professor John Heathershaw and Professor Tom Mayne highlights the persistent challenges of asset recovery and enforcement in cases of large-scale corruption. Illicit wealth is often concealed through complex ownership structures, dispersed across jurisdictions and distanced from its original source over time. Legal frameworks may exist, but applying them effectively remains difficult.\n\nA key part of the problem lies in the role of professional service providers. Lawyers, accountants, real estate actors, company service providers and others help move, manage and shield assets. These actors often operate across borders and may serve a wide range of clients, including both organised crime groups and politically exposed individuals.\n\nThis has led to the idea of a “kleptocratic enterprise”: a networked system in which clients demand services such as concealment and asset protection, and a range of actors supply those services. Viewing corruption in this way shifts attention towards patterns of conduct, relationships and enabling structures.\n\nIt also suggests that tools used to tackle organised crime, such as anti-racketeering or anti-mafia approaches, may offer useful insights. These frameworks often focus on networks rather than individuals, combine multiple legal tools and allow for a broader understanding of harm, including the impact on society.\n\nAt the same time, responses must remain grounded in due process and the rule of law. Stronger measures can create new risks, including displacement of illicit activity to other jurisdictions or unintended consequences linked to overreach. The challenge is to expand the toolkit without compromising core legal principles.\n\n### When enforcement creates new risks\n\nField research by the Basel Institute under the EU-funded [FALCON project](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.falcon-horizon.eu\u002F) shows how quickly corrupt and criminal networks adapt to enforcement pressure.\n\nAt the [Port of Rotterdam](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-58), increased inspections and surveillance aimed at tackling drug trafficking made insider access more valuable. Corruption became a critical mechanism for bypassing strengthened controls, illustrating how enforcement can shift incentives in ways that reinforce the role of corruption.\n\nAt the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing between Bulgaria and Turkey, changes linked to EU accession, including new regulatory frameworks and stronger border controls, were followed by new forms of corruption and criminal activity. These included routinised extractive practices, shifts in smuggling strategies and the emergence of new actors.\n\nAcross both cases, the pattern is consistent. Measures designed to reduce corruption and illicit activity can reshape how those activities are organised and carried out.\n\n### Why networks are so resilient\n\nOne reason corruption adapts so effectively lies in the nature of the networks themselves.\n\nAs Dr Baez Camargo explains, enforcement-focused approaches can become a “whack-a-mole game” when underlying incentives remain unchanged. Efforts to close one avenue often lead to the emergence of another.\n\n[Informal networks](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fquick-guide-23-informal-networks-and-anti-corruption) are particularly resilient because they are built on more than financial exchange. Trust, personal relationships and shared social norms play a central role. These elements are difficult to detect, harder to regulate and highly adaptable.\n\nCriminal and corrupt networks are also flexible and opportunistic. They can shift strategies, routes and methods quickly, drawing on significant resources and expertise. Formal institutions, by contrast, operate within legal and procedural constraints, which can limit their ability to respond at the same pace.\n\n### Towards more adaptive responses\n\nIf corruption behaves like a complex adaptive system, anti-corruption efforts need to reflect that reality.\n\nOne emerging approach is to place greater emphasis on understanding systems rather than focusing narrowly on individual interventions. This involves mapping relationships, incentives and behavioural patterns in much greater depth, and remaining alert to how these evolve over time.\n\nIt also requires a shift away from strictly linear theories of change. Fixed indicators and predefined outcomes can miss important developments, particularly when systems are dynamic and interconnected. A more flexible approach allows practitioners to identify early signals of change, whether positive or negative, and adjust their strategies accordingly.\n\nAs Dr Baez Camargo puts it, “we cannot keep thinking that change is linear”. A better understanding of systems, combined with the ability to detect and respond to change, is essential for staying relevant in rapidly evolving contexts.\n\n### A shift in perspective\n\nTaken together, these insights point to a broader conclusion. Corruption is not static, and responses to it cannot be static either.\n\nUnderstanding corruption as a networked, adaptive system changes how problems are defined and how solutions are designed. It brings greater attention to relationships, incentives and enabling structures. It also highlights the importance of anticipating how systems will respond to interventions.\n\nFor practitioners working on corruption, organised crime or related risks, this shift is increasingly important. Integrating it into programming should help us not only respond more quickly as corruption adapts – i.e. whack the moles more rapidly when they pop up. It should also help us design flexible, creative and context-sensitive interventions that can genuinely disrupt these resilient illicit networks and themselves adapt to remain effective over time.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   [Conceptualizing the evolution of corruption: an empirical analysis from Italy](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fconceptualizing-evolution-corruption-empirical-analysis-italy), by Dr Jacopo Costa and Dr Claudia Baez Camargo.\n*   [Corruption as a facilitator of drug trafficking in the port of Rotterdam](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-58), by Dr Saba Kassa and Dr Jacopo Costa \n*   [The Kleptocratic Enterprise: Lessons from organised crime to target transnational corruption and strengthen asset recovery in the UK](https:\u002F\u002Fgiace.org\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F01\u002FGIACE_Kleptocratic-Enterprises_NizzeroHeathershawMayne.pdf), by Dr Maria Nizzero, Professor John Heathershaw and Professor Tom Mayne\n\n### Webinar recording\n\n\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FETQto16U_q4?si=yrjbtCTRmQ5ceTPo\" title=\"YouTube video player\" width=\"560\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\nDisclaimer\n\n_This webinar and summary are part of the FALCON (Fight Against Largescale Corruption and Organised Crime Networks) project. FALCON is funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Program Grant Agreement ID 101121281. The Basel Institute on Governance, as an associated partner without the right to receive funds directly from the European Research Executive Agency, has received funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). The contents of this summary are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, the European Research Executive Agency or SERI._","2026-03-25","corruption-is-a-complex-adaptive-network-what-does-this-mean-for-anti-corruption-policy-and-practice-2945","Corruption is a complex, adaptive network. What does this mean for anti-corruption policy and practice?","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Faf37ba1d-85e1-4724-ab47-4e58056330c6?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[16,17],[199,222],"Research",[224],{"tags_id":225},{"id":226,"name":227},982,"Anti-corruption",2945,[24],[199,222],[],[],[],"2026-05-07T21:29:58.000Z",[236,237,238,239,240,241,242,243],1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fcorruption-is-a-complex-adaptive-network-what-does-this-mean-for-anti-corruption-policy-and-practice-2945",{"id":246,"body":247,"status":6,"type":10,"date":248,"slug":249,"title":250,"image":251,"countries":252,"topic":253,"activity":255,"tags":256,"nid":257,"topics":258,"activities":259,"authors":260,"images":262,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":128,"translations":263,"translation_of":26,"user_created":45,"date_created":264,"user_updated":46,"date_updated":265,"content":266,"link":267},10608,"_Criminal assets can cross borders in hours, while international asset recovery often struggles to keep pace. The INTERPOL Silver Notice is designed to close this gap by enabling earlier identification and tracing of criminal assets across jurisdictions. Can this new instrument fundamentally change how law enforcement responds to the rapid flight of illicit wealth?_\n\nCriminal funds can be moved across jurisdictions, layered through shell companies or converted into digital assets in a matter of hours. By contrast, international legal cooperation frequently moves at a far slower pace. The mismatch between the speed of asset flight and the pace of enforcement is one of the central reasons why several international bodies estimate that a very high proportion of [criminal assets](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.interpol.int\u002Fen\u002FNews-and-Events\u002FNews\u002F2025\u002FINTERPOL-publishes-first-Silver-Notice-targeting-criminal-assets#:~:text=Valdecy%20Urquiza%2C%20INTERPOL%20Secretary%20General,of%20criminal%20assets%20remain%20unrecovered.) ultimately remain unrecovered.\n\nINTERPOL’s Silver Notices seek to narrow this gap. They provide law enforcement with an early, structured mechanism to identify and trace assets across borders, strengthening one of the weakest stages of asset recovery: the initial [identification of criminal assets](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Finterpols-silver-notice-paving-way-improved-asset-recovery). For practitioners dealing with fraud, corruption, money laundering and organised crime, Silver Notices reflect a shift toward treating asset recovery as an enforcement priority rather than merely a consequence of criminal conviction.\n\n### The state of play\n\nINTERPOL launched the Silver Notice as a pilot initiative in January 2025, involving 52 jurisdictions across all regions. [As of November 2025, 133 Silver Notices and 35 Diffusions had been published](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.interpol.int\u002FNews-and-Events\u002FNews\u002F2025\u002FTogether-Against-Crime-INTERPOL-General-Assembly-approves-blueprint-for-future) at the request of 39 countries, linked to suspected financial harm exceeding EUR 30 billion, according to INTERPOL.\n\nSwitzerland does not currently participate in the pilot and therefore does not issue Silver Notices. However, Swiss authorities may still receive Silver Notices and share information through existing police cooperation channels.\n\nIn November 2025, during the 93rd INTERPOL General Assembly in Marrakech, delegates approved the extension of the Silver Notice pilot, allowing additional jurisdictions to participate. For practitioners, this expansion matters: broader participation directly increases the likelihood that assets can be identified and preserved before they are moved beyond the reach of enforcement authorities.\n\n### What is the Silver Notice?\n\nINTERPOL Notices enable countries to share critical criminal intelligence and request operational assistance across borders. A Silver Notice is a non-coercive intelligence tool designed to support the identification and tracing of assets linked to serious criminal offences. It does not, by itself, authorise the freezing, seizure or confiscation of assets. Any such measures must be taken in accordance with national law and applicable judicial procedures.\n\nIn practice, Silver Notices may be used to:\n\n*   flag bank accounts, real estate, corporate holdings and digital assets;\n*   identify beneficial owners or persons exercising control over assets;\n*   enable secure and structured intelligence sharing between participating jurisdictions.\n\n### From identification to legal action\n\nOne of the most persistent challenges in cross-border asset recovery lies in the slow and often complex operation of Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) mechanisms used to gather evidence or freeze assets. Evidentiary thresholds and procedural requirements vary widely across jurisdictions, and delays in cooperation can allow assets to be dissipated.\n\nWhen a Silver Notice leads to the identification of assets, the jurisdiction in which they are located informs the requesting country and INTERPOL, outlines domestic legal options, and acts within its legal framework. Early bilateral engagement allows investigators and prosecutors to align MLA requests with domestic standards, shortening the transition from intelligence to evidence and from tracing to freezing, helping preserve asset value and improving the prospects of confiscation and victim restitution or compensation.\n\n### Safeguards and limits\n\nBefore any Notice is circulated, it must pass a strict legal compliance review to ensure that it complies with INTERPOL’s Constitution, including the prohibition on matters of a political, military, racial or religious character. These safeguards are essential to maintaining trust between member countries and protecting the system from misuse, particularly in sensitive or high-profile cases.\n\nThe Silver Notice is also deliberately designed to avoid coercive overreach. Key safeguards include:\n\n*   restriction to serious criminal offences;\n*   a requirement for a clear factual link between the assets and suspected criminal conduct;\n*   use within the framework of national legal systems, including judicial or prosecutorial oversight where required.\n\nAt the same time, Silver Notices are not without limitations. For example, in politically sensitive cases, careful scrutiny is required to ensure that asset-tracing requests are not used to advance improper objectives. This makes the robustness and independence of INTERPOL’s compliance review mechanisms particularly important.\n\nUltimately, Silver Notices are not a solution to all asset recovery challenges. Their effectiveness depends on domestic legal framework and the willingness and ability of authorities to act on shared intelligence. They enhance international cooperation, but they do not replace the need for strong national asset recovery regimes or effective MLA processes.\n\n### Closing the enforcement gap\n\nThe speed at which criminal assets move across borders continues to outpace traditional enforcement tools. Silver Notices respond to this challenge by enabling earlier asset tracing and more timely operational engagement between jurisdictions.\n\nMore broadly, Silver Notices reflect an evolving approach to financial crime enforcement that prioritises proactive, intelligence-led intervention over reactive asset recovery at the end of lengthy criminal proceedings. Silver Notices are an enabler, not a shortcut. Used effectively and responsibly, they can strengthen the strategic focus on asset recovery and materially improve the prospects of asset confiscation and victim restitution.\n\n_This blog is also published on the [Hochschule Luzern Economic Crime Blog here](https:\u002F\u002Fhub.hslu.ch\u002Feconomiccrime\u002F?p=6536)._","2026-03-16","interpol-silver-notices-speeding-up-the-tracing-of-criminal-assets-2944","INTERPOL Silver Notices: Speeding up the tracing of criminal assets","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fdaf2f81c-8270-46aa-93a2-3a8a469a7420?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[254,14],"Anti-Money Laundering",[20],[],2944,[254,23],[20],[261],1371,[],[],"2026-04-15T22:45:19.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:40.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Finterpol-silver-notices-speeding-up-the-tracing-of-criminal-assets-2944",{"id":269,"body":270,"status":6,"type":10,"date":271,"slug":272,"title":273,"image":274,"countries":275,"topic":276,"activity":277,"tags":278,"nid":287,"topics":288,"activities":289,"authors":290,"images":291,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":128,"translations":292,"translation_of":26,"user_created":45,"date_created":293,"user_updated":46,"date_updated":185,"content":294,"link":295},10602,"_By J. Edward (Ned) Conway, Executive Secretary, The Wolfsberg Group_\n\nAs virtual assets move into the mainstream of traditional finance, tricky questions arise. What does a reasonable, risk-based control framework look like for banks that provide services to virtual asset service providers (VASPs)? And how can compliance teams strengthen private-to-private information sharing to better detect suspicious activity?\n\nThese were some of the questions tackled by the [Wolfsberg Group](https:\u002F\u002Fwolfsberg-group.org\u002F) at the 9th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets, organised by the Basel Institute on Governance, Europol and UNODC and held in Vienna on 28–29 October 2025.\n\nThe Wolfsberg Group is an association of 12 global banks that develops frameworks and guidance for the management of financial crime risks. Housed at the Basel Institute on Governance, this long-standing initiative brings together senior financial crime compliance leaders through various working groups, including one dedicated to virtual assets.\n\nThis flagship event provided a valuable platform for the Group to explain its [Stablecoin Guidance](https:\u002F\u002Fwolfsberg-group.org\u002Fresources\u002F204\u002F), gauge interest in a specific Due Diligence Questionnaire focused on VASPs, and further advance efforts to break down silos in private-to-private information sharing.\n\nThis blog summarises some of the key discussions – dialogues that are continuing in dedicated meetings and consultations of the Wolfsberg Group with members, regulators and institutional partners.\n\n### Regulatory clarity as a catalyst for TradFi–VASP relationships?\n\nDay 1 of the conference saw Ned Conway, Executive Secretary of the Wolfsberg Group, moderate a high-level panel discussion featuring representatives from Circle, Bullish and Société Générale on the theme _“Bridging the TradFi–DeFi Gap.”_\n\nThe panel discussed the barriers to relationship building between traditional finance (TradFi) institutions such as banks and VASPs such as cryptocurrency exchanges and stablecoin issuers. The speakers noted that a lack of trust and understanding persists, particularly around risks specific to virtual assets.\n\nThat is one reason that TradFi is slow to onboard VASPs as clients and provide them with the banking services they need in order to operate. However, stablecoins are helping bridge this gap by bringing parts of the crypto universe under regulatory frameworks.\n\nTradFi institutions underlined that they would benefit from clearer scenarios from regulators on where collaboration and information sharing would be permissible between regulated entities and VASPs. Recent [guidance issued by regulators on stablecoins and virtual assets in Asia](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hkma.gov.hk\u002Fmedia\u002Feng\u002Fdoc\u002Fkey-functions\u002Fifc\u002Fstablecoin-issuers\u002FGuideline_on_supervision_of_licensed_stablecoin_issuers_eng.pdf), in particular, could help improve confidence both ways in the TradFi-VASP relationship.\n\n### Aligning risk appetite, due diligence and monitoring for suspicious activity\n\nOn Day 2, a dedicated Wolfsberg side event brought together VASPs, FinTech firms and traditional banks for in-depth discussions. Representatives from several Wolfsberg member banks – Deutsche Bank, Citi, UBS, Société Générale, and Bank of America – joined the sessions.\n\nThe agenda focused on frameworks for information sharing, but the discussions touched upon a range of hot topics including:\n\n*   risk appetite and the risk-based approach;\n*   payment transparency (i.e. the [travel rule](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.eba.europa.eu\u002Fpublications-and-media\u002Fpress-releases\u002Feba-issues-travel-rule-guidance-tackle-money-laundering-and-terrorist-financing-transfers-funds-and)); and\n*   approaches to monitoring for suspicious activity.\n\nDuring the discussions, participants highlighted that one of the main barriers to effective collaboration between traditional financial institutions and VASPs is a lack of mutual trust. Both sectors face difficulties in interacting with each other.\n\nThe [Wolfsberg Correspondent Banking Due Diligence Questionnaire](https:\u002F\u002Fwolfsberg-group.org\u002Fresources?type=cbddq-fccq&category=questionnaires) (CBDDQ) is useful for setting standards, but onboarding challenges could be overcome by framing risk in common language. Many viewed the current onboarding approaches as fragmented, and expressed strong support for the Wolfsberg Group to develop standardised guidance and a due diligence questionnaire for VASPs.\n\nQuestions remain about what is “reasonable” and “risk-based” for VASPs, especially for smaller institutions, and whether banks should monitor blockchain transactions themselves. VASPs need to be able to articulate their risk appetite, and how this changes as they continue to develop innovative products and services.\n\nVASP participants viewed the Wolfsberg Group’s [Stablecoin Guidance](https:\u002F\u002Fwolfsberg-group.org\u002Fresources\u002F204\u002F) as applicable beyond stablecoin issuers to the wider VASP ecosystem. This is particularly true for the tailored questions on the underlying control environment, and the linking of risk appetite directly to monitoring approaches.\n\n### Improving private-private information sharing on suspicious activity\n\nDiscussion on information sharing between TradFi and VASPs highlighted that this can rely heavily on personal relationships across entities, limiting scalability.\n\nVASPs showed concern around sharing wallet addresses under private-to-private information sharing frameworks, given geopolitical trends and concerns around the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However, consensus emerged that better data sharing both increases the quality of suspicious activity reports (SARs) and reduces SAR volumes.\n\nParticularly on this latter point, activities often thought to be suspicious in a silo are better understood when viewed from multiple perspectives, confirming the importance of information exchange.\n\n### Continuing to build bridges as the financial system evolves\n\nBridging the gap between TradFi and DeFi remains a central theme in the Wolfsberg Group’s strategy. The Vienna events offered a unique opportunity to engage key stakeholders across the sector and advance this important dialogue.\n\nThe side event was opened by Elizabeth Andersen, Executive Director of the Basel Institute on Governance. The Wolfsberg Group extends its sincere thanks to the Basel Institute for the opportunity to co-host this side event and to participate in the 9th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Learn more about the [Wolfsberg Group](https:\u002F\u002Fwolfsberg-group.org\u002F) and explores its guidance and [resources](https:\u002F\u002Fwolfsberg-group.org\u002Fresources) on managing financial crime risk, including its [Stablecoin Guidance](https:\u002F\u002Fwolfsberg-group.org\u002Fresources\u002F204\u002F).\n*   Learn more about the [9th Global Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fglobal-experts-advance-joint-fight-against-crypto-enabled-crime) and see selected recordings.\n*   Find out about the [10th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002F10crc) on 15–16 September 2026 in Luxembourg.","2026-02-11","advancing-trust-and-standards-between-banks-and-virtual-asset-service-providers-lessons-from-wolfsberg-group-events-at-the-9th-global-conference-2929","Advancing trust and standards between banks and virtual asset service providers – lessons from Wolfsberg Group events at the 9th Global Conference","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fc0f797c0-3af2-47b9-92aa-20efc3f95cce?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[254,14],[199],[279,283],{"tags_id":280},{"id":281,"name":282},854,"Virtual assets",{"tags_id":284},{"id":285,"name":286},818,"Anti-money laundering",2929,[254,23],[199],[],[],[],"2026-02-27T15:07:18.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fadvancing-trust-and-standards-between-banks-and-virtual-asset-service-providers-lessons-from-wolfsberg-group-events-at-the-9th-global-conference-2929",{"id":297,"body":298,"status":6,"type":104,"date":299,"slug":300,"title":301,"image":302,"countries":303,"topic":305,"activity":306,"tags":307,"nid":308,"topics":309,"activities":310,"authors":311,"images":312,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":128,"translations":313,"translation_of":26,"user_created":45,"date_created":314,"user_updated":46,"date_updated":185,"content":315,"link":316},10603,"The fight against criminal misuse of cryptoassets enters its next chapter.\n\nJoin us on 15–16 September 2026 for the 10th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets – held this year in Luxembourg at the European Convention Centre and online.\n\nThis landmark edition will be hosted by Luxembourg’s [Bureau de gestion des avoirs](https:\u002F\u002Fbga.gouvernement.lu\u002Ffr.html) (BGA), alongside the Basel Institute on Governance, Europol and UNODC as co-organisers.\n\nRenowned as a leading global forum, the conference brings together practitioners from across sectors and regions to tackle the evolving threats posed by criminal exploitation of cryptoassets and related services.\n\nExpect cutting-edge insights, candid exchanges and practical solutions aimed at safeguarding individuals, businesses and the integrity of financial systems worldwide.\n\n*   Day 1 – 15 September: Open to experts from all sectors, with a strong focus on public–private collaboration, emerging risks and real-world practice.\n*   Day 2 – 16 September: Reserved for public authorities, including law enforcement, prosecutors, financial intelligence units, asset management offices and regulators, with in-depth case studies and operational insights.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   See more information on the official [10th Global Conference event page](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002F10crc).\n*   Sign up to the [conference mailing list](http:\u002F\u002Feepurl.com\u002FiCwSMo) to be notified when registration opens.\n*   If you would like to submit a proposal to present, moderate a panel discussion or lead a breakout session, [please use this form](https:\u002F\u002Fforms.gle\u002FvXZjotdYgxbk1oRT6).","2026-02-10","save-the-date-10th-global-conference-on-criminal-finances-and-cryptoassets-2932","Save the date: 10th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F7048f59e-5619-4a67-a552-67d57cbf2cb5?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[304],7805,[254,14],[199,115],[],2932,[254,23],[199,115],[],[],[],"2026-02-27T15:07:20.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fsave-the-date-10th-global-conference-on-criminal-finances-and-cryptoassets-2932",{"id":318,"body":319,"status":6,"type":104,"date":320,"slug":321,"title":322,"image":323,"countries":324,"topic":325,"activity":326,"tags":328,"nid":329,"topics":330,"activities":331,"authors":332,"images":333,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":128,"translations":334,"translation_of":26,"user_created":45,"date_created":335,"user_updated":26,"date_updated":26,"content":336,"link":337},10594,"On 23 November 2025, 222 professionals from Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia successfully completed the second edition of the virtual course “Corruption risk management in the timber value chain”. The initiative, led by the Basel Institute on Governance’s [Green Corruption Programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption), aims to strengthen integrity in the forestry sector and reduce the incidence of environmental crime.\n\n### Eight weeks of applied learning\n\nHeld between 26 September and 23 November, the course combined video lectures, readings, assessments, practical exercises and live sessions. This highly interactive methodology enabled participants to apply the concepts to real institutional contexts, fostering deep, action-oriented learning.\n\nOrganised into three modules and six learning units, the programme offered a comprehensive understanding of how to identify, formulate and manage corruption risks with an environmental perspective, from the forest to the final consumer.\n\nOne participant highlighted this shift in perspective:\n\n> “The greatest learning (…) was understanding that corruption risk is not an isolated issue, but a connecting thread that runs throughout the entire value chain from the forest to the final consumer. Rather than simply identifying corrupt acts, what matters is mapping the pressure points at each stage where corruption facilitates, in this case, illegal logging, document fraud or money laundering. This shifts the approach from passive monitoring to active and preventive management.” José Luis Vásquez Vegas, Coordinator, Directorate of Environmental Quality and Eco-Efficiency – Ministry of Environment of Peru\n\n### Real cases, real solutions\n\nA key milestone of the course was the practical workshop in which more than 40 groups developed corruption risk management plans based on real processes from their own institutions. This exercise encouraged critical analysis and innovation, strengthening skills that can be directly applied in daily work.\n\nThe diversity of the cohort – public officials, environmental specialists, researchers, students and representatives of indigenous communities – enriched the exchange of experiences and reinforced a shared regional message: addressing corruption in the forestry sector requires multisectoral collaboration and sustained commitment.\n\nAnother participant from Bolivia emphasised the value of a structured approach:\n\n> “The greatest learning from the course was understanding the importance of identifying, analysing and formulating corruption risks in a structured way, as well as determining their scope. I also found the course methodology very interesting – I liked it a lot – because it was clear and dynamic. It is important to highlight that the fight against corruption is a daily task; it is a commitment and a collective effort that we must all undertake together.” Nadir Camacho Llanos, Professional Auditor, Vice-Ministry of Institutional Transparency and the Fight Against Corruption, Bolivia\n\nAnd from Ecuador:\n\n> “It was very gratifying to receive guidelines, tips and methodologies that help us identify the corruption risks present in the activities we carry out as the National Environmental Authority.” Pablo Toledo Castelo, Specialist in Forest Administration and Control I, Ministry of Environment and Energy of Ecuador\n\n### A region exposed to corruption risks in the forestry sector\n\nCorruption in the timber trade is a significant economic and environmental threat, and countries with extensive forest resources tend to be particularly vulnerable.\n\nThis is the case in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, where our Green Corruption Programme works closely with forestry authorities and environmental agencies to assess and mitigate corruption risks, strengthen internal controls and apply approaches that help “follow the money” behind environmental crimes.\n\nThe virtual course was designed to expand these efforts by fostering peer learning and experience sharing among professionals from the three countries.\n\nThe energy and dedication of the 222 graduates reflect a growing commitment to strengthening forest governance with transparency, sustainability and responsibility.\n\nThe course was developed by the Latin America–based Green Corruption team of the Basel Institute on Governance and funded by the Americas Security Programme of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Integrated Security Fund (ISF).\n\n### More information\n\n*   Spanish news article:\n*   Course testimonials video:\n*   Course recap video:","2025-12-15","regional-success-over-200-professionals-complete-course-on-corruption-in-the-timber-value-chain-2903","Regional success: Over 200 professionals complete course on corruption in the timber value chain","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F5d603ea2-5471-4536-bf35-79f7918a3de3?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[15],[327],"Courses",[],2903,[15],[327],[],[],[],"2025-12-16T17:01:51.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fregional-success-over-200-professionals-complete-course-on-corruption-in-the-timber-value-chain-2903",{"id":339,"body":340,"status":6,"type":104,"date":320,"slug":341,"title":342,"image":343,"countries":344,"topic":345,"activity":346,"tags":347,"nid":348,"topics":349,"activities":350,"authors":351,"images":352,"websites":26,"area":26,"programme":26,"language":128,"translations":353,"translation_of":26,"user_created":45,"date_created":354,"user_updated":26,"date_updated":26,"content":355,"link":356},10595,"El 23 de noviembre de 2025, 222 profesionales de Perú, Ecuador y Bolivia finalizaron con éxito la segunda edición del Curso–Taller virtual \"Gestión de riesgos de corrupción en la cadena de valor de la madera\", una iniciativa del [Programa Corrupción Verde](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) del Basel Institute on Governance que busca fortalecer la integridad en el sector forestal y reducir la incidencia de delitos ambientales.\n\n### Ocho semanas de aprendizaje aplicado\n\nRealizado entre el 26 de septiembre y el 23 de noviembre, el curso combinó videoclases, lecturas, evaluaciones, ejercicios prácticos y sesiones en vivo. Esta metodología altamente interactiva permitió que los participantes aplicaran los conceptos en contextos reales, generando un aprendizaje profundo y orientado a la acción.\n\nOrganizado en tres módulos y seis unidades de aprendizaje, el programa ofreció una comprensión integral de cómo identificar, formular y gestionar riesgos de corrupción con perspectiva ambiental, desde el bosque hasta el consumidor final.\n\nUno de los testimonios destaca este cambio de mirada:\n\n> \"el mayor aprendizaje del curso (…) fue comprender que el riesgo de la corrupción no es solo un problema aislado, sino un hilo conductor que puede comprender toda la cadena de valor desde el bosque hasta el consumidor final. Más que identificar actos de corrupción, lo crucial es mapear los puntos de presión en cada eslabón donde la corrupción facilita, en este caso, la tala ilegal, el fraude de los documentos o el lavado del dinero. Esto cambia el enfoque de una vigilancia pasiva a una gestión activa y preventiva.\" José Luis Vásquez Vegas, Coordinador de la Dirección de Calidad Ambiental y Ecoeficiencia, Ministerio del Ambiente de Perú\n\n### Casos reales, soluciones reales\n\nUn hito clave del curso fue el taller práctico en el que más de 40 grupos desarrollaron planes de gestión de riesgos basados en procesos reales de sus propias instituciones. Este ejercicio fomentó el análisis crítico y la innovación, fortaleciendo capacidades directamente aplicables al trabajo diario.\n\nLa diversidad del grupo, que reunió a funcionarios públicos, especialistas ambientales, investigadores, estudiantes y representantes de pueblos indígenas, enriqueció el intercambio de experiencias y reforzó una visión regional compartida: la lucha contra la corrupción forestal requiere colaboración multisectorial y compromiso sostenido.\n\nDesde Bolivia, otro participante enfatizó el impacto del enfoque estructurado:\n\n> \"El mayor aprendizaje del curso fue la importancia de identificar, comprender y formular los riesgos de corrupción de manera estructurada, así como su ámbito de aplicación. Por otra parte, respecto de la metodología del curso, me pareció muy interesante, me gustó mucho, ya que fue muy clara y dinámica. Es importante resaltar que la lucha contra la corrupción es un trabajo que se debe realizar día tras día, es un compromiso, es una colaboración que debemos realizarlo entre todos.\" Nadir Camacho Llanos, Profesional auditor del Viceministerio de Transparencia Institucional y Lucha Contra la Corrupción de Bolivia\n\nY desde Ecuador:\n\n> \"Es muy gratificante para mí haber recibido pautas, tips y metodologías con las cuales podamos identificar los riesgos de corrupción que se presentan en las actividades que desarrollamos como Autoridad Ambiental Nacional.\" Pablo Toledo Castelo, Especialista en Administración y Control Forestal 1 de la Dirección de Bosques del Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía de Ecuador\n\n### Una región expuesta a los riesgos de corrupción forestal\n\nLa corrupción en el comercio de la madera es una amenaza económica y ambiental significativa, y los países con gran riqueza forestal suelen estar especialmente expuestos.\n\nEste es el caso de Bolivia, Ecuador y Perú, donde nuestro Programa Corrupción Verde trabaja junto a autoridades forestales y agencias ambientales para evaluar y mitigar riesgos de corrupción, fortalecer controles internos y aplicar enfoques que permiten “seguir el dinero” detrás de los delitos ambientales.\n\nEl curso virtual se diseñó para ampliar estos esfuerzos, promoviendo el aprendizaje entre pares y el intercambio de experiencias entre profesionales de los tres países.\n\nLa energía y dedicación de los 222 graduados reflejan un compromiso creciente por fortalecer la gestión forestal con transparencia, sostenibilidad y responsabilidad.\n\nEl curso fue desarrollado por el equipo del Programa Corrupción Verde del Basel Institute on Governance en América Latina y financiado por el Programa de Seguridad de las Américas del Fondo de Seguridad Integrada (ISF) del FCDO del Reino Unido.","exito-regional-mas-de-200-profesionales-completan-curso-sobre-corrupcion-en-la-cadena-de-la-madera-2902","Éxito regional: más de 200 profesionales completan curso sobre corrupción en la cadena de la madera","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F6c729718-61a5-4f9f-90f9-cbd615a7f1fd?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[15],[327],[],2902,[15],[327],[],[],[],"2025-12-16T17:01:52.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fexito-regional-mas-de-200-profesionales-completan-curso-sobre-corrupcion-en-la-cadena-de-la-madera-2902",{"left":358,"top":358,"width":359,"height":359,"rotate":358,"vFlip":360,"hFlip":360,"body":361},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>",1780676366655]