[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":282},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-new-training-courses-expand-access-to-financial-investigation-and-asset-recovery-skills-2961":3,"news-new-training-courses-expand-access-to-financial-investigation-and-asset-recovery-skills-2961-similar":38,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":277},[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":8,"area":8,"websites":8,"language":21,"image":22,"translation_of":8,"countries":32,"tags":33,"authors":34,"images":35,"translations":36,"content":37},10620,"published","2026-06-04T21:13:49.000Z",null,"New training courses expand access to financial investigation and asset recovery skills","News","The Basel Institute on Governance is expanding its training offer to help more professionals build practical skills in financial investigations and asset recovery.\n\nBuilding on decades of global experience, we are launching new courses for both public-sector practitioners and non-state actors. Our hands-on, case-based training is now accessible to a wider audience than ever before.\n\n### Reaching new audiences\n\nFor the first time, our flagship financial investigations and asset recovery training is available as an open enrolment online course for individual public-sector practitioners.\n\nWe are also expanding our offer for civil society organisations, investigative journalists and other professionals outside government. These groups play a growing role in exposing financial misconduct and supporting accountability.\n\nThe new courses build on the success of our popular [Introduction to blockchain: Crypto investigation and AML compliance](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcrypto-aml-training) course. This course equips participants to tackle the misuse of cryptoassets for financial crime.\n\n### New course for public-sector practitioners\n\nThe [financial investigations and asset recovery online course](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fassetrecovery-openenrolment) is a five-day, instructor-led training for investigators, prosecutors, judges and financial intelligence practitioners.\n\nParticipants work through a realistic case. They apply practical techniques to follow financial leads across jurisdictions, analyse financial flows, gather evidence using open-source intelligence and develop effective investigative strategies.\n\nThe first open-enrolment course will take place from 20–24 July 2026.\n\n### New courses for civil society and journalists\n\nWe are also launching Asset recovery for civil society and journalists, tailored to non-state actors working to uncover corruption and track public funds. This includes private-sector professionals working in compliance or investigations.\n\nTwo formats are available:\n\n*   An [online course for individual participants](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Ffiar_csos), with the first open-enrolment session planned from 2–5 November 2026.\n*   A [tailored training programme for organisations and groups](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcourse-asset-recovery-training-civil-society-and-journalists), delivered on site or virtually.\n\nBoth formats are built around a realistic corruption case. Participants gain hands-on experience in tracing assets, analysing financial information and understanding how asset recovery works in practice.\n\n### Part of a wider learning offer\n\nThese courses complement our broader learning ecosystem.\n\nThis includes [Basel LEARN](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fbasel-learn), our free eLearning platform, and [Basel STUDY](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fstudy), our academic programmes. Together, they provide flexible pathways for professionals to build and deepen their expertise.\n\n### A proven track record\n\nThe training courses are led by practitioners from the Basel Institute's International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR). Over the past 18 years, ICAR has trained more than 5,800 practitioners from financial intelligence units, law enforcement, prosecuting and judicial authorities in over 138 countries.\n\nAn independent study by Fondazione Safe found that our case-based, \"learning by doing\" approach drives meaningful institutional change and strengthens the effectiveness of efforts to tackle corruption and related crimes. Thierry Ravalomanda, Head of Training at ICAR, explained:\n\n> “We know from experience that practical, skills-based training makes a real difference in the fight against financial crime. By opening up our flagship courses to individual practitioners and expanding our offer for civil society and journalists, we are helping more people develop the tools they need to trace assets, follow the money and support accountability.”\n\nWith these new courses, we aim to make our expertise accessible to a broader community working to prevent, detect and address financial crime.","2026-05-07",[14],"Asset Recovery","new-training-courses-expand-access-to-financial-investigation-and-asset-recovery-skills-2961",[17],"Training",2961,[14],[17],"English",{"id":23,"storage":24,"filename_disk":25,"filename_download":26,"title":9,"type":27,"created_on":7,"modified_on":7,"charset":8,"filesize":28,"width":29,"height":30,"duration":8,"embed":8,"description":8,"location":8,"tags":8,"metadata":31,"focal_point_x":8,"focal_point_y":8,"tus_id":8,"tus_data":8,"uploaded_on":7},"d35bd5ef-7211-4d1f-8ff5-4b27afe8aa5c","local","d35bd5ef-7211-4d1f-8ff5-4b27afe8aa5c.webp","tmp.webp","image\u002Fwebp",4768,800,533,{},[],[],[],[],[],[],[39,79,100,122,144,167,193,221,245],{"id":40,"body":41,"status":6,"type":42,"date":43,"slug":44,"title":45,"image":46,"countries":47,"topic":50,"activity":51,"tags":54,"nid":67,"topics":68,"activities":69,"authors":70,"images":72,"websites":8,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":21,"translations":73,"translation_of":8,"user_created":74,"date_created":75,"user_updated":74,"date_updated":76,"content":77,"link":78},10611,"When states fail to hold corrupt actors to account, ordinary citizens pay the price. Corruption sanctions were born from the idea that no one should be above the law, no matter where they are in the world. In a new Working Paper, Dr Anton Moiseienko explores how these tools have evolved and offers recommendations for their more effective and legitimate use.\n\nHere we share the foreword to his paper by the Basel Institute's Andrew Dornbierer, Head of Policy and Research, International Centre for Asset Recovery.\n\n> ### Foreword\n> \n> Every state has an obligation to investigate and prosecute corruption within their jurisdiction. Unfortunately, many states around the world are not willing to fulfil this responsibility.\n> \n> As a result, the very individuals within these states tasked with serving the public interest are instead given free rein to commit acts that not only serve themselves but also corrode the fabric of the state. And ordinary citizens have no alternative but to endure the ensuing economic and social damage.\n> \n> The development of sanctions tools targeting corruption stemmed from the idea that justice should be universal; that no one in any society around the world should be above the law.\n> \n> They are powerful tools, built on powerful principles. States introducing them understand that unchecked corruption will always suffocate a state’s ability to provide security, fairness and prosperity to its citizens.\n> \n> Comparatively though, corruption sanctions are still an underdeveloped concept and are far from perfect. Only a handful of states have introduced them, and those that have are not often using them to their full potential.\n> \n> They also spark valid concerns surrounding due process. These criticisms shouldn’t be ignored: they offer an insight on how these tools could be further developed and enhanced to ensure that they are more credibly and consistently applied.\n> \n> In his paper, Anton Moiseienko provides an excellent and well-researched overview of how corruption sanctions could be designed and employed to better achieve their potential. He explains how these tools have evolved over the last two decades and how they could be further refined to be more effective and achieve a wider range of impact.\n> \n> Critically, his paper is an indispensable resource for those looking to understand exactly how such sanctions can help states deter, disrupt and debilitate the notoriously corrupt that are unreachable through standard criminal justice tools.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Read Dr Anton Moiseienko’s Working Paper “[Corruption sanctions: What governments need to know](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-62)” for a deeper analysis of the topic and key policy recommendations.\n*   Get a brief introduction to corruption sanctions from our related [Quick Guide](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fqg43).\n*   Register for our public webinar \"[Corruption sanctions – reaching those beyond the law](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnode\u002F2968)\" on 18 June 2026, marking the launch of Dr Moiseienko's Working Paper.","Blog","2026-06-03","holding-the-corrupt-to-account-the-promise-and-potential-of-corruption-sanctions-2979","Holding the corrupt to account: the promise and potential of corruption sanctions","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F9f5fad98-9243-40da-98d0-1271edd00df2?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[48,49],7808,7809,[14],[52,53],"Reports","Insights",[55,59,63],{"tags_id":56},{"id":57,"name":58},1227,"Sanctions",{"tags_id":60},{"id":61,"name":62},843,"Asset recovery",{"tags_id":64},{"id":65,"name":66},982,"Anti-corruption",2979,[14],[52,53],[71],1372,[],[],"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","2026-06-04T21:13:40.000Z","2026-06-04T21:13:41.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fholding-the-corrupt-to-account-the-promise-and-potential-of-corruption-sanctions-2979",{"id":80,"body":81,"status":6,"type":10,"date":82,"slug":83,"title":84,"image":85,"countries":86,"topic":87,"activity":88,"tags":90,"nid":91,"topics":92,"activities":93,"authors":94,"images":95,"websites":8,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":21,"translations":96,"translation_of":8,"user_created":74,"date_created":97,"user_updated":8,"date_updated":8,"content":98,"link":99},10612,"Reducing the economic power of organised crime is essential to improving security, strengthening justice systems and supporting sustainable development across Latin America and the Caribbean. And doing that requires strong and dependable partnerships.\n\nBuilding on more than a decade of support to authorities across the region, the Basel Institute on Governance has formally joined the [Alliance for Security, Justice and Development](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.iadb.org\u002Fen\u002Fwho-we-are\u002Ftopics\u002Fmodernization-state\u002Fcitizen-security-and-justice\u002Falliance-security-justice-and-development), a regional initiative led by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).\n\nThe Alliance seeks to strengthen coordinated responses to organised crime in Latin America and the Caribbean through dialogue, cooperation, knowledge exchange and resource mobilisation.\n\n### Supporting the fight against illicit financial flows\n\nFor the Basel Institute and its International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR), participation in the Alliance represents a further opportunity to contribute its expertise in financial investigations, asset recovery, international cooperation and public financial management while working alongside governments, international organisations and other partners committed to strengthening security, justice and development across the region.\n\nExecutive Director Elizabeth Andersen signed the declaration formalising the Basel Institute’s participation in the Alliance in Washington, D.C. The signing followed close engagement between senior IDB and Alliance representatives and Oscar Solórzano, Head of ICAR Latin America.\n\n### Strengthening regional cooperation\n\nThe Alliance for Security, Justice and Development is a regional platform for dialogue, cooperation, knowledge exchange and resource mobilisation aimed at preventing and responding to organised crime in Latin America and the Caribbean.\n\nCoordinated by the IDB through its Citizen Security Division, the Alliance currently brings together 23 member states and multiple strategic partners from the international, development and security sectors.\n\nIts work is structured around three strategic pillars:\n\n*   protecting vulnerable communities from organised crime and violence;\n*   strengthening institutional resilience within security and justice systems; and\n*   reducing illicit financial flows and illicit markets to weaken the operational capacity and influence of criminal organisations.\n\n### Bringing expertise in asset recovery and financial investigations\n\nThe Basel Institute will contribute particularly to the third pillar, leaning on the expertise and two decades of experience of its specialised International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR).\n\nElizabeth Andersen stated that the Basel Institute is honoured to participate in such a high-level initiative focused on issues of critical importance for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as for the broader international community.\n\nOscar Solórzano highlighted that the Alliance represents an important opportunity to support countries in strengthening asset recovery systems, international cooperation and institutional capacities against increasingly sophisticated forms of organised crime and illicit economies.\n\n### Building on a decade of support in Latin America\n\nOur participation builds on more than a decade of operational and technical support to authorities across Latin America in areas including financial investigations, asset recovery, international cooperation and – through a dedicated programme – public financial management.\n\nActivities under the Alliance framework are expected to begin in the region in the coming months, with our teams supporting key initiatives and technical workstreams developed through the Alliance in the years ahead.\n\nOur participation reflects our longstanding commitment to helping countries tackle corruption, illicit financial flows and organised crime, and our belief that sustainable impact is achieved through strong partnerships that bring together public authorities, international organisations and practitioners around shared goals.","2026-06-02","basel-institute-joins-regional-effort-to-strengthen-security-justice-and-development-in-latin-america-2977","Basel Institute joins regional effort to strengthen security, justice and development in Latin America","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fda8fdbf2-aea0-4009-8f38-8a04c5d8e964?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[89],"Partnerships",[],2977,[14],[89],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:42.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbasel-institute-joins-regional-effort-to-strengthen-security-justice-and-development-in-latin-america-2977",{"id":101,"body":102,"status":6,"type":42,"date":103,"slug":104,"title":105,"image":106,"countries":107,"topic":108,"activity":110,"tags":112,"nid":113,"topics":114,"activities":115,"authors":116,"images":117,"websites":8,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":21,"translations":118,"translation_of":8,"user_created":74,"date_created":119,"user_updated":8,"date_updated":8,"content":120,"link":121},10617,"As the use of virtual assets accelerates worldwide, so too does their appeal to criminal actors looking to move money faster, hide transactions more effectively and stay one step ahead of enforcement authorities.\n\nAnd it’s natural that when people discuss crypto-related crime, the focus is often on governments, regulators, law enforcement agencies and the private sector – crypto exchanges, financial institutions and blockchain intelligence firms.\n\nWhat about international organisations, non-profits, expert networks and professional associations – what role do they play behind the scenes? And how much impact can they really have when it comes to tackling illicit activity involving virtual assets?\n\nThese questions were at the centre of a [webinar](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002FIOs_virtualassets) co-hosted by the Basel Institute on Governance and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The discussion brought together experts from the OSCE, the Basel Institute, the Financial Intelligence Unit of Moldova, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime.\n\nAcross the discussion, speakers kept circling around the same point: the crypto-crime field does not need more vague talk about cooperation or more one-off awareness workshops. It needs practical, sustained and operational forms of support that help investigators, prosecutors and financial intelligence units respond to increasingly sophisticated criminal activity.\n\n### Beyond awareness raising\n\nA recurring theme throughout the discussion was the gap between recognising the problem and building the capability to address it.\n\nSpeakers noted that crypto-related crime evolves faster than most institutions can adapt. Bots on the Telegram messaging app are now providing money-laundering-as-a-service, as one speaker noted by way of example. Criminal actors – and bots – exploit regulatory gaps, fragmented information-sharing systems and uneven levels of expertise across jurisdictions.\n\nAt the same time, many authorities are still in the early stages of developing operational capacity.\n\nThis is where international organisations and networks can play an important role. Not simply by producing guidance documents or organising workshops and conferences – which are necessary but not sufficient – but by helping countries build practical and lasting capabilities.\n\nThe OSCE shared examples from its regional [project on mitigating the money laundering risks of virtual assets](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002FIOs_virtualassets), which supports participating states across Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, Central Asia and Mongolia.\n\nOne example was Moldova’s sectoral national risk assessment on virtual assets. Beyond identifying vulnerabilities, the process helped prompt institutional action and legislative development.\n\nThe OSCE also pointed to measurable operational outcomes linked to its capacity-building support. Institutions supported through the programme, for example, traced more than USD 100 million in illicit crypto assets in 2025 alone.\n\n### Why PowerPoint presentations are not enough\n\nSeveral speakers emphasised that complex investigations involving virtual assets and asset recovery require highly specialised expertise that cannot be built through isolated workshops.\n\nInvestigators need opportunities to apply knowledge in real cases. Financial intelligence units need ongoing mentoring and technical support. Prosecutors need to understand not only the technology itself but also how to present complex digital evidence in court.\n\nThe Basel Institute highlighted the importance of long-term engagement with practitioners. The approach of its [International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR)](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery) includes combining case-centered training with hands-on mentoring, operational support on live cases and efforts to foster collaboration between different government agencies and with the private sector.\n\nTogether with highly effective train-the-trainer programmes, the focus is on helping agencies develop capabilities that can evolve alongside changing technologies and criminal methods, rather than delivering isolated workshops.\n\n### Networks that make cooperation operational\n\nThe webinar also challenged the tendency to talk about “international cooperation” in abstract terms. In practice, it’s difficult to develop trusting relationships between individuals and institutions operating in very different legal and cultural contexts, especially where there are language barriers.\n\nIn this environment, organisations such as the OSCE, Basel Institute, UNODC and the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime can act as connectors between sectors, jurisdictions and professional communities. They can:\n\n*   help investigators and practitioners exchange expertise and emerging typologies;\n*   create trusted channels for faster information sharing;\n*   connect authorities facing similar challenges across jurisdictions;\n*   support the development of common standards and approaches; and\n*   bridge gaps between public authorities, financial institutions and technical experts\n\nOne example is the Global Coalition’s proposal to develop a framework for sharing illict crypto wallet attribution data between public authorities – a major need, especially for jurisdictions without the resources to purchase multiple blockchain intelligence tools.\n\n### Research and analysis as a basis for action\n\nAnother important thread running through the webinar was the role of research and evidence-based analysis.\n\nAs technologies and criminal typologies evolve rapidly, policymakers and practitioners need reliable analysis rather than hype or speculation. Speakers discussed how international organisations support countries by analysing emerging threats, identifying trends and helping governments design informed legal and operational responses.\n\nSpeakers highlighted several concrete projects, such as UNODC research into [scam compounds](https:\u002F\u002Ftrack.unodc.org\u002Ftrack\u002Fen\u002Ftrack\u002Fresourcehub\u002F2025\u002Finflection_point_global_implications_of_scam_centres_underground_banking_and_illicit_online_marketplaces_in_southeast_asia.html) and cyber-enabled fraud in Southeast Asia and into the links between [cybercrime and corruption](https:\u002F\u002Ftrack.unodc.org\u002Ftrack\u002Fen\u002Ftrack\u002Fresourcehub\u002F2025\u002Fthe_nexus_between_cybercrime_and_corruption.html), and the Global Coalition’s research on links between gaming and crypto-related financial crime.\n\n### A rapidly evolving challenge\n\nThe webinar closed with a discussion on what aspects of collaboration participants would most like to strengthen in the virtual assets space.\n\nWhile perspectives differed, there was broad agreement that current models of cooperation and capacity building are still not moving fast enough to match the pace of technological change and criminal innovation.\n\nIt’s been said many times, but it warrants saying again: As virtual assets continue to evolve at breakneck speed, so too must the international response.\n\nThe discussion demonstrated that international organisations, non-profits and professional networks can have significant impact – particularly when they focus less on rhetoric and more on operational support, sustained partnerships and measurable outcomes.\n\n### Speakers\n\nWith thanks to our moderator, Vera Strobachova-Budway, Head of the Economic Governance Unit, OSCE, and to our excellent speakers:\n\n*   Erlin Agich, Associate Anti-Corruption Officer, OSCE\n*   Valentin Draganel, Deputy Head, Financial Intelligence Unit Moldova\n*   Alexandru Donciu, Specialist, Financial Investigations – Virtual Assets, Basel Institute on Governance\n*   Fabrizio Fioroni, AML\u002FCFT Advisor, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)\n*   Michal Gromek, Chair, Digital Assets Task Force, Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   View the recordings: browse the [full playlist](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutube.com\u002Fplaylist?list=PLYRnhpCcnLP8mqlkcvhkC5kNXuX1M7ax4&si=HeEsEW6u_V9OnsCb) or go straight to individual interventions: [Vera Strobachova-Budway](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FPyjFVx3Da1I), [Erlin Agich](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FyxyKjh2qbc0), [Valentin Draganel](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Ffn-P6Q1Q04Y), [Alexandru Donciu](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Fi6AoR2bBGGk), [Fabrizio Fioroni](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FJCET83V2nFk) and [Michal Gromek](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Fb18ACqpIM64), plus the final [lightning round](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Fu61VF8rxR5k).\n*   Sign up to the second joint Basel Institute-OSCE webinar on the role of [investigative journalists in tackling crime linked to virtual assets](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fjournalism_virtualassets), on 2 June 2026.\n*   Read the OSCE’s [Decoding Crypto Crime – A Guide for Law Enforcement](https:\u002F\u002Foceea.osce.org\u002Foceea\u002F587475) in multiple languages.\n*   Learn more about the [OSCE Virtual Assets project](https:\u002F\u002Fprojects.osce.org\u002Fvirtualassets).\n*   Learn about the Global Coalition’s [Digital Asset Task Force](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gcffc.org\u002Fsectors\u002Fdigital-asset-task-force-(datf)) and how you can get involved.\n\nThe Basel Institute’s training opportunities are now open to individuals – learn more about short online courses on [crypto and blockchain compliance](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcrypto-aml-training) and [financial investigations and asset recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fassetrecovery-openenrolment); plus [postgraduate courses on anti-corruption and asset recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fstudy).","2026-05-19","virtual-assets-real-world-crime-and-the-search-for-effective-responses-2967","Virtual assets, real-world crime and the search for effective responses","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fb16bddc0-613b-402f-baca-77cc9a835cd9?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[109,14],"Anti-Money Laundering",[111],"Events",[],2967,[109,14],[111],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:46.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fvirtual-assets-real-world-crime-and-the-search-for-effective-responses-2967",{"id":123,"body":124,"status":6,"type":42,"date":125,"slug":126,"title":127,"image":128,"countries":129,"topic":130,"activity":131,"tags":133,"nid":134,"topics":135,"activities":136,"authors":137,"images":139,"websites":8,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":21,"translations":140,"translation_of":8,"user_created":74,"date_created":141,"user_updated":74,"date_updated":141,"content":142,"link":143},10622,"In a world that feels increasingly unsettled, with rising concerns over corruption, organised crime and illicit finance, it is encouraging to see that the Basel AML Index does not show global money laundering risks getting worse. The average score across all jurisdictions has even improved slightly – and in today’s climate even a modest hint of progress is worth noting. \n\nStill, we all know that global averages are hardly meaningful. What matters is what people experience in their own countries and regions, where threats like corruption, fraud, environmental crime and drug trafficking continue to evolve fast and affect their everyday lives. \n\nI have spent more than two decades working to strengthen governance and the rule of law around the world, and I have seen firsthand the power of data and evidence to drive change. With respect to complex topics such as corruption, money laundering and other financial crimes, this is no simple task. They are difficult to define, to quantify and to track over time. But unless we make a sincere effort to assess the risks, and acknowledge where the gaps and uncertainties lie, policymakers and practitioners are left working in the dark. \n\nThis is the purpose of the Basel AML Index. It is not a simple score to be copy-pasted into a risk assessment or put out in a press release. It is a tool to explore what lies behind a jurisdiction’s risk profile. Many users rely on the headline Public Edition score, but there is much to be gained by looking deeper. The Expert Edition, free for the public sector, non-profits, academia and the media, and reasonably priced for private firms, gives an overview of all 17 indicators and supports more informed decisions. \n\nLook behind the curtain and you will see that the Basel AML Index recognises that tackling money laundering is not only about laws, regulations and enforcement. It also depends on independent political and legal systems, a free and active media and real accountability in the public sector. These elements are essential to a jurisdiction’s resilience to financial crime, so the Basel AML Index incorporates measures of these as well as other factors more commonly associated with financial crime. \n\nMeasurement alone, however, is not enough; it is just the starting point for progress. That is why the Basel Institute works directly with partner countries to help them understand their risks and strengthen their resilience to money laundering and related financial crimes. We often undertake this work in the context of preparations for Financial Action Task Force (FATF) evaluations or ongoing efforts to leave the FATF grey list.\n\nLast month we welcomed Mozambique’s exit from the grey list after intensive work by our team and other partners to support improvements in the country’s anti-money laundering framework and asset recovery capacity. Similar assistance is underway with other partner countries, and we continue to engage with FATF-style regional bodies such as GAFILAT and ESAAMLG as an active observer member. \n\nIf we can say one thing for sure about the future, it is that financial crime will continue to evolve at speed. But I remain hopeful, because progress in tackling it is possible when decisions are rooted in solid evidence. By shedding light on the underlying factors driving money laundering risks at the jurisdiction level, the Basel AML Index aims to help focus attention and resources where they matter most. \n\n[Explore the Basel AML Index](https:\u002F\u002Findex.baselgovernance.org\u002F) and [download this year's report](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fbasel-aml-index-2025).","2025-12-08","foreword-to-the-basel-aml-index-2025-report-2898","Foreword to the Basel AML Index 2025 report","\u002Fpics\u002Fimg-placeholder.png",[],[109,14],[132],"Basel AML Index",[],2898,[109,14],[132],[138],1377,[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:51.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fforeword-to-the-basel-aml-index-2025-report-2898",{"id":145,"body":146,"status":6,"type":42,"date":147,"slug":148,"title":149,"image":150,"countries":151,"topic":152,"activity":154,"tags":155,"nid":156,"topics":157,"activities":158,"authors":159,"images":160,"websites":8,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":21,"translations":161,"translation_of":8,"user_created":74,"date_created":162,"user_updated":163,"date_updated":164,"content":165,"link":166},10609,"To mark International Women’s Day 2026, the Basel Institute on Governance and the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators hosted an online discussion on women’s leadership in the fight against corruption and financial crime.\n\nModerated by [Elizabeth Andersen](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fpeople\u002Felizabeth-andersen), Executive Director of the Basel Institute, the event brought together practitioners, academics and students to reflect on career journeys, challenges and opportunities in this complex and evolving field.\n\nSpeakers shared personal experiences of entering and advancing in anti-corruption and financial crime work, highlighting the diverse motivations that drive professionals in this area.\n\n### Different paths, a shared commitment\n\nFor Verónica Sabella, the link between financial crime and human rights violations was a key motivator in her decision to launch a career in law and to join the Basel Institute’s Certificate of Advanced Studies course in [Combating Financial Crime Through Asset Recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fcas-asset-recovery) with the University of Basel. She underscored the importance of understanding financial flows to address crimes such as trafficking\n\nEmmanuela OkonkwoAbutu, who will shortly complete the Basel Institute’s CAS programme [Mastering Today’s Anti-Corruption Challenges](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fcas-anti-corruption), described how witnessing the impact of corruption in Nigeria shaped her commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability and international cooperation. She hopes with her new qualification she will be better able to address the “international networks, legal loopholes and institutional weaknesses” that enable corruption.\n\n[Anne-Claude Scheidegger](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fpeople\u002Fanne-claude-scheidegger) highlighted the role of hands-on, scenario-based [training programmes](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery\u002Ftraining-programmes) in building investigative and asset recovery skills worldwide. She explained how the Basel Institute works with partner agencies to ensure that women have equal access to training opportunities.\n\nProfessor Karen Woody reflected on the importance of professional networks and interdisciplinary collaboration. She emphasised how communities of practitioners and scholars – in particular the [International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](https:\u002F\u002Ffinancialcrimelitigators.org\u002F) – help connect different perspectives and sustain long-term professional growth.\n\nElizabeth Ortega highlighted the importance of investing in people – through training, mentorship and professional support – noting that many women reach leadership positions because someone believed in their potential and helped open opportunities along the way.\n\nThe discussion also explored structural barriers women may face in the profession, including persistent gender imbalances in leadership roles and the need to balance career progression with family responsibilities. At the same time, participants noted encouraging trends, including growing numbers of women entering the field and increased efforts to promote gender representation in training and professional development programmes.\n\nThroughout the conversation, speakers emphasised the importance of mentorship, peer learning networks and specialised training in opening career pathways. Particular attention was given to the value of professional communities, which create space for practitioners and experts from different backgrounds and jurisdictions to share knowledge, build connections and support one another’s growth.\n\nA central theme was the importance of targeted support mechanisms – including scholarships and sponsorships – that expand access to high-quality education and professional opportunities. Initiatives such as the [Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fscholarship) aim to ensure that talented professionals around the world can develop the skills, confidence and networks needed to lead the global fight against corruption and financial crime.\n\n### Key takeaways\n\n*   Countering financial crime is closely linked to protecting human rights. Understanding how illicit financial flows move through systems is essential to tackling crimes such as human trafficking, corruption and organised crime, which have a strong negative impact on the whole of society.\n*   Women are increasingly entering the field but leadership gaps remain. While many women work in lower-level compliance and investigative roles, structural and cultural barriers can still slow progress into senior leadership positions.\n*   Mentorship and sponsorship help open doors. Speakers stressed the importance of asking for help, building relationships and having others actively support your growth and advancement.\n*   Peer learning networks add lasting value, especially across borders. Communities such as the International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators connect practitioners, academics and specialists across jurisdictions, enabling knowledge exchange and strengthening careers over time.\n*   Education and specialised training accelerate impact. Programmes such as the Basel Institute’s [Certificate of Advanced Studies](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study) courses on anti-corruption and asset recovery help practitioners deepen technical skills, understand global frameworks and collaborate internationally.\n*   Scholarships and targeted support expand access to opportunity. Initiatives such as the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund show how sponsorship and financial support for employees can help talented professionals access high-quality training and increase their impact in the fight against corruption and financial crime.\n\n### Help open the door to future leaders\n\nThis year’s International Women’s Day theme was “Give to Gain”. The slogan encapsulates many of the points the speakers made about the value of supporting others in their careers.\n\nThe International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators and its Co-Founders Elizabeth Ortega (ECO Strategic Communications), Stéphane Bonifassi (Bonifassi Avocats) and Lincoln Caylor (Bennett Jones) were the first donors to the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund.\n\nThe Basel Institute is grateful for their support and that of subsequent donors.\n\nIf this discussion resonated with you, consider helping open the next door for future leaders.\n\nContributions of any size help expand access to high-quality education and strengthen the global fight against corruption and financial crime.\n\nTo support the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund with a donation of any size, please visit our [crowdfunding page](https:\u002F\u002Fwhydonate.com\u002Ffundraising\u002Fgretta-fenner-scholarship-fund).","2026-03-11","women-leading-the-fight-against-financial-crime-how-education-mentorship-and-networks-expand-impact-2943","Women leading the fight against financial crime: how education, mentorship and networks expand impact","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F121ca068-13ee-4ee1-bcff-de793b77b915?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[153],"",[111,53],[],2943,[],[111,53],[],[],[],"2026-04-15T22:45:20.000Z","b0662e2a-864d-4888-a1b7-4342b7570b30","2026-05-08T21:36:28.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fwomen-leading-the-fight-against-financial-crime-how-education-mentorship-and-networks-expand-impact-2943",{"id":168,"body":169,"status":6,"type":42,"date":170,"slug":171,"title":172,"image":173,"countries":174,"topic":176,"activity":178,"tags":179,"nid":180,"topics":181,"activities":182,"authors":183,"images":185,"websites":186,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":8,"translations":188,"translation_of":8,"user_created":74,"date_created":189,"user_updated":163,"date_updated":190,"content":191,"link":192},9739,"In early April, more than 770 public officials across Peru took our latest [virtual training course on public financial management](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fvirtual-training-course-public-financial-management-launched-peru) (PFM). This free seven-week course is part of a [programme](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cooperacionsuiza.pe\u002Fproyecto\u002Freformas-de-gestion-de-finanzas-publicas-a-nivel-subnacional\u002F) financed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to strengthen standards of PFM in 11 subnational governments. In all senses, it has been a huge success.\n\nSome people have been surprised at this, given the disruption caused by the pandemic and the technical issues of computer and internet availability in Peru. My colleagues Carlos Vargas (Director of the PFM programme), Romina Cruz (Communications Officer) and I (Component Leader for Sustainability) take this opportunity to explain how, why and for whom we developed this course and how we managed to maintain such high levels of engagement. We hope our experiences are useful for others developing virtual training courses.\n\n### Multi-platform for maximum flexibility\n\nThe course is seriously \"multi-platform\": as well as a course web page, we have content on YouTube, Google Drive, Google Classroom, Vimeo, Facebook and Padlet. We have 23 regional WhatsApp discussion groups and a Telegram channel.\n\nWhy so many different platforms? For two reasons:\n\n*   To guarantee availability and access to all learners\n*   To minimise internet usage and costs\n\nDelivering an online course on a single learning management system has advantages, but it isn’t practical in places with weak, unreliable or expensive internet services, like in many Peruvian provinces.\n\nOur students – public officials in subnational governments – tell us that they like the flexibility of multiple platforms. It helps them to reduce their internet costs. For example, they can take advantage of mobile internet deals like free use of WhatsApp or Facebook’s pilot “Discover” app, which provides users with 10 MB of data every day.\n\nThe strict coronavirus lockdown in Peru has made this flexible multi-platform approach even more valuable. Most public officials are working from home and have to share their computer (if they have one) and internet connection with their partners and children attending school online. In addition, the government wishes to reserve internet capacity for essential services, particularly during the day.\n\nIn a survey we ran, most officials said they had use of a computer, but a large proportion also access the course on mobile phones and tablets. Flexibility and responsive web platforms are key.\n\n###  “Social” media for professional purposes\n\nPeople often ask why we use personal social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp for professional course content and communication.\n\nAgain, it is because it works in our context. We know from experience that Facebook and WhatsApp are good ways to communicate with our students – and more importantly to allow them to communicate with each other. For example, we have 7,230 followers on [Facebook](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002FGFPsubnacional), all highly specialised and engaged. Just in the last week, we had more than 5,000 interactions with our posts. When they share our posts with their own networks, it amplifies our reach.\n\nThese channels have been hugely important in creating and sustaining our [Public Finance Management Experts Network](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fcusco-joins-perus-growing-public-finance-management-experts-network), for example. This is an initiative of graduates of the diploma programme that we ran in conjunction with Universidad ESAN. Thanks in large part to social media, this new network already has more than 200 members across six regions. It proves the power of using \"social\" media for professional purposes.\n\nWe've had a similarly positive experience using social media for training purposes.\n\n### Support networks and sustainability\n\nOur use of social media has another big benefit: sustainability. Sustainable capacity building is not just about teaching new skills to individuals. The support networks that students create with each other help to increase their collective knowledge and sustain it over long periods.\n\nIn a university or classroom, students naturally get together and become friends. We are using social media to recreate these same support networks in the virtual space – and in fact to expand their potential. We see students helping each other with questions and ideas from across the country, at all times of day and night.\n\nWhatsApp groups can include up to 250 people, so they work well for connecting people within cities or regions. With Telegram you can have 200,000 people in a group, so this is a good choice for cross-regional communication.\n\n### Creating a critical mass for real culture change\n\nLinking people to people in this way is visibly helping to change the culture in Peru. Thanks to our onsite and virtual training courses [over the last four years](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fpublic-finance-management-programme-peru-achieves-flying-colours-and-enters-new-four-year) – and thanks to the support networks that have grown up – we are creating a critical mass of people in Peru who understand the importance and the details of strong and transparent public financial management.\n\nMany of the new employees we have hired recently to support our wider programme have completed our training courses. Some are part of the Experts Network. This critical mass has three effects.\n\n*   Mitigating issues of staff rotation and skills gaps in subnational governments. Proper public financial management is part of the culture and processes of a government department, not just dependent on individuals.\n*   Real impact at the national level. Many of the officials we train go on to obtain jobs in the central government. They take their skills, attitudes and support networks with them.\n*   International cross-fertilisation. Students from other Latin American countries have enrolled on this course, although it focuses on Peruvian law. Why? Because, they tell us, they wish to be at the forefront when their countries adopt similar laws. Some are even using their new knowledge of Peruvian policies on public financial management to help advocate for improvements in their own countries’ laws.\n\n### Interaction, feedback and mutual support\n\nWith 770+ students signing up for this course, and limited in-house resources, we knew we couldn’t provide individual support to every single student.\n\nOur system is simple. Students can send queries by email and we share the answers with everyone. They can also use a chat room on Facebook or request help in their WhatsApp groups. The students have been amazing. They immediately started thoughtfully answering each other’s questions and sharing ideas. And in the process of supporting others, they acknowledge that they learn better themselves.\n\nIt helps that some students (as well as ourselves, the course leaders) are or have been academics in universities. But access to information via the internet is the really critical factor that has transformed the learning process. In the past, teachers used to think they were the source of all knowledge, pouring it down onto students from the top during lectures. Now, many students know – or can find out – more than their teachers about specific topics and share it directly with their peers. Teachers need to understand that they are _facilitators_ and _supporters_ of learning. That is how we see ourselves.\n\nWe are also keen to get feedback ourselves in order to continuously improve the course. We send out surveys after each module asking for feedback and we also hold an optional Zoom call in the evening after each exam to discuss the questions. The feedback has been both encouraging and valuable.\n\n### Reflection, not just rote learning\n\nIn response to feedback, we recorded two extra videos applying the theory that the students are learning to the very real situation of covid-19 and its impact on public financial management. These kinds of “extras” are what students tell us they really value, as they encourage reflection and not just rote learning.\n\n“Reflection” is the key word in our approach to testing as well. After each module, there is a test. The purpose is not to check whether students can regurgitate what they learned last week word for word. The aim is to encourage students to reflect on what they have learned and apply it to real situations.\n\nThis helps move the knowledge from short-term memory to long-term understanding. The testing is part of the learning process.\n\n### “Using the fruit to make marmalade for everyone”\n\nVirtual training has clear benefits in normal times, not just during a pandemic. Our programme directly supports 11 subnational governments, but with virtual training we can reach the whole of Peru at no extra cost.\n\nFor example, our [virtual course in open government](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnode\u002F922) in 2019 reached more than 3,350 officials and citizens across Peru. This wider diffusion of knowledge is important for long-term sustainability and culture change.\n\nGetting the widest benefit for the lowest cost is vital in our country. That is another reason for our use of social media and networks of engaged individuals: it’s free. Saving on marketing costs means we can put more funds into the course development and support for students.\n\n### Three tips for designing virtual courses\n\nHere are three important things we recommend to consider when developing virtual courses.\n\n*   Understand your students and adapt to their needs. Speak to them and listen carefully to what they want and need. Tailor your content appropriately and be prepared to adapt quickly in response to feedback. \n*   It’s not about the tool, but what you do with it. Choose your technologies to meet the needs of the students, not just yours – and be open to non-traditional platforms like social media if that will work best in your context.\n*   Learning is about the heart, not just the head. The personal touch is still important, even if the course is virtual. The chance to interact with others through chat rooms and social media is hugely valuable. It is what turns a one-off training course for individuals into a sustainable, knowledgeable and engaged network that can really achieve change.","2020-05-17","how-to-design-a-virtual-training-course-that-works-in-your-context-experiences-from-peru-1749","How to design a virtual training course that works in your context – experiences from Peru","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Faaa363c7-28be-48c1-a690-2518cd46f0e4?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[175],7421,[177],"Public Finance Management",[17,53],[],1749,[177],[17,53],[184],1231,[],[187],"Main page",[],"2022-05-26T22:55:00.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:40.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-to-design-a-virtual-training-course-that-works-in-your-context-experiences-from-peru-1749",{"id":194,"body":195,"status":6,"type":42,"date":196,"slug":197,"title":198,"image":199,"countries":200,"topic":202,"activity":205,"tags":206,"nid":207,"topics":208,"activities":210,"authors":211,"images":214,"websites":8,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":21,"translations":215,"translation_of":8,"user_created":74,"date_created":216,"user_updated":217,"date_updated":218,"content":219,"link":220},10562,"Amid geopolitical turbulence and concerns around the rise of authoritarianism and armed conflict, many people are looking at how corruption can be used “strategically” to deliberately undermine democratic institutions.\n\nThe so-called [strategic use of corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fqg37) is not new. It’s often portrayed simplistically as a kind of Western movie with good guys vs. bad guys, victims vs. aggressors. The picture is, of course, more complicated than that.\n\nIn a [recent article for the _Public Integrity_ journal](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwhen-you-have-corrupt-friends-abroad-impact-strategic-corruption-sudans-democratic), we explore this phenomenon from the perspective of a country where strategic corruption was arguably linked to the collapse of a fledging democracy: Sudan.\n\nIn 2019, the civilian-military government of Sudan led by Prime Minister Hamdok began an ambitious transition to democratic governance and the adoption of anti-corruption reforms. This transition ended in 2023 with state collapse and conflict. The story is a lesson on the complexity of corruption and on how closely anti-corruption efforts, democratic processes and security are linked.\n\n### Growth of foreign-supported power centres\n\nThe article tells the story of the governance system that emerged during the military-political rule of former President al-Bashir. At the time, there were powerful groups within the military, and coups were a frequent occurrence. A savvy solution was needed to address this.\n\nIn order to appease these powerful military actors, including the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), al-Bashir’s regime provided opportunities for them to expand their economic and business interests while politically keeping them under his direct control.\n\nLeveraging the country's rich natural resources became a means of maintaining political and economic power.\n\n### Geopolitical significance\n\nSudan’s geopolitical position is a critical part of the story. The Red Sea is a key trading route. Russia and states in the Gulf region developed engagements with these powerful military actors. They exchanged money and other support for access to Sudan's natural resources and strategic geographic locations.\n\nCorruption practices involved preferential investments and concessions in specific economic sectors such as mining and agriculture. There is also evidence of illicit financial flows associated with the gold trade, as well as the provision of financial resources and arms to non-state military actors. These deals served the geopolitical and domestic interests of both sides.\n\nOne example from the article is that in 2017, al-Bashir sought Russia’s support in response to increasing internal political and economic pressures, as well as external pressures exerted by the West. Moscow offered a partnership with Sudan, including political support, arms and military training by private military contractors, who were deployed to Sudan immediately.\n\nIn exchange, Russia gained access to a strategic commercial corridor in the Red Sea and preferential gold mining contracts.\n\nNevertheless, the situation remained turbulent domestically and culminated in the popular uprising of 2018–2019. Al-Bashir was ousted from office. A Transitional Military Council, which involved both the SAF and RSF, was formed to lead the country until the handover to a civilian-military-led government in August 2019.\n\n### Democratic transition undermined\n\nWith the civilian-military-led government at the helm of political power, a bold transition to democracy began, with positive signs of strengthening the fight against corruption emerging.\n\nHowever, the aforementioned networks were directly impacted by Sudan’s democratic model and its citizens' aspirations. The networks and their leaders did not simply disappear with al-Bashir's removal. Behind the scenes, they were carefully orchestrating their next moves.\n\nDespite the reforms, during the transition period these military-business networks expanded even further. They leveraged the support of external actors and developed their economic investments with the twin goal of undermining reforms and maintaining dominance over the national economy.\n\nThese actors became active antagonists of the democratic and anti-corruption reform process. After the course of reform went into reverse, armed conflict erupted once again in April 2023.\n\n### A deeper understanding of corruption and democracy\n\nWhat happened in Sudan highlights this link between geopolitical objectives, corruption and the impact on democracy. It also challenges narratives that see strategic corruption simply as a tool wielded by foreign actors to undermine democracies.\n\nInstead, we must deepen our understanding of how domestic environments can create the conditions for strategic corruption.\n\nIn Sudan, the revolution and the planned transition to democracy posed a threat to the individuals and networks benefiting from the status quo. This triggered them to use corruption and the help of external actors to undermine the process.\n\n### Promoting anti-corruption work = promoting security\n\nThe case of Sudan, like that of other countries undergoing democratic transitions, highlights the importance of supporting reforms that seek to strengthen democracy and counter corruption. Otherwise, the reform process risks being derailed, with horrific consequences for populations as well as instability in the wider region.\n\nThe paradox of our time is that, amid current geopolitical shifts, development assistance and support for anti-corruption reform are under pressure while security and defence are prioritised.\n\nWhat happened in Sudan shows that this logic is a fallacy. Systemic corruption drives insecurity and instability. We cannot achieve security without fighting corruption and vice versa.\n\nThis trend is even more concerning as the fragmentation of the rules-based international order creates an environment conducive to strategic forms of corruption.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   View the article in the Public Integrity journal: Karar, H., & Kassa, S. (2025). [When You Have Corrupt Friends Abroad: The Impact of Strategic Corruption on Sudan’s Democratic Collapse](https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1080\u002F10999922.2025.2494910). Public Integrity, 1–14.\n*   See the Basel Institute’s [Quick Guide to Strategic Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fqg37).","2025-07-01","strategic-corruption-democracy-and-security-in-sudan-2823","Strategic corruption, democracy and security in Sudan","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F46e594b4-dcfd-430d-9d02-adb3b0a6e556?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[201],7782,[203,204],"Prevention"," Research and Innovation",[53],[],2823,[209],"Prevention Research and Innovation",[53],[212,213],1344,1345,[],[],"2025-07-13T11:42:46.000Z","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6","2026-05-07T21:29:57.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fstrategic-corruption-democracy-and-security-in-sudan-2823",{"id":222,"body":223,"status":6,"type":42,"date":224,"slug":225,"title":226,"image":227,"countries":228,"topic":229,"activity":231,"tags":232,"nid":233,"topics":234,"activities":235,"authors":236,"images":238,"websites":239,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":8,"translations":240,"translation_of":8,"user_created":74,"date_created":241,"user_updated":163,"date_updated":242,"content":243,"link":244},9831,"The trend among organisations with well-established anti-corruption compliance programmes is to integrate these into enterprise-wide risk management frameworks and set measurable indicators to ensure that their programmes remain fit for purpose. There is growing recognition that effective compliance contributes to a healthy business model and sustainable growth.\n\nOur compliance advisory work during 2018 has supported this development by seeking to help companies to use their existing risk management processes as the basis to integrate anti-corruption compliance into wider frameworks of risk management and sustainability. We believe this will continue as human rights risk assessments and corruption risk mitigation become increasingly important.\n\nOur work in [Collective Action](\u002Fblog\u002Freflections-2018-international-centre-collective-action) supports this approach by helping companies to solve shared challenges related to bribery and raise standards of integrity across an industry or region.\n\n### Support for small businesses\n\nSmall- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that do business internationally are open to the same bribery and corruption risks as their larger competitors, yet have far fewer resources to protect themselves from these risks. Our tailored, resource-sensitive guidance on anti-corruption compliance and bribery prevention helps SMEs to avoid legal and reputational risks and enjoy the competitive advantage that solid compliance systems provide.\n\nA mandate from the UK Department for International Development, awarded in late 2018 as part of the Business Integrity Initiative, will enable us to expand our support for SMEs in the coming year.\n\n### Tailored compliance training\n\nRobust compliance is based on strong communication that reinforces the corporate culture and is relevant to the employees that are being addressed. That is why a strong focus of our compliance work is on bespoke training for companies and public sector organisations.\n\nThese customised training programmes were joined in 2018 by a comprehensive training curriculum on Corporate Governance and Compliance, developed in cooperation with Nestor Advisors for Malaysian compliance practitioners and other interested individuals. Around 30 practitioners completed the modules during 2018, hosted by the Malaysian Institute on Management.\n\n### User-friendly compliance tools\n\nPractical online tools are essential to supplement efficient compliance systems.\n\nOur long-standing [Basel AML Index](\u002Fnode\u002F403), an interactive country risk assessment tool covering corruption, money laundering, financial transparency and related risks, was upgraded and transferred to a new user-friendly platform in 2018.\n\nThis is now joined by [Basel Open Intelligence](\u002Fnode\u002F556), a newly developed open-source search tool to make multilingual background checks and due diligence processes faster, easier and more thorough.\n\n2018 at a glance\n----------------\n\n### Advisory services\n\n*   [Advice and support](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fcompliance\u002Fadvisory-services) to international companies for crisis management in relation to their anti-corruption compliance programmes.\n*   Development of legal opinions on cases of corruption and conflict of interest in collaboration with [Professor Mark Pieth](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pieth.ch\u002F).\n\n### Compliance training \n\n*   In cooperation with Nestor Advisors, rollout of a training curriculum in [Corporate Governance and Compliance](\u002Fnews\u002Fmalaysian-compliance-event-and-training-courses) for the Malaysian Institute on Management (MIM).\n\n### Moderation and speaking events\n\n*   Presentation at the 10th International Conference of Financial Crime and Terrorism Financing ([IFCTF](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Ftransforming-governance-government-related-entities-ifctf-2018-malaysia)) in Kuala Lumpur.\n*   Panel moderation at the [Arbitration and Crime Conference](https:\u002F\u002Farbcrime.org\u002Fconference) at the University of Basel. \n*   Moderation of the C5 Anti-Corruption Conference, plus moderation of a private sector panel.\n*   Co-chairing of a high-level panel with Professor Mark Pieth at the International Anti-Corruption Conference.\n*   Participation in the ICC Young Arbitrators Conference; a meeting of Ethics and Compliance Switzerland and the EU Anti-Corruption Conference.\n\n### Looking ahead - planned activities in 2019\n\n*   Provide [guidance to SMEs on anti-corruption compliance and bribery prevention](\u002Fcompliance\u002Fsme-guidance-services) as part of the UK government’s DFID-funded Business Integrity Initiative.\n*   Launch [Basel Open Intelligence](\u002Fboi) and raise awareness in the corporate community of this new anti-corruption compliance and due diligence tool.\n\nThis text appears in the Basel Institute's [Annual Report 2018](\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2019-07\u002FBasel%20Institute%20Annual%20Report%202018.pdf).","2019-07-21","reflections-on-2018-compliance-and-corporate-governance-956","Reflections on 2018: Compliance and corporate governance","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F43e536fe-cbe2-4969-87c3-336c42d5d46c?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[230],"Private Sector",[52],[],956,[230],[52],[237],1270,[],[187],[],"2022-05-26T22:56:18.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:59.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Freflections-on-2018-compliance-and-corporate-governance-956",{"id":246,"body":247,"status":6,"type":10,"date":248,"slug":249,"title":250,"image":251,"countries":252,"topic":254,"activity":255,"tags":256,"nid":265,"topics":266,"activities":268,"authors":269,"images":270,"websites":271,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":8,"translations":272,"translation_of":8,"user_created":74,"date_created":273,"user_updated":217,"date_updated":274,"content":275,"link":276},10404,"Mozambique faces critical infrastructure challenges – and opportunities – across all areas of its economy.\n\nYet the type of high-value procurement and infrastructure projects needed to boost development in the country are well known to be vulnerable to corruption. Risk factors include the high complexity, large transactions and multi-party negotiations that require close cooperation between the public and private sectors.\n\nTo ensure procurement projects are not hijacked by corrupt interests, law enforcement officials need specific training to identify and investigate corruption and, if necessary, to recover stolen funds.\n\n### Gaining specialised knowledge\n\nFrom 6-9 November 2023, 23 anti-corruption practitioners took part in ICAR's specialised [training programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery\u002Ftraining-programmes) on \"Corruption in Infrastructure Projects and Procurement\" at the Prosecutor General's Office in Maputo, Mozambique.\n\nICAR experts Phyllis Atkinson, Tom Walugembe and Emmanuel Mringo explored the most common fraudulent practices in procurement and infrastructure projects together with participants. In Mozambique as elsewhere, these include non-compliance with contract specifications, inflated invoices, product substitution, false claims and over-invoicing.\n\nThe sessions led into interactive workshops and a simulated corruption case which participants investigated in teams.\n\n### Learning through investigation\n\nICAR courses allow participants to test out new knowledge and receive real-time feedback on their evolving skills by investigating a simulated case of public procurement corruption.\n\nIn this course, a simulated case in a road construction project tested participants' ability to identify the \"red flags\" that can reveal a corruption scheme such as bid rigging, collusive bidding, fraud, conflict of interest, bribery and kickbacks.\n\nParticipants found the learning structure helpful, with one stating:\n\n> The methodology used for the course was excellent. The explanations in the presentations were directly relevant to the practical exercise. I will apply these new skills when investigating cases of corruption and the embezzlement of state funds.\n\nICAR’s \"learning by doing” approach means that participants are able to quickly apply new skills and easily transfer them to their daily work. As another participant noted:\n\n> The training was excellent. It connects with very pertinent aspects of my day-to-day work. That means I was able to acquire more skills and investigative methodologies in the various legal types of crime that were covered here. This will enable me to achieve better results.\n\n### Constructing the local context\n\nThe participants' presentations at the end of the training demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the various offences common to public procurement corruption cases, such as abuse of office, passive corruption, embezzlement and money laundering. Importantly, their new knowledge was tailored to the local context, taking into account Mozambican law and procedures.\n\nIdentifying and confiscating illicit assets was also a major focus of the training, through the use of both criminal\u002Fextended forfeiture laws and in the future, we hope, new [civil forfeiture](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fmozambique-drafts-new-civil-confiscation-law-boost-recovery-stolen-assets) mechanisms. The successful implementation of these mechanisms is crucial to preventing future corruption in infrastructure and procurement.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Learn more about [ICAR’s training programmes](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery\u002Ftraining-programmes) and team.\n*   The training programme was delivered in the context of a long-running partnership with the Attorney General’s Office of Mozambique that started in 2019 and is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Through a local team of field experts, we provide technical assistance and ongoing capacity building to law enforcement and judicial practitioners in investigating financial crimes and recovering illicit assets. Mozambique is also at the heart of a new Knowledge Community on Asset Recovery that arose from the ICAR-organised [Lisbon Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Flisbon-conference-2022-lusophone-countries-come-together-expand-asset-recovery-toolbox) in 2022.","2023-11-15","building-integrity-from-the-ground-up-in-mozambique-training-programme-2538","Building integrity from the ground up in Mozambique: training programme","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fa49376d4-a5ca-49b3-8ffb-7f28ebd58c07?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[253],7149,[14],[17],[257,261],{"tags_id":258},{"id":259,"name":260},1113,"Infrastructure",{"tags_id":262},{"id":263,"name":264},1378,"Public financial management",2538,[267],"Asset Recovery and Enforcement",[17],[],[],[187],[],"2023-11-15T11:01:31.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:28.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbuilding-integrity-from-the-ground-up-in-mozambique-training-programme-2538",{"left":278,"top":278,"width":279,"height":279,"rotate":278,"vFlip":280,"hFlip":280,"body":281},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>",1780676520249]