[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":295},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-peter-maurer-on-corruption-sustainable-development-and-joining-the-basel-institute-on-governance-2295":3,"news-peter-maurer-on-corruption-sustainable-development-and-joining-the-basel-institute-on-governance-2295-similar":62,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":290},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"date":12,"topic":13,"slug":15,"activity":16,"nid":19,"topics":20,"activities":21,"programme":22,"area":22,"websites":23,"language":22,"image":25,"translation_of":22,"countries":36,"tags":37,"authors":38,"images":59,"translations":60,"content":61},10309,"published","2022-10-24T10:01:23.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:40.000Z","Peter Maurer on corruption, sustainable development and joining the Basel Institute on Governance","Blog","Peter Maurer became President of the Basel Institute on Governance in October 2022, succeeding the Basel Institute’s founder and President for nearly 20 years, Professor Mark Pieth.\n\nIn this short interview, Peter Maurer reflects on his decision to join the fight against corruption after 25 years as a Swiss diplomat and 10 as President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).\n\n### Why the pivot to corruption?\n\nThroughout my 35-year diplomatic and humanitarian career, I have seen in so many contexts how corruption and poor governance cause human suffering and impede progress towards peace and sustainable development. \n\nCorruption fuels and exacerbates humanitarian crises linked to war and armed conflict, food insecurity, health emergencies and the effects of climate change. It squanders funds intended for essential services like health and education, skews the incentives of leaders away from the best interests of citizens, and destroys trust in institutions. High corruption risks hinder access to foreign investment and markets, holding back economic development. \n\nAll these factors reduce the ability of states to meet the needs of their own citizens, in normal times as well as periods of crisis.\n\nAt the ICRC, we were mandated to assist and protect populations affected by armed conflict and violence and help them cope through humanitarian emergencies. Now, at the Basel Institute, I wish to focus on tackling some of the underlying causes of this human suffering: corruption and poor governance.\n\n### What is the link with international development assistance?\n\nI have seen first-hand the importance of good governance to make humanitarian and development cooperation programmes work effectively. \n\nCorruption diverts flows of aid and investment from those who most desperately need it, undermining human rights and jeopardising assistance programmes. In contexts of weak governance and kleptocracy, well-intentioned aid and development funds may even exacerbate corruption by pouring money into contexts of low transparency, accountability, coordination and oversight. Also, mere perceptions of high levels of corruption may erode support for humanitarian or other international assistance in a country. \n\nTargeting corruption helps ensure that aid and other development assistance provided by governments, charities and citizens around the world actually reach their goals. It directly supports efforts to protect the lives and dignity of people in vulnerable situations.\n\n### So anti-corruption is not just about corruption?\n\nAbsolutely not. Corruption affects the whole of society and fighting it is a collective responsibility.\n\nCorruption and the quality of governance impact fundamentally on our ability to reach each of the sustainable development goals. This is not just a problem of less developed or fragile states and contexts, but has deep impact on the global economy and the international cooperation system. When states abuse their geopolitical and economic leverage to unduly benefit their own interests to the detriment of others – well, that too severely impedes global progress towards peace and stability.\n\nThose of us who work in the “fields” of anti-corruption, humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, human rights, environmental conservation, etc., are all working on different parts of the same system, using different methods and methodologies to pursue their objectives. This plurality is important as it is critical to work in complementarity and to ensure the best possible impact of scarce resources.\n\n### Why the Basel Institute on Governance?\n\nFirst, for reasons of its long-standing dedication to countering corruption and improving standards of governance for the sake of people and our planet. The work of my 120 or so new colleagues has tangible and long-lasting impacts on people’s lives and livelihoods. That holds true whether they are facilitating the return of stolen assets, mentoring best practice in private-sector compliance, or applying anti-corruption tools to combat environmental crimes.\n\nSecond, for its political independence and agility and for its professionalism in dealing with complex political and societal issues. These are even more important in a highly polarised environment within many countries and in the international system overall.\n\nThird, for its position at the interface between technical excellence and policy advancement. The Basel Institute helps to bridge the gap between those on the front lines of fighting corruption and those taking decisions in high-level international fora and government cabinets. \n\nBut just as much as what the Basel Institute does, it is how it works and has developed methods to navigate difficult environments. \n\nThe basis of our work is always evidence – of what is or could be effective, what isn’t, how to tailor different anti-corruption approaches to different contexts and how to demonstrate change. The teams integrate prevention and enforcement, seek out windows of opportunity and work through partnerships and across stakeholder groups. \n\nPeople are always at the centre, to bring change and to benefit from the change. So are efforts to learn, share learning and improve together. \n\n### What will you bring to the Basel Institute’s work?\n\nI hope my experiences in international diplomacy and cooperation will help the Basel Institute to reach higher and wider in its work and to build broader support for its important endeavours. We can do more to push leaders to live up to their commitments and show pathways to do so through exemplary leadership.\n\nI hope my continued focus on people, sustainable development, peace and security will help us to have even greater impact on the ground in the longer term. \n\nAnd lastly, I hope also to continue building political and operational bridges between those who work on “tackling corruption” and those who labour tirelessly in other ways to help their fellow citizens live safe, prosperous and dignified lives.","2022-10-24",[14],"","peter-maurer-on-corruption-sustainable-development-and-joining-the-basel-institute-on-governance-2295",[17,18],"Insights","Media releases",2295,[],[17,18],null,[24],"Main page",{"id":26,"storage":27,"filename_disk":28,"filename_download":29,"title":9,"type":30,"created_on":31,"modified_on":31,"charset":22,"filesize":32,"width":33,"height":34,"duration":22,"embed":22,"description":22,"location":22,"tags":22,"metadata":35,"focal_point_x":22,"focal_point_y":22,"tus_id":22,"tus_data":22,"uploaded_on":31},"456c28a2-af02-4d81-a4a9-33fa8e71d062","local","456c28a2-af02-4d81-a4a9-33fa8e71d062.webp","tmp.webp","image\u002Fwebp","2025-05-12T21:16:09.000Z",142924,1400,933,{},[],[],[39],{"id":40,"news_id":41,"authors_id":55},1157,{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":42,"date_created":7,"user_updated":43,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":26,"date":12,"topic":44,"slug":15,"activity":45,"nid":19,"topics":46,"activities":47,"programme":22,"area":22,"websites":48,"translation_of":22,"language":22,"countries":49,"tags":50,"authors":51,"images":52,"translations":53,"content":54},"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","b0662e2a-864d-4888-a1b7-4342b7570b30",[14],[17,18],[],[17,18],[24],[],[],[40],[],[],[],{"id":56,"name":57,"position":22,"image":58},558,"Dr Peter Maurer","77976774-7119-48eb-9813-0979e38abf71",[],[],[],[63,89,111,134,163,188,222,245,268],{"id":64,"body":65,"status":6,"type":10,"date":66,"slug":67,"title":68,"image":69,"countries":70,"topic":71,"activity":74,"tags":77,"nid":78,"topics":79,"activities":80,"authors":81,"images":83,"websites":84,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":85,"translation_of":22,"user_created":42,"date_created":86,"user_updated":43,"date_updated":8,"content":87,"link":88},10455,"The Basel Institute’s President Peter Maurer opened the [5th International Collective Action Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2024) on 24 June 2024 with an inspiring keynote speech about global challenges related to corruption and the role of Collective Action in addressing them. \n\nSetting out the current state of affairs, Peter Maurer highlighted disruption, instability and deep transformation of relations between states, international organisations and non-state actors as important factors undermining international consensus, which has been so critical in achieving progress on anti-corruption norms, standards and policies.\n\nToday’s environment is characterised by the deep negative impact of armed conflict, the spread of illegal and illicit economies and state capture, the scarcity and overuse of resources, rapid energy and technological transformation, and stark social inequalities. All these are fuelling feelings of injustice and globalising double standards.\n\nThese developments represent the background with which anti-corruption efforts are confronted. Peter Maurer explained subsequently how these challenges are also providing us with opportunities to further progress on anti-corruption. You can watch [Peter Maurer's speech here](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=o13bcO7m1E0&list=PLYRnhpCcnLP9vG5x9LK9p9Z-4SniNYhF_&index=2). An edited excerpt follows:\n\n> Despite threats to the rules-based order that international organisations have worked to foster globally over the past 80 years, traditional institutions such as the United Nations and OECD have not disappeared. They are, in fact, making notable efforts to adapt to new realities by bringing best practices to the fore and promoting innovative solutions.\n> \n> Of these, [Collective Action](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F) and other forms of multi-stakeholder cooperation are proving to be some of the most promising.\n> \n> ### Private sector increasingly up to the challenge\n> \n> For businesses, expectations of regulators, investors, customers, employees and other stakeholders are higher than ever, albeit contradictory at times. Consequently, companies need to equip themselves with the ability to navigate political and social tensions among their stakeholders.\n> \n> It is therefore positive to see that companies globally are starting to shift from tick-the-box compliance to more refined approaches to strengthening integrity and governance.\n> \n> Increasingly, they are anchoring integrity challenges at the top of business hierarchies, introducing new measures building on insights from behavioural science, concretising commitments to integrity through Collective Action, and more.\n> \n> ### Growing participation in decisions and policies\n> \n> Another positive trend is how governments and businesses, supported by civil society and academia, are committing to evidence-based decision-making. They are prioritising impactful, people-centred action, and they are implementing systems for achieving integrity in governance.\n> \n> New technologies are allowing for new forms of research and cooperation. They are also helping to build alliances around particular issues and to facilitate international communities of practice that could not otherwise be sustained.\n> \n> ### Finding a balance in the face of dilemmas\n> \n> While many of us are worried – and rightly so – by simplistic populism, I am impressed every day by the number of actors delicately navigating the big dilemmas inherent to the challenges of anti-corruption work.\n> \n> They are balancing principles and pragmatism; individual and systemic approaches; legal compliance and the need to create a space for negotiations when implementing norms and standards. They manage to combine respect for professional standards with political advocacy and the desire for transparency with concerns over privacy.\n> \n> In such an environment, it is particularly important to come together, create a space for debate and support each other in sending a positive signal. And while megatrends may seem unaffected by our efforts, “the God of small things” may be on our side. In other words, lots of small steps forward can together shape deeper and longer-lasting transformation.\n> \n> Without falling into naïve optimism, it is important to demonstrate that things can be done when we work together. Not necessarily because we are like-minded, but because joining different perspectives in a common framework has a significant potential for impact.\n> \n> ### The mobilising force of Collective Action\n> \n> This is the positive message coming from Collective Action. It’s an action-, cooperation- and future-oriented framework.\n> \n> At its most effective, Collective Action can help to remind us why we have agreed to certain norms, principles and values – often a long time ago – and show us how to achieve them. It can help to breathe new life into the global rules-based order that is currently at risk.\n> \n> It can also help to make the world fairer and to reinvigorate international support for democratic institutions, for accountability and for more sophisticated checks and balances.\n> \n> Collective Action has shifted the balance from an often quite “mechanical” compliance practice to opening a space for agreement on concrete steps forward. It anchors ethical behaviour and compliance with norms in specific contexts and times and around concrete action plans. It is a mobilising force, giving agency to multiple stakeholders.\n> \n> ### Why Collective Action has to be a pillar of anti-corruption strategies\n> \n> From recent discussions on Collective Action and anti-corruption, three important messages stand out for me:\n> \n> *   Corruption is a formidable global challenge that hinders progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, weakens the rule of law, deteriorates public institutions, erodes trust, exacerbates social and economic disparities and compromises peace and security. Re-establishing integrity and trust in institutions as a key path to fighting corruption is critically important.\n> *   If we want our anti-corruption efforts to succeed, we need to create conducive environments. Accountable and rules-based political systems create an enabling environment for anti-corruption work and for countering attacks on open societies.\n> *   To fight corruption we need multifaceted approaches, including actions targeted at promoting transparency and integrity and at reducing impunity. We need to leverage technology, build capacities and expand cooperative agreements between different stakeholders.\n> \n> Anti-corruption Collective Action has proven its worth in achieving all of those things. That is why Collective Action must be one of the pillars of a more comprehensive, multidisciplinary anti-corruption strategy.\n> \n> ### Bringing global perspectives together\n> \n> As we explore these questions and more, it is useful to remember that integrity will not be a top priority issue if we fail to bring a powerful alliance of stakeholders from all parts of the world around it.\n> \n> We must not fall into the trap of designing integrity as a neo-colonialist enterprise, where those who have traditionally held power try to impose their normative systems on others. Rather, it is critical to collect best practices from different contexts and learn from each other’s experiences.\n> \n> There is huge energy and an appetite for change in regions such as Southern Africa, Asia Pacific and Latin America, where regional communities of Collective Action practitioners are beginning to form. And we believe that much of the future expansion and innovation in Collective Action will evolve at these regional levels.\n> \n> ### Kicking off the Collective Action Conference\n> \n> Our aim for the next two days is that together, we – as representatives of governments, businesses, civil society, international organisations and academia – take another step forward in achieving global recognition for Collective Action as an effective tool for rebuilding trust in institutions and democratic norms at a local, national and international level.\n> \n> The Basel Institute, supported by the [Siemens Integrity Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.siemens.com\u002Fglobal\u002Fen\u002Fcompany\u002Fabout\u002Fcompliance\u002Fcollective-action.html), the sponsors of the 5th International Collective Action Conference and of much of our anti-corruption Collective Action work over the last 14 years, would like to thank you very much indeed for your participation.\n> \n> As ever, we remain open to providing [help, advice, connections](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fhelpdesk), and technical assistance to those of you who want to initiate, scale up and further develop Collective Action in your contexts.","2024-07-02","the-mobilising-power-of-collective-action-peter-maurer-on-new-forms-of-engagement-for-global-solutions-2651","The mobilising power of Collective Action: Peter Maurer on new forms of engagement for global solutions","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F6418fd38-2ec5-474e-8791-2e0293390122?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[72,73],"Collective Action","Private Sector",[75,17,76],"Events","Presentations",[],2651,[72,73],[75,17,76],[82],1111,[],[24,72],[],"2024-07-02T16:01:34.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fthe-mobilising-power-of-collective-action-peter-maurer-on-new-forms-of-engagement-for-global-solutions-2651",{"id":90,"body":91,"status":6,"type":10,"date":92,"slug":93,"title":94,"image":95,"countries":96,"topic":97,"activity":98,"tags":99,"nid":100,"topics":101,"activities":102,"authors":103,"images":105,"websites":106,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":107,"translation_of":22,"user_created":42,"date_created":108,"user_updated":43,"date_updated":8,"content":109,"link":110},10409,"_This blog is adapted from a keynote speech at a_ [_high-level event_](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lie-zeit.li\u002F2023\u002F11\u002Fbekaempfung-der-internationalen-finanzkriminalitaet\u002F) _in Vaduz, Liechtenstein on 31 October 2023. Organised by the Liechtenstein Government in collaboration with the Basel Institute, the event focused on the fight against international financial crime._\n\nWhen you travel, it is almost always insightful to ask taxi drivers about the country’s biggest problems. Invariably when I have done this, corruption is named as one of the local population’s main concerns.\n\nThat people all over the world care about corruption is no wonder, because they see the effects on their lives every day. Corruption drains resources from the economy and negatively impacts social development and cohesion. People on average and low incomes are the most affected.\n\nBeyond everyday impacts, corruption also jeopardises the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. It undermines efforts in the areas of climate, human rights, environmental protection and health. And it is increasingly recognised that corruption plays a big role in fuelling conflict and undermining security.\n\nIn contrast to taxi drivers and their fellow citizens, it is striking that political institutions and the economy attach relatively little importance to corruption. Corruption is mentioned just twice in the 2023 [Global Risks Report](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.weforum.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fglobal-risks-report-2023\u002F) published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), both times in passing. But if you look at the list of 32 global risks that are deemed important in the WEF's survey, you'll quickly see that corruption exacerbates practically every single one. So it should receive much higher priority.\n\nThis does not mean that nothing is being done. But the problem of corruption is not receiving the attention, interest, political momentum and resources it deserves.\n\n### Fundamental differences\n\nThis discrepancy – between the real-world impacts of corruption and the attention paid to it at the highest political and economic levels – also points to a problem: Corruption remains insufficiently defined. And where it is defined by international treaties, there is too much room for interpretation.\n\nIn recent decades, the fight against corruption has therefore been broken down into definable criminal offences like bribery or money laundering. This has brought progress, but also problems of political coherence. Because standards are not defined in the same way everywhere, cooperation between legal systems is put to the test.\n\nNot only do these different understandings make cooperation difficult. Newly recognised forms of corruption also risk being forgotten. For example, the term is often reduced to bribery or other monetary forms of corruption involving public and private actors. But that [misses out behaviours](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fwhat-is-corruption) such as patronage, nepotism, conflicts of interest, influence peddling or the manipulation of legislative processes with a corrupt objective, to name but a few.\n\nAt the Basel Institute on Governance, we see the challenges that these discrepancies cause across our work – from the [recovery of assets](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery) to the [corruption risk management](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fprivate-sector) frameworks of international corporations to attempts to counter [money laundering and terrorist financing](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fbasel-aml-index).\n\n### Hybrid solutions based on a common understanding\n\nIn many ways, the challenges in the fight against corruption are similar to those in efforts to reduce war and conflict and to promote human rights and international humanitarian law. Norms and realities diverge: political and professional, legal and practical, real and virtual. And wherever we look, problems are complex and typically arise on several levels, affecting a variety of players. They require different expertise, specialist knowledge and new approaches to solve them. Hybrid problems need hybrid solutions.\n\nMany areas of tension arise from the hybrid nature of corruption, as in other fields. The biggest tension is often between the technical\u002Flegal side and domestic political conditions. While legally coherent standards are important, they are not necessarily politically acceptable. This is because states have to consider other interests beyond the objectives of the standards.\n\nBut aligning standards solely with the political wind is not a solution either. Then the law becomes arbitrary and leads us to double standards. We see this in major issues such as sovereignty – the inviolability of borders, the protection of the civilian population or the confiscation of assets – where context-specific political stances call into question universal norms that are crucial for legal certainty. One finds the bombing of civilians unacceptable in one place and not worth mentioning in another. One negotiates with terrorists here, but not there. One finds property rights a good thing here, and calls for unilateral confiscations there.\n\nWhat is important today is that we find our way back, or rather forward, to norms that are universally implemented and understood regardless of – or perhaps precisely because of – the hybrid nature of the problems we are faced with. Or if this is not immediately politically possible, norms should at least be universally applicable. This means we need to uncover the interests behind the normative problems in order to find political compromises that work.\n\n### No problem is an island\n\nThe English poet John Donne wrote 400 years ago that \"No man is an island, entire of itself”. He meant that we are all dependent on each other and that our decisions have impacts beyond our selves.\n\nThat holds particularly true when it comes to solving problems. We know that we cannot make decisions on a national level alone. Or if we do, they do not actually solve the problem. But instead of thinking in the interconnected, multi-faceted manner and collective action-driven manner necessary to solve problems, our national and international institutions and decision-makers are locked in siloed thinking and functional differentiation. This inhibits adequate and legitimate solutions. Again, we see this in our work every day.\n\nAnother challenge is that to solve problems, we need to combine what is legally meaningful and politically legitimate. Yet the more norms we create, the more vague become the boundaries between what is legal, illicit and illegal. This is because we don’t give adequate consideration to the political consensus when it comes to norm creation. \n\nThis reminds me in many ways of my previous work. Corrupt politicians or businessmen are not that different from warlords who violate the Geneva Conventions:\n\n*   They interpret a normative vacuum as empowerment, using the excuse that if something is not explicitly prohibited, it is allowed.\n*   They turn perpetrators into victims, when they attempt to undermine anti-corruption efforts with arguments about property rights and economic freedoms.\n*   They hide behind logic like: \"If the other person is corrupt, I can be corrupt too.\"\n\nFrom my previous challenges with the implementation of the Geneva Conventions, and from what I see in the anti-corruption world so far, I tend to believe that there is often no alternative to dialogue and negotiation with the power holders, actors and stakeholders who are sceptical of the further development and implementation of anti-corruption norms or who resist them outright.\n\nThis does not mean renouncing normative coercion or that we should give perpetrators a right of veto. Rather, it means that we need to be willing to understand and recognise the realities of power. And that as a consequence, behaviour, institutions and processes need time to adapt to new requirements.\n\n### The vital role of non-state actors\n\nA last important point: focusing solely on states and state-driven solutions is no longer appropriate today. Wherever we look, actors other than states play a vital role in politics, standard setting and the practical implementation of standards.\n\nIn the fight against corruption in particular, we would be making even less progress without the constant pressure and solutions coming from civil society and the private sector. Social norms, political realities and corruption are a collective action problem, just as we have seen in tough conflict and humanitarian situations. Calling for norms is relatively fruitless without a committed business community and civil society that also want to implement behavioural changes in their own interests.\n\nIt is not only dialogue with the powerful that is needed, but also the mobilisation of those willing parties who want to tackle problems effectively and collectively. And because here again, problems are multi-layered, complex and hybrid, there is an even greater need to mediate between norms and realities, individual cases and policies, political and professional perspectives.\n\nSeeking pragmatic solutions should remain our goal.","2023-12-09","ask-a-taxi-driver-peter-maurer-on-definitions-dialogue-and-the-collective-fight-against-corruption-2553","Ask a taxi driver: Peter Maurer on definitions, dialogue and the collective fight against corruption","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F8faf9b3f-e124-4ace-9c8a-a4de16d70ee8?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[17],[],2553,[],[17],[104],1127,[],[24],[],"2023-12-09T11:01:35.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fask-a-taxi-driver-peter-maurer-on-definitions-dialogue-and-the-collective-fight-against-corruption-2553",{"id":112,"body":113,"status":6,"type":10,"date":114,"slug":115,"title":116,"image":117,"countries":118,"topic":119,"activity":120,"tags":121,"nid":122,"topics":123,"activities":124,"authors":125,"images":126,"websites":127,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":128,"translation_of":22,"user_created":42,"date_created":129,"user_updated":130,"date_updated":131,"content":132,"link":133},10314,"_Article by Mark Pieth, Founder and former President of the Basel Institute on Governance._\n\nOn October 1, I officially handed over the baton as President of the Basel Institute on Governance to Peter Maurer. After founding and leading the organisation for around 20 years, this was a significant moment for me.\n\nI feel a mix of pride, anticipation and deep gratitude. First, for the tremendous [Board](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fgovernance) members that have supported our mission for so many years. Second, for the [leadership team](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fpeople) and staff that have not only made our vision a reality but transformed it into so much more. It has been quite a journey.\n\n### A brief history\n\nBack in 1989, I was working as Head of Section on Economic and Organised Crime at the Swiss Federal Office of Justice. In that role I was involved in early efforts to develop international regulations on money laundering (as a Member of the Financial Action Task Force) and corruption (as Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery, a position I held for 24 years).\n\nThose experiences gave me significant hands-on knowledge of these topics. I developed strong personal views, but I also saw a wider need. The international agenda on corruption and money laundering was just starting to take shape. In those formative years, it was critical to involve people who understood the issues and cared deeply about getting policies and actions right.\n\nAfter becoming a Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Basel in 1993, I therefore decided to convene a core group of three individuals, plus interested academics and business representatives. This provided an independent platform for us to contribute our knowledge to policy dialogues and to fulfil specific advisory missions. We also experimented with early forms of [Collective Action](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcollective-action), bringing together businesses with public sector and civil society representatives to tackle specific issues of business integrity.\n\nThe Basel Institute on Governance existed as a letterhead from the early 1990s. It was established as a Foundation and an Associated Institute of the University of Basel when we received a major donation in 2003.\n\n### Evolutions in corruption and anti-corruption\n\nIn the early days, corruption was considered a technical issue of criminal law. The awareness that it was a fundamental worldwide problem undermining sustainable development and trust in society grew over time. Gradually, anti-corruption approaches also widened beyond the early efforts in international law towards a much more holistic picture. That was the world into which the Basel Institute was born.\n\nFor me personally, the wider thrust of the Basel Institute’s activity has always been the challenges posed by the deregulated, globalised world that we inherited following the Cold War. The fall of the Berlin Wall opened up markets and brought positive developments for many people. But the free movement of capital and services did not necessarily raise standards of living for everyone.\n\nConflicts have continued to rage. Organised crime has been on the rise. Corporations have colluded with corrupt elites to embezzle the natural resources of desperately poor countries. Many citizens even in rich states live a precarious existence, thanks to the outsourcing of jobs to low-wage economies and to the instability caused by short-term policies and happy-go-lucky financial markets.\n\nAll these developments create dark spaces for corruption to occur. The ultimate goal of the Basel Institute‘s anti-corruption work under my leadership has always been to bring light to those dark spaces and to improve the lives of citizens everywhere.\n\n### Milestones and achievements\n\nIn its early days, the work of the Basel Institute was very much associated with my [personal activities](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pieth.ch\u002Fabout-me\u002Fcv) in fora like the UN, OECD, Council of Europe, World Bank and regional international financial institutions. Gradually, we entered the field of anti-corruption compliance, helping companies and organisations apply the international standards to which we had contributed.\n\nA key step was the creation of the [Wolfsberg Group](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wolfsberg-principles.com\u002F) of private banks in 1999. Now one of the longest-running Collective Action initiatives, the Wolfsberg Group recently became an [independent legal entity](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fnews\u002Fcollective-action-in-banking-the-wolfsberg-groups-role-in-a-fast-evolving-industry-2202) housed at the Basel Institute.\n\nOther [Collective Action initiatives](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F) followed as we tested different ways to bring diverse stakeholders together and build the trust they needed to overcome their common problems. Back then, Collective Action was still considered a novel approach. The Siemens Integrity Initiative, which emerged from Siemens’ [settlement](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fnews\u002Fsiemens-and-the-european-investment-bank-fostering-integrity-through-collective-action-and-constructive-settlements-2133) with the World Bank and European Investment Bank, gave a strong boost to our efforts. I am proud now to see that anti-corruption Collective Action tools and approaches have blossomed around the world. It is on the path to becoming a standard element of both state-led corruption prevention efforts and private-sector compliance.\n\nAnother key development was the decision in 2006 to create the [International Centre for Asset Recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery) (ICAR). The idea was to help countries whose public funds had been plundered by politicians build capacity to recover the stolen money. This was and still is a major need, since only a tiny proportion of corrupt funds are ever traced, confiscated and returned to the countries they were stolen from. With the help of stable funding from ICAR’s core donor group, the Basel Institute has managed to build up a global team of some of the most experienced former law enforcement and legal specialists in this area. Demand for ICAR’s assistance continues to grow.\n\nBeyond that, the Basel Institute’s relentless focus on [evidence](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublic-governance) and its expansion into other areas such as [Green Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) are to a large extent down to the vision and talent of its Managing Director, Gretta Fenner.\n\n### Looking ahead\n\nSince retiring from teaching at the University of Basel, I have set up a boutique law firm (Office Pieth) and spent more time delving into abuses of power in particular areas.\n\nMy book on [_Gold Laundering_](https:\u002F\u002Felstersalis.com\u002Fprodukt\u002Fgschnaetzlets-mark-pieth\u002F) (in English and German) has triggered widespread concern about human rights violations and environmental harms in the gold trade. Among the initiatives to address these concerns is [Basel Gold Day](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pieth.ch\u002Fgold-day-II), in which we convene relevant stakeholders including regulators, civil society groups and private-sector firms and associations involved the gold trade.\n\nMy most recent project has looked at problems in the shipping industry exacerbated by gaps in regulation, resulting in the publication of a book in German: [_Seefahrtsnation Schweiz_](https:\u002F\u002Felstersalis.com\u002Fprodukt\u002Fseefahrtsnation-schweiz-mark-pieth-kathrin-betz\u002F).\n\nCloser to my legal background, I am working on the effects of illegal activities like corruption, fraud or money laundering on the world of arbitration through the [Arbitration and Crime Competence Centre](https:\u002F\u002Farbcrime.org\u002F) and our annual workshops.\n\nIn all this work and more, now and in the future, I will continue to apply the principles by which I led the Basel Institute for the last 20 years. I look forward with great hopes and anticipation for the Basel Institute’s next steps in this ever changing world.","2022-11-08","mark-pieth-fighting-corruption-with-the-basel-institute-and-beyond-2297","Mark Pieth: Fighting corruption with the Basel Institute and beyond","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F79b82bd8-8cf9-4350-ad86-03aef103ce3a?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[17],[],2297,[],[17],[],[],[24],[],"2022-11-08T11:01:25.000Z","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6","2026-04-27T21:01:58.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fmark-pieth-fighting-corruption-with-the-basel-institute-and-beyond-2297",{"id":135,"body":136,"status":6,"type":137,"date":138,"slug":139,"title":140,"image":141,"countries":142,"topic":143,"activity":146,"tags":149,"nid":150,"topics":151,"activities":154,"authors":155,"images":156,"websites":22,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":157,"translations":158,"translation_of":22,"user_created":42,"date_created":159,"user_updated":130,"date_updated":160,"content":161,"link":162},10573,"The Basel Institute’s first international postgraduate programme in anti-corruption has begun. 12 students from 11 countries across Africa, Europe and North America are taking part in the six-month course, led by Basel Institute staff and resulting in a Certificate of Advanced Studies from the University of Basel.\n\nThe course, [Mastering Today’s Anti-Corruption Challenges](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fcas-anti-corruption), equips mid-career professionals with the tools, skills and networks to address corruption and governance challenges in their work.\n\nLead instructor Dr Claudia Baez Camargo, Director of the Institute’s Prevention, Research and Innovation team, explained:\n\n> Through this programme, participants will not only deepen their understanding of corruption in today’s complex world, but also learn to evaluate the real evidence on what works. Most importantly, they will be empowered to apply these insights with confidence in their own countries and professional contexts, helping to strengthen integrity and good governance where it matters most.\n\n### Shaping the next generation of anti-corruption leaders\n\nThree participants attended the opening event on 26–27 September in person in Basel, while those unable to travel joined the sessions online.\n\nThe first cohort is made up of peers with diverse academic backgrounds – including legal, economic, political and other disciplines – and professional experience in the public, private and civil society sectors, in multilateral organisations and the media.\n\nThey were welcomed by the Basel Institute’s President Peter Maurer and Executive Director Betsy Andersen, together with the Basel STUDY team and instructors.\n\nVisits to the University of Basel and the historic centre gave participants and instructors the chance to bond while exploring Swiss traditions.\n\nThe participants who attended the launch in person described themselves as:\n\n> “excited”, “grateful” and “honoured”.\n\nAsked what she hoped to get out of the course, Tamara Lee, a Business Analyst and Project Manager from Ireland, said:\n\n> I hope I’ll learn to see corruption issues with a sharper, more professional lens. Instead of falling back on the usual buzzwords or the kind of surface-level ideas we see on social media or hear in conversations, I’d like to be able to look at situations in a deeper, more critical way.\n\nDr Ramadhani Marijani, a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at Tanzania’s University of Dodoma, added: \n\n> I hope I can be able to resolve anti-corruption challenges from an African perspective and understand other challenges in the global sphere. I am looking forward to engaging in classes, sharing and learning from other fellow participants from Africa and other countries and from the community of practice fighting the war against corruption globally.\n\nIlinca-Ioana Bīlc, Legal Advisor at a bank in Romania, emphasised her desire to explore a holistic approach to anti-corruption: \n\n> I want to know how I can fight \\[corruption\\] from different angles besides the basic one that everyone expects: you just follow the guidelines and then there will be no corruption. When in fact, the problem is much bigger and we need way more different ways of tackling it. \n\n### Exploring corruption’s links to today’s greatest challenges\n\nSaturday’s classroom sessions with Dr Saba Kassa explored how corruption connects to today’s greatest concerns, from shifting geopolitics and democratic backsliding to migration and climate change. This sets the foundation for modules delivered in live online sessions over the next six months and covering:\n\n*   How corruption and governance impact states, societies and organisations.\n*   The fundamentals of anti-corruption practice, from legal instruments to effective enforcement and prevention.\n*   Novel approaches to anti-corruption, drawing on political and behavioural sciences.\n*   How anti-corruption strategies are implemented internationally – and how they could be made more effective.\n\nStudents will apply their knowledge through a personal study project on a corruption challenge of their choice.\n\n### Scholarship fund opens doors to global talent\n\nSeveral participants benefited from tuition support thanks to generous donors to the [Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fscholarship).\n\nThe fund supports applicants from lower-income backgrounds who show strong commitment to anti-corruption, transparency and good governance. It reflects the vision of the Basel Institute’s late Managing Director Gretta Fenner to educate and empower anti-corruption leaders everywhere, regardless of financial means.\n\nOne recipient is Nigerian lawyer Emmanuela OkonkwoAbutu of the Abuja-based African Centre for Governance, Asset Recovery and Sustainable Development. She shared:\n\n> This prestigious study programme... offers a forum to learn from professionals who are influencing the global conversation on anti-corruption… This educational journey would not have been possible without the support of the Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund.\n\nWe are grateful to The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators, the Academy’s co-founders Elizabeth Ortega (ECO Strategic Communications), Stéphane Bonifassi (Bonifassi Avocats) and Lincoln Caylor (Bennett Jones), as well as Swiss law firm Kellerhals Carrard for their generous donations to the Fund.\n\n### Expanding opportunities through Basel STUDY\n\n[Basel STUDY](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study) – the Basel Institute’s postgraduate programme initiative – is designed to boost the knowledge, skills and careers of professionals committed to countering corruption and financial crime.\n\nIt builds on the Institute’s long-standing capacity-building approach, encouraging peer learning, hands-on practice and real-life cases. The two available Certificate of Advanced Studies programmes combine this practitioner-led spirit with the academic rigour of the University of Basel.\n\nThe second course, [_Combating_ _Financial Crime Through Asset Recovery_](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fcas-asset-recovery), starts in February 2026. Applications remain open for self-funded or employer-funded participants.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Explore other learning opportunities at the Basel Institute, including free eLearning courses on [Basel LEARN](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002F), our four-day course on [crypto, financial crime and AML compliance](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcrypto-aml-training), and our flagship [asset recovery training programmes](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery\u002Ftraining-programmes) for law enforcement agencies.\n*   Learn about the [Gretta Fenner Scholarship Fund](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Flearning\u002Fbasel-study\u002Fscholarship) – and consider donating to help change lives and create impact!","News","2025-09-29","global-professionals-begin-new-anti-corruption-studies-2851","Global professionals begin new anti-corruption studies","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fbe4b8143-bba3-4760-8f60-d11dcedc3f7b?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[144,145],"Prevention"," Research and Innovation",[147,148],"Courses","Training",[],2851,[152,153],"Corruption Prevention and Public Governance","Prevention Research and Innovation",[147,148],[],[],"English",[],"2025-09-29T16:01:39.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:37.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fglobal-professionals-begin-new-anti-corruption-studies-2851",{"id":164,"body":165,"status":6,"type":137,"date":166,"slug":167,"title":168,"image":169,"countries":170,"topic":172,"activity":173,"tags":175,"nid":176,"topics":177,"activities":179,"authors":180,"images":181,"websites":182,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":183,"translation_of":22,"user_created":42,"date_created":184,"user_updated":43,"date_updated":185,"content":186,"link":187},10356,"We are delighted to have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, the Ministry responsible for Ukraine's restoration. Under the agreement, we will work to minimise corruption risks in the use of state and donor funds allocated for the reconstruction of critical infrastructure.\n\nThis will include strengthening anti-corruption compliance in the road sector and assessing integrity risks when determining the cost of road works and services.\n\nOleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine, signed the Memorandum of Cooperation with Peter Maurer and Gretta Fenner, President and Managing Director of the Basel Institute on Governance.\n\n### Anti-corruption: a critical need\n\nAs the Ministry stated in its [Facebook post](https:\u002F\u002Fm.facebook.com\u002Flogin.php?next=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2Fstory.php%3Fstory_fbid%3Dpfbid0kbZLjavApNcrxp99SWuYTQ8P36N8h2YoxBaGAKise9CVuHNmABCCVSpLEUMxY5Yel%26id%3D100064745704510&refsrc=deprecated&_rdr), the World Bank has estimated the total reconstruction need at USD 411 billion. Housing and critical infrastructure facilities require the most funds.\n\nUkraine is actively working to attract international partners, governmental and non-governmental organisations to assist in financing the reconstruction. The consistency of financial assistance directly depends on effective anti-corruption measures.\n\nUkraine is already working on digitalising processes and reforming the procurement sector to ensure transparency and accountability at all stages of reconstruction.\n\nReferring to these challenges, Minister Kubrakov said:\n\n> We are grateful to have the Basel Institute on Governance as a partner in our efforts to strengthen internal controls and promote integrity in the infrastructure sector.\n\nJuhani Grossmann, the Institute’s Senior Advisor for Central and Eastern Europe noted:\n\n> “The Basel Institute has long supported the Ukrainian government in the fight against the “enemy within” – corruption. With the full-scale invasion over a year ago, the corruption risk profile in Ukraine has evolved significantly and the need to prevent corruption in the restoration processes is essential. It is our honour to support the Ministry and its agencies in this endeavour.”\n\n### Cooperation agreement\n\nThe memorandum provides support for Ukraine's efforts to maintain and restore critical infrastructure. It focuses on strengthening resilience and integrity in the operational processes of the Ministry and its subordinate enterprises.\n\nThe cooperation also includes: \n\n*   conducting corruption risk assessments;\n*   development of plans to identify the risks of corruption-related criminal offences and anti-corruption plans\n*   identification of measures to reduce the risks of fraud and corruption;\n*   training of officials responsible for integrity and anti-corruption policy implementation.\n\nOur work in Ukraine is supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, as well as the Principality of Liechtenstein which is funding our Green Corruption work on [illegal logging in Ukraine](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fdeepdive1-ukraine).\n\n### More\n\n*   View joint recommendations by the Basel Institute and Transparency International Ukraine presented at the [Ukraine Recovery Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fukraine-recovery-conference-anti-corruption-critical-condition-sustainable-recovery) and [International Anti-Corruption Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fstrengthening-ukraines-anti-corruption-and-judicial-infrastructure-safeguard-recovery) last year.\n*   Read a [joint blog](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fdont-let-kleptocrats-war-destroy-ukraines-reconstruction) by Gretta Fenner (Basel Institute) and Andrii Borovyk (Transparency International Ukraine) on safeguarding Ukraine's reconstruction from corruption.\n*   Learn more about financing Ukraine's reconstruction using recovered assets in this [panel discussion](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fasset-recovery-developments-start-war-ukraine) and [working paper](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-42).\n*   Read about the [RISE Ukraine coalition](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Frise-ukraine-coalition-launched-today-basel-institute-among-20-partners-promoting-transparent) of Ukrainian organisations and international partners that promotes a vision of integrity, sustainability and efficiency for the country’s post-war reconstruction.","2023-04-05","transparent-reconstruction-in-ukraine-ministry-for-restoration-and-basel-institute-on-governance-sign-memorandum-of-cooperation-2425","Transparent reconstruction in Ukraine: Ministry for Restoration and Basel Institute on Governance sign Memorandum of Cooperation","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F0c954837-9f58-4922-893e-a488e62b694f?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[171],7190,[73],[174],"Partnerships",[],2425,[73,178],"Ukraine",[174],[],[],[24],[],"2023-03-31T10:01:24.000Z","2026-05-23T09:20:06.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Ftransparent-reconstruction-in-ukraine-ministry-for-restoration-and-basel-institute-on-governance-sign-memorandum-of-cooperation-2425",{"id":189,"body":190,"status":6,"type":10,"date":191,"slug":192,"title":193,"image":194,"countries":195,"topic":197,"activity":199,"tags":200,"nid":209,"topics":210,"activities":211,"authors":212,"images":214,"websites":215,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":216,"translation_of":22,"user_created":42,"date_created":217,"user_updated":218,"date_updated":219,"content":220,"link":221},10531,"> Environmental destruction and corruption are two of the greatest global challenges of our time. Both are closely interrelated…\n\nThis was the starting point of a [high-level meeting](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.regierung.li\u002Fmedienportal-medium\u002F16182\u002F232910\u002F0\u002Fmedienmitteilung) hosted by the Principality of Liechtenstein. Dominique Hasler and Panagiotis Potolidis of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the discussions together with Peter Maurer, President of the Basel Institute on Governance, and Juhani Grossmann, Head of our Green Corruption Programme.\n\nThe participants took a fresh look at the interconnected threats posed by corruption, environmental degradation and climate change, and at our Green Corruption programme's renewed focus on climate and the energy transition.\n\nIn his address, Peter Maurer also reflected on the need for bold collective action across borders to tackle these key global challenges. Our [Green Corruption programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) – made possible through core funding from Liechtenstein – is a powerful example of how international partnerships and innovative solutions can make a real difference.\n\nAn edited excerpt of Peter Maurer’s speech follows:\n\n> Building on 20 years of global and national experience in the fight against corruption, we at the Basel Institute have had the opportunity over the last seven years to look more closely at the interfaces between corruption and the environment. In our Green Corruption programme we are working with partners across four continents, supporting both enforcement and corruption prevention.\n> \n> While the political focus on environmental issues and the protection of natural resources in the past has brought many positive results, we have also seen how corruption and financial crime have become drivers of environmental problems:\n> \n> *   Standards are not adhered to.\n> *   Illegal trade and financial activities lead to new forms of exploitation of nature.\n> *   Regulatory authorities can be influenced, supervisory and enforcement authorities bribed into inaction.\n> *   Climate legislation is manipulated.\n> \n> And wherever a lot of new funds flow in – like climate finance or renewable energy projects – there are direct and indirect risks of abuse.\n> \n> Integrity and anti-corruption are crucial in effectively tackling the climate and environmental crisis. But the relevant authorities, such as law enforcement and environmental protection agencies, cooperate very little, either with each other or with other stakeholders.\n> \n> The good news is: There are encouraging examples. Our broad geographical focus allows us to take stock and make concrete suggestions for the future.\n> \n> ### Where corruption and environmental issues converge\n> \n> Our Green Corruption team is intensifying efforts in key areas where we see corruption undermining our collective ability to tackle the climate crisis: the energy transition and climate finance.\n> \n> Energy transition\n> \n> Renewable energy is essential to address climate change. The renewables sector comes with new regulations, financial flows, processes, actors. The new settings also mean new integrity risks to address.\n> \n> In addition, renewable energies depend on the mining of critical raw materials. Lithium or nickel, for example, are used in the production of batteries or renewable power generation in turbines or solar modules.\n> \n> There is growing long-term demand for the mining of these minerals. The increasing competition for these resources invites new players, such as technology companies and commodity traders. And this new rush is accompanied by numerous corruption scandals.\n> \n> Despite the high risks, very few safeguards are put in place to prevent corruption from undermining the effective, consensual and sustainable extraction of critical materials.\n> \n> In the next phase of our Green Corruption programme, we are starting detailed investigations into corruption risks, including with regard to lithium in Ukraine and nickel in Indonesia. These studies will also help us to support government authorities in strengthening their internal controls and risk mitigation measures.\n> \n> Climate finance\n> \n> We all know today that tackling the effects of climate change will require enormous investments. These are necessary to a) slow down climate change, and b) prepare and adapt to the unavoidable effects of the changing climate.\n> \n> Despite these two strategies being subject to political volatility, the basic facts make this an even stronger growth area in the medium to long term. The UN puts the cost of tackling climate change at USD 5.5 trillion a year. This is more than the combined GDP of Germany and Switzerland. Very substantial financial resources are already being invested in mitigating and adapting to climate change.\n> \n> As money is tight and climate change compete with other financial priorities like defence and migration, we need to get more out of existing funds. That means ensuring that they are not lost to corruption.\n> \n> Unfortunately, our partners at Transparency International are [documenting](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.transparency.org\u002Fen\u002Fpublications\u002Fclimate-and-corruption-atlas-lessons-from-real-cases) a growing number of corruption incidents in climate initiatives: Bribery to secure land for carbon capture; permits and licences for infrastructure that can only be obtained through corruption; bribes for environmental impact assessments; corruption in the certification and sale of carbon credits.\n> \n> There are multiple, complex reasons for corruption being present in the responses to climate change. These range from weak internal controls and excessive decision-making powers at environmental regulatory authorities to poorly designed and safeguarded carbon offsetting projects.\n> \n> Overall, our efforts aim to boost cooperation between different actors to help integrity standards and better practice to take hold. There is a need for greater understanding of systemic issues, more effective training and better legal, political and institutional guidance.\n> \n> ### Seeking answers\n> \n> The international community is faced with a number of pertinent questions:\n> \n> *   How can we use the money we have to make an impact on important problems relating to the environment, climate change, biodiversity, water and food?\n> *   How can we build on market forces and support competitive companies that contribute to the necessary energy and economic policy changes?\n> *   How can we make access to critical materials transparent so that we can better utilise them to bring about environmental and energy policy change globally?\n> *   How can we better harmonise regulatory measures and our own initiatives?\n> \n> Finding and implementing answers to these questions is challenging, not least in the face of geopolitical volatility and transactional politics. But it also presents opportunities for players of all sizes, including small and medium-sized countries, to show leadership, push for innovative solutions and get involved in tangible ways.\n> \n> The Principality of Liechtenstein is doing just that. Its support of initiatives at the intersection of corruption and the environment such as our Green Corruption programme goes a long way.","2025-02-04","peter-maurer-on-new-priorities-in-addressing-corruption-environment-and-climate-challenges-2762","Peter Maurer on new priorities in addressing corruption, environment and climate challenges","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F256dabda-b6d7-4665-a094-cf8ddf9f4ff8?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[196],7072,[198],"Green Corruption",[75,17,76],[201,205],{"tags_id":202},{"id":203,"name":204},1303,"Environment",{"tags_id":206},{"id":207,"name":208},804,"Natural resources",2762,[198],[75,17,76],[213],1091,[],[24],[],"2025-02-04T17:01:50.000Z","dfef11db-1bc6-47e9-a61d-93443995484b","2026-05-08T21:17:39.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fpeter-maurer-on-new-priorities-in-addressing-corruption-environment-and-climate-challenges-2762",{"id":223,"body":224,"status":6,"type":137,"date":225,"slug":226,"title":227,"image":228,"countries":229,"topic":230,"activity":231,"tags":233,"nid":234,"topics":235,"activities":236,"authors":237,"images":239,"websites":240,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":241,"translation_of":22,"user_created":42,"date_created":242,"user_updated":43,"date_updated":8,"content":243,"link":244},10445,"Published today, the 2023 Annual Report of the Basel Institute on Governance features seven stories from our work around the world to promote good governance and counter corruption.\n\nThe stories showcase different ways in which we collaborate with partners globally to advance knowledge, practice and policy on anti-corruption, asset recovery and business integrity. They illustrate not just _what we do,_ but _how we work_ to achieve real and lasting progress towards a more peaceful, just and sustainable world. \n\nRead the foreword by Peter Maurer below and [download the annual report](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2024-05\u002Fbasel_institute_annual_report_2023_spreads.pdf).\n\n> The final preparations of this annual report were overshadowed by the tragic news that Gretta Fenner, Managing Director of the Basel Institute on Governance for nearly two decades, had passed away in a car accident in Kenya on 6 April 2024.\n> \n> While we continue to be deeply saddened by the loss, we also know that Gretta was immensely proud of the Basel Institute’s achievements in 2023, as well as of the progress made over the Institute’s 20 years of existence – the latter, a large part of her legacy.\n> \n> And there are indeed many reasons to be proud and optimistic. While corruption scandals hit the headlines, the more important stories of anti-corruption progress tend to advance quietly over years. Many of the standout achievements in this annual report are not just from 2023.\n> \n> Second, anti-corruption tools yield benefits that go far beyond the immediate goal of reducing corruption risks. For example, when we provide advice to companies on compliance and multi-stakeholder Collective Action (page 18), the goal is not merely to reduce the risk of compliance-related violations but to foster resilient, ethical companies, fair competition and thriving industries.\n> \n> A third reason for optimism is that corruption is finally appearing on the agenda where it really matters – notably in the environmental sector. Our Green Corruption team has been working hard to embed anticorruption and asset recovery tools in the environmental sphere, and to build bridges between the anti-corruption and conservation communities (pages 14 and 17).\n> \n> At the Basel Institute, connections like these feed into our evolving understanding of corruption and of the changing tactics of power brokers on the political and geopolitical stage. From a narrowly defined legal concept, corruption has become a phenomenon that connects the biggest issues of our time. \n> \n> What global challenge is not caused or worsened by misuses of power and influence, with the aim of benefitting the few over the many?\n> \n> As Gretta said at the Munich Security Conference shortly before her passing, the old idea of corruption as “just” bribery causes us to overlook patterns of behaviour that have long-term, systemic impacts on both national and global stability.\n> \n> So, while we are a centre of technical competence, and advise governments worldwide on their laws and policies on corruption and asset recovery, the solutions we bring are never isolated from their political and social context.\n> \n> And we use behavioural science to better understand what really causes corrupt behaviour, and what might work to shift social norms towards compliance with laws, codes of ethics and other elements of the formal anti-corruption and anti-money laundering architecture.\n> \n> That is also why a big focus of our work is on engaging and connecting with others in the anti-corruption, asset recovery and business integrity fields, and beyond. Even if, or rather especially if, they have competing priorities. Only through negotiation and dialogue can one forge the type of common understanding and consensus that form the basis of effective and concerted action against corruption.\n> \n> As the stories in this annual report show, the trust and partnership of our donors and collaborators are vital in order for us to make progress in often turbulent and unpredictable political contexts. We are deeply grateful to those who support our ultimate goal of fighting corruption for a better world, who trust our way of working and who are willing to invest for long-term success.\n> \n> By jointly designing interventions and building in flexibility, we can continue to leverage our individual and collective resources, achieve greater impact and relevance and keep alive Gretta’s legacy over the Institute’s next 20 years and beyond.","2024-05-28","2023-annual-report-foreword-by-peter-maurer-2634","2023 Annual Report: Foreword by Peter Maurer","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F57bcce3f-245f-41d0-aabd-2fa58a0c5a09?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[232,17],"Reports",[],2634,[],[232,17],[238],1113,[],[24],[],"2024-05-28T10:01:30.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002F2023-annual-report-foreword-by-peter-maurer-2634",{"id":246,"body":247,"status":6,"type":137,"date":248,"slug":249,"title":250,"image":251,"countries":252,"topic":253,"activity":254,"tags":256,"nid":257,"topics":258,"activities":259,"authors":260,"images":261,"websites":262,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":22,"translations":263,"translation_of":22,"user_created":42,"date_created":264,"user_updated":218,"date_updated":265,"content":266,"link":267},10484,"A landmark report has thrown light on corruption and governance risks facing the renewables sector. It urges industry-led collective action to develop effective safeguards and ensure a just energy transition for all.\n\nIn a [Working Paper](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-53) published by the Basel Institute on Governance, Maja de Vibe of Statkraft and Mark Robinson of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative reveal the extent of corruption and governance risks affecting investments in solar, wind, hydropower and green hydrogen projects.\n\nAddressing these risks is vital to achieving an energy transition that benefits communities and society at large while generating sustainable, long-term economic value, they argue.\n\nThe authors call on industry leaders and other stakeholders to join together in collective action and learn from decades of experience addressing similar risks in the oil, gas and mining sectors.\n\n### Risks and consequences\n\nBased on a company survey, interviews and available data, the paper reveals that significant risks exist around:\n\n*   A lack of transparency in the beneficial ownership of partners, contractors and suppliers.\n*   Opaque and irregular procedures for obtaining licences, contracts and land concessions.\n*   Inadequate community consultation, plus fraud and misappropriation of benefit funds.\n*   Misuse of subsidies and unethical tax practices.\n\nAs the sector is relatively new and highly fragmented, key accountability mechanisms like common reporting standards and disclosure requirements have yet to be developed.\n\nCivil society engagement is low – and there is still a perception that “green is clean”.\n\n### Practical tools and lessons from oil, gas and mining\n\nThrough its Green Corruption programme, the Basel Institute works with key partners to bring the benefits of anti-corruption and governance expertise to address the environmental and climate crisis. Juhani Grossmann, who leads the programme, said:\n\n> This landmark report reveals that the renewable energy sector faces a new constellation of all-too-familiar corruption risks. Given the ambitious energy transition plans of numerous countries, and the rapidly increasing levels of investment in the renewable energy sector, the potential impact of these risks could be devastating for the sector and the communities being served by these projects.\n\nThe good news, he stressed in a foreword to the paper, is that powerful anti-corruption and governance tools already exist that can be applied to address the renewables sector’s specific risks.\n\nValuable practical lessons can also be derived from efforts to tackle corruption and poor governance in extractive industries like oil, gas and mining, spearheaded since 2003 by EITI and its members. A shared set of principles, a platform for multi-stakeholder action and a common standard setting out disclosure requirements would build a strong foundation for greater accountability and oversight.\n\nVanessa Hans, who spearheads the Basel Institute’s work with the private sector on anti-corruption [Collective Action](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F), emphasised that:\n\n> Achieving a just energy transition will need stakeholders from across the industry, civil society, government and the anti-corruption community to work in a sustained and collaborative way to help shape the path ahead.\n\nView and download the paper here: [Good governance and the just transition: Implications for renewable energy companies](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-53)\n\n### Launch at New York Climate Week\n\nThe report will be formally launched on 25 September 2024 in New York at a roundtable of renewable sector leaders during [Climate Week NYC](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.climateweeknyc.org\u002F).\n\nOrganised by the [TAI Collaborative](https:\u002F\u002Ftaicollaborative.org\u002F) with the Basel Institute’s support, the invitation-only event will reflect on the findings and identify opportunities for advancing collective industry action. The Basel Institute’s President Peter Maurer will moderate.\n\nIf you would like to be part of the roundtable, either in person in New York or virtually, please complete [this form](https:\u002F\u002Fform.jotform.com\u002F242451461877058) and await confirmation from the organising committee.\n\n### More information\n\nMaja de Vibe is Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Governance and Compliance at Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable energy generator. Mark Robinson is Executive Director of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an international organisation which brings together governments, companies and civil society organisations to promote governance reforms in the energy and extractive sectors.\n\nThey wrote the paper in their personal capacity during a sabbatical at the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Residency Program in May 2024, following widespread consultations with industry leaders.","2024-09-11","corruption-and-governance-risks-threaten-a-just-energy-transition-but-theres-also-good-news-2684","Corruption and governance risks threaten a just energy transition – but there’s also good news","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F1125202a-f826-4f4d-9b35-694df48f1300?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[198,73],[255,232,174],"Research",[],2684,[198,73],[255,232,174],[],[],[24],[],"2024-09-11T04:01:36.000Z","2026-05-08T21:11:11.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fcorruption-and-governance-risks-threaten-a-just-energy-transition-but-theres-also-good-news-2684",{"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":279,"topics":280,"activities":281,"authors":282,"images":284,"websites":22,"area":22,"programme":22,"language":157,"translations":285,"translation_of":22,"user_created":42,"date_created":286,"user_updated":43,"date_updated":287,"content":288,"link":289},10560,"2024 was a challenging year for the Basel Institute on Governance, marked by the tragic passing of our Managing Director Gretta Fenner in April. But we have continued building on her legacy and, in early 2025, welcomed our new Executive Director Betsy Andersen to lead us into the future.\n\nIn his foreword to our [2024 Annual Report](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Far2024), the Basel Institute's President Peter Maurer reflects on how our teams have worked with partners and allies to achieve tangible progress against corruption with the ultimate goal of a more peaceful, just and sustainable world:\n\n> 2024 was profoundly overshadowed by the sudden and tragic loss of our Managing Director, Gretta Fenner, who led the Basel Institute for nearly two decades. Under her dedicated and inspirational leadership, the Institute has become what it still exemplifies today: a distinguished, hands-on centre of expertise committed to advancing the global fight against corruption and striving to create a more peaceful, secure and sustainable world.\n> \n> After Gretta’s passing, I temporarily stepped in to guide the organisation and the team during a transition period whilst a new leadership was sought. This unexpected task gave me an even deeper understanding and appreciation of the Basel Institute’s distinctively multi-disciplinary, adaptable and impactful approach – a method that is essential for tackling corruption in today’s complex and shifting political landscapes. It also confirmed the Institute’s resilience in an increasingly volatile and fragmented world.\n> \n> The Institute’s strength lies first and foremost in our skilled global team and in our ability to provide independent, expert support to stakeholders across multiple sectors and regions. We also benefit from the unwavering and generous commitment of our donors and a broad network of partners, from the local grass roots to the international community.\n> \n> In 2024 these factors were especially visible in the context of our engagement in Ukraine. Despite enormous challenges, Ukraine’s government and society have kept anti-corruption efforts in focus and on track. We are proud to support them: from helping prevent corruption in infrastructure, transport and forestry, to strengthening private-sector integrity in reconstruction projects, to assisting with transnational asset recovery. This kind of holistic engagement is both challenging and vital for Ukraine’s security, as well as Europe’s.\n> \n> Across more than 30 country programmes and projects, 2024 brought significant successes. In these pages you’ll read about, for example:\n> \n> *   How we contributed to the confiscation or return of over CHF 50 million in precedent-setting asset recovery cases, and new breakthroughs in targeting the financial aspects of environmental crimes.\n> *   Steps towards preventing corruption in timber value chains, identifying red flags for corruption at EU borders and in public procurement processes, and shining a light on sexual corruption risks faced by students.\n> *   Our compliance assistance to safeguard investments in critical infrastructure projects and how we foster high-level support for anti-corruption Collective Action to strengthen business integrity.\n> *   In Peru, how citizens are seeing real results from better public finance management: infrastructure delivered on time and vital services like vaccines and schoolbooks reaching those who need them.\n> \n> Each success, and many others not mentioned here, brings us closer to a better governed and safer world.\n> \n> Empowering people is at the heart of everything we do. Our eLearning courses now reach over 53,000 learners worldwide. More than 800 anti-corruption and conservation practitioners collaborate in one of several communities of practice. And new postgraduate programmes with the University of Basel will help build the next generation of anti-corruption and asset recovery leaders.\n> \n> Anti-corruption work has always faced resistance, from entrenched interests to institutional backsliding. At the Basel Institute, we are well prepared to defend values of integrity, transparency and accountability.\n> \n> But in the face of increasing headwinds in the geopolitical environment, we can only continue to succeed by building coalitions, breaking silos and collectively innovating to address corruption’s harmful role in major global challenges – challenges like the energy transition, healthcare and security, as well as poverty and organised crime.\n> \n> This is the charge that our new Executive Director, Elizabeth “Betsy” Andersen now leads. Appointed by the Board in late 2024 following a rigorous selection process, Betsy brings deep legal expertise, strategic vision, run-with-it motivation and a wealth of leadership experience in the non‑profit sector.\n> \n> On behalf of the Board, I warmly welcome her, convinced that her steady hand will help us guide the Institute as we chart and navigate the future.\n\nView the [2024 Annual Report of the Basel Institute on Governance](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Far2024).","2025-07-09","2025-annual-report-and-foreword-by-peter-maurer-2829","2025 Annual Report and foreword by Peter Maurer","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F86cec7af-39d3-4c47-9cd8-5b004def85c4?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[14],[],2829,[],[],[283],1343,[],[],"2025-07-13T11:42:44.000Z","2025-08-31T23:09:21.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002F2025-annual-report-and-foreword-by-peter-maurer-2829",{"left":291,"top":291,"width":292,"height":292,"rotate":291,"vFlip":293,"hFlip":293,"body":294},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>",1780676473657]