Investigative journalists and civil society organisations are often the first to uncover corruption, suspicious financial flows and hidden assets. But turning those discoveries into successful financial investigations and recovered assets requires specialised knowledge that many practitioners have never had the opportunity to acquire.

To help bridge this gap, the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR) has developed a new training course on Asset Recovery for Civil Society and Journalists.

Combining practical exercises, open-source intelligence techniques and a realistic corruption case simulation, the course equips participants with a deeper understanding of how assets are traced, investigated and ultimately recovered.

In this Q&A, ICAR trainers Tom Walugembe and Emmanuel Mringo explain why the training was developed, what makes its approach distinctive, who it is designed for and the impact they hope participants will have after completing it.

What specific gap or need led to the development of this course for civil society and investigative journalists?

In the past two decades we have seen major financial crime scandals, such as the Panama and Pandora Papers leaks, in which efforts by organisations like the International Consortium for Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) have led to financial crime investigations and prosecutions.

Yet in many parts of the world, journalists and other non-state actors like civil society organisations (CSOs) are under-equipped with the knowledge of asset recovery processes needed to carry out their core work effectively.

For CSOs, that often includes advocacy for policy reform. For journalists, it means evidence-based investigative reporting, as well as the skills to trace illicit financial flows, understand money laundering typologies and gather actionable information whose exposure can trigger financial investigations and lead to the recovery of stolen assets.

There is international recognition of their importance in the fight against corruption – e.g., Article 13 of the UN Convention Against Corruption, which requires state parties to take measures to promote the participation of CSOs and individuals in the fight against corruption.

But when it comes to investigating and recovering proceeds of corruption, there is little or no targeted training to enable CSOs and journalists to play this role effectively. We developed the course to address these capacity gaps.

How does this course fit within and complement ICAR’s wider training and learning offer?

This course complements ICAR’s broader training portfolio by broadening its traditional audience.

ICAR training programmes focus heavily on law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, financial intelligence units and judicial authorities.

This new module extends ICAR’s reach to non-state actors while aligning with ICAR’s uniquely effective methodology and offerings. It also integrates with Basel LEARN, the Basel Institute’s online learning platform, which enables blended learning and pre-course preparation.

The course emphasises core ICAR themes, including parallel financial investigations, international cooperation, and asset tracing, freezing and confiscation.

And ICAR’s postgraduate programmes on asset recovery?

Unlike the ICAR-led Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programme on Combating Financial Crime Through Asset Recovery, this is a short professional training course rather than a university-accredited academic programme.

The CAS programmes, delivered in partnership with the University of Basel, run over six months and require around 300 hours of study. By contrast, this course provides a focused, accessible introduction to asset recovery concepts and practical skills.

The aim is to enable individuals to strengthen their contribution to transparency, accountability and anti-corruption efforts without the substantial time commitment of a postgraduate programme.

What makes the course’s approach – especially the use of a simulated case and OSINT –distinctive for this audience?

Like other ICAR training modules, the course focuses on developing practical skills through the “learn by doing” methodology. Participants do not simply learn theoretical concepts in a classroom setting. Working in teams, they conduct a simulated corruption and money laundering investigation. They learn to follow financial trails wherever they lead, through layers of international banking transactions and the misuse of offshore shell companies.

As this audience of CSOs and investigative journalists lacks investigative powers (such as accessing bank accounts or searching premises), the course emphasises alternative methods for securing information that could trigger or support financial investigations. These include using access to public information laws and open-source intelligence (OSINT).

What kind of real-world impact do you realistically hope participants will have after completing the training?

First, better investigations.

Individuals who complete the course will gain stronger OSINT skills to effectively gather information on financial crime and illicit assets. They will have broader knowledge to detect modern bribery and money laundering schemes. They will understand anti-money laundering frameworks and the meticulous process of conducting financial investigations. They will have greater capacity to analyse financial records, such as bank statements, company documents and procurement records.

Second, more objective reporting.

The course will expose participants to the practical challenges of financial investigations and asset recovery, including capacity gaps, asset management and slow international cooperation. This will lead to, among other things, more objective press reporting on financial crimes and asset recovery cases.

Third, a stronger accountability role.

Upon completing the course, participants will also have the broader knowledge needed to report on and follow up on the reuse of recovered assets, ensuring they are used effectively.

Fourth, a stronger network.

The course will provide a platform to foster better cooperation among CSOs, investigative journalists and law enforcement agencies. It will also foster regional and international cooperation among CSOs and Investigative Journalists.

Our dream? That CSOs and journalists go from being external observers and reporters to complementary actors who ensure that financial investigations are effective and transparent, and that stolen assets are quickly detected, traced, seized, well-managed, confiscated, repatriated and deployed to achieve sustainable development.

Ambitious, but essential to making a dent in the corruption and financial crime that hinder development and prosperity worldwide.

Interested in bringing this training to your organisation or network?

The Asset Recovery for Civil Society and Journalists course can be delivered either onsite or online for booked groups of approximately 25–30 participants. It is suitable for national, regional or international audiences and can be tailored to specific contexts and learning needs.

For individuals, the course is also offered online as an open enrolment programme, allowing participants from anywhere in the world to join. To learn more or discuss delivery options, contact training@baselgovernance.org.