[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":389},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-saba-kassas-quick-guide-to-drivers-and-facilitators-of-wildlife-trafficking-997":3,"news-saba-kassas-quick-guide-to-drivers-and-facilitators-of-wildlife-trafficking-997-similar":116,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":384},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"date":12,"topic":13,"slug":16,"activity":17,"nid":20,"topics":21,"activities":23,"programme":24,"area":24,"websites":25,"language":24,"image":27,"translation_of":24,"countries":36,"tags":62,"authors":95,"images":113,"translations":114,"content":115},9812,"published","2022-05-26T22:56:01.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:57.000Z","Saba Kassa’s quick guide to drivers and facilitators of wildlife trafficking","Blog","High-profile law enforcement operations against illegal wildlife trade (IWT), such as Interpol’s [Operation Thunderball](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.interpol.int\u002Fen\u002FNews-and-Events\u002FNews\u002F2019\u002FWildlife-trafficking-organized-crime-hit-hard-by-joint-INTERPOL-WCO-global-enforcement-operation) in July 2019 and the arrest of notorious trafficker [Moazu Kromah](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cbsnews.com\u002Fnews\u002Fwildlife-heroin-trafficking-ring-africa-bust-southern-district-new-york-fish-and-wildlife\u002F) in Uganda in June, have drawn welcome attention to IWT as a financial and organised crime and not only a conservation issue. Yet in working to strengthen legal frameworks and law enforcement capacity in countries that suffer from high levels of IWT, we must not forget the social drivers and facilitators behind wildlife trafficking – factors that laws alone are powerless to change. This quick guide draws on a recent Basel Institute Working Paper on [Corruption and wildlife trafficking](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-working-paper-corruption-and-illegal-wildlife-trade-east-africa), published in the context of a multi-disciplinary programme of work focused on financial crime in IWT.\n\n### Wildlife trafficking is a lucrative crime…\n\nIWT is sometimes described as a low-risk, high-reward business. In many source and transit countries in Southern and Eastern Africa, for example, rates of detection and arrests are low, prosecutions are rare and penalties are weak even for those caught red-handed. These low risks are offset against the high prices that traffickers can obtain by selling valuable illegal wildlife products such as ivory, rhino horn and pangolin scales to black markets mainly in Asia.\n\n### …yet it’s not just about money and the law\n\nA growing body of research supports the idea that behaviour is driven by a complex array of social, cultural and other behavioural factors. Illicit behaviour is thus not only the result of a cost-benefit analysis by individuals seeking personal economic gain. Nor, therefore, will it be solved by laws and law enforcement alone. International agreements such as [CITES](https:\u002F\u002Fcites.org\u002F), which regulates the global trade in wildlife, along with national efforts to strengthen the enforcement of formal regulations, are necessary but not sufficient. This is because they do not address the underlying social context that motivates individuals to engage in trafficking in the first place. With a better understanding of these factors, we will be better equipped to design effective interventions that influence the attitudes and behaviours of people directly involved in the early stages of IWT, as well as those who are indifferent or directly support them.\n\n### What drives people to engage in wildlife trafficking?\n\nBeyond purely economic factors, our preliminary research indicates three main beliefs that drive and justify individuals’ decisions to engage in wildlife crime. Firstly, that trafficking engenders wealth and status. The financial rewards of IWT allow poachers and traders to acquire more wealth than they can access through relying on the formal economy. The money trickles down through social and family networks to benefit the rest of the community. This raises their prestige and status in the community and simultaneously helps to legitimise the illegal behaviour. Secondly, there is often a belief that wildlife trafficking is a victimless crime. In many countries where humans and wild animals live in close proximity, animals are viewed as either sources of food or nuisances that destroy crops and threaten personal security. Widespread human-wildlife conflict can drive people to consider wildlife products as any other kind of commodity. This legitimises behaviours such as actively engaging in trafficking (on the side of the citizens) or facilitating trafficking by turning a blind eye (on the side of public officials). Thirdly, members of a community may consider they have a moral right to appropriate wildlife. Communities that have lost land to newly created (or colonial-era) safari parks and protected environmental zones may resist legislation protecting wildlife on the grounds that it criminalises a generations-old right to access and use wildlife.\n\n### How do socio-economic and political factors play a role?\n\nCommunities along the major wildlife trafficking routes in Africa generally suffer from poverty and limited employment opportunities. The constrained socio-economic context can drive otherwise law-abiding individuals, be it members of the community or local public officials, to assist in activities such as moving contraband from point A to point B. Poverty therefore sets the stage for both poaching and the trafficking of commodities across cities and countries. A thriving supply of illegal wildlife products is the result. Ironically, in demand countries on the other side of the globe, it is the increasing wealth of the middle and upper classes that is helping fuel the demand for these in the first place. The political context is also key to explaining how wildlife trafficking can take place with impunity. Poor governance, endemic corruption and constrained public institutions in source and transit countries are important facilitators of IWT. Even more worryingly, there are countless examples of militants and terrorist groups engaging in poaching and wildlife trafficking to fund their operations, from the Lord’s Resistance Army to the Janjaweed Arab militia of Sudan.\n\n### Drivers and facilitators are intertwined – and we need to understand both\n\nThe socio-economic and political context in which IWT takes place increases and facilitates the propensity for individuals to engage in trafficking. Social norms and beliefs help explain the underlying motivations and justifications individuals may adopt to actually engage in trafficking. We need to understand both a lot better if we want laws and law enforcement to stand a chance of effectively taking down the trafficking networks threatening our endangered animals and global biodiversity.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Learn more about the Basel Institute’s [social norms research](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fpublic-governance\u002Fresearch-projects\u002Fsocial-norms).\n*   Read about how insights into social norms can be applied to prevent [bribery in the Tanzanian health sector](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fclaudia-baez-camargos-quick-guide-social-norms-and-corruption).\n*   Download the full Working Paper 30: [Corruption and wildlife trafficking: exploring drivers, facilitators and networks behind illegal wildlife trade in East Africa](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-working-paper-corruption-and-illegal-wildlife-trade-east-africa).\n*   Read about the Basel Institute’s programme of work focused on [intelligence-led action against financial crime in IWT](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fillegal-wildlife-trade).\n*   [Download a PDF of this quick guide.](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-08\u002Fqg11_drivers_iwt.pdf)","2019-09-06",[14,15],"Green Corruption","Public Governance","saba-kassas-quick-guide-to-drivers-and-facilitators-of-wildlife-trafficking-997",[18,19],"Research","Insights",997,[14,22],"Corruption Prevention and Public Governance",[18,19],null,[26],"Main page",{"id":28,"storage":29,"filename_disk":30,"filename_download":31,"title":9,"type":32,"created_on":7,"modified_on":7,"charset":24,"filesize":33,"width":34,"height":35,"duration":24,"embed":24,"description":24,"location":24,"tags":24,"metadata":24,"focal_point_x":24,"focal_point_y":24,"tus_id":24,"tus_data":24,"uploaded_on":7},"712e0be9-042c-4216-8b3b-d5ea91cb6c48","local","712e0be9-042c-4216-8b3b-d5ea91cb6c48.webp","tmp.webp","image\u002Fwebp",59206,800,458,[37],{"id":38,"news_id":39,"countries_id":56},6527,{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":40,"date_created":7,"user_updated":41,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":28,"date":12,"topic":42,"slug":16,"activity":43,"nid":20,"topics":44,"activities":45,"programme":24,"area":24,"websites":46,"translation_of":24,"language":24,"countries":47,"tags":48,"authors":51,"images":53,"translations":54,"content":55},"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6",[14,15],[18,19],[14,22],[18,19],[26],[38],[49,50],4412,4413,[52],881,[],[],[],{"id":57,"name":58,"code":59,"latitude":60,"longitude":61},226,"Uganda","UG",1.37333,32.29028,[63,79],{"id":49,"news_id":64,"tags_id":76},{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":40,"date_created":7,"user_updated":41,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":28,"date":12,"topic":65,"slug":16,"activity":66,"nid":20,"topics":67,"activities":68,"programme":24,"area":24,"websites":69,"translation_of":24,"language":24,"countries":70,"tags":71,"authors":72,"images":73,"translations":74,"content":75},[14,15],[18,19],[14,22],[18,19],[26],[38],[49,50],[52],[],[],[],{"id":77,"name":78},1303,"Environment",{"id":50,"news_id":80,"tags_id":92},{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":40,"date_created":7,"user_updated":41,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":28,"date":12,"topic":81,"slug":16,"activity":82,"nid":20,"topics":83,"activities":84,"programme":24,"area":24,"websites":85,"translation_of":24,"language":24,"countries":86,"tags":87,"authors":88,"images":89,"translations":90,"content":91},[14,15],[18,19],[14,22],[18,19],[26],[38],[49,50],[52],[],[],[],{"id":93,"name":94},848,"Behavioural science",[96],{"id":52,"news_id":97,"authors_id":109},{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":40,"date_created":7,"user_updated":41,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":28,"date":12,"topic":98,"slug":16,"activity":99,"nid":20,"topics":100,"activities":101,"programme":24,"area":24,"websites":102,"translation_of":24,"language":24,"countries":103,"tags":104,"authors":105,"images":106,"translations":107,"content":108},[14,15],[18,19],[14,22],[18,19],[26],[38],[49,50],[52],[],[],[],{"id":110,"name":111,"position":24,"image":112},303,"Saba Kassa","a34de431-6c31-4ddd-8727-12c10dfed9ad",[],[],[],[117,150,181,206,227,246,284,314,334,359],{"id":118,"body":119,"status":6,"type":120,"date":121,"slug":122,"title":123,"image":124,"countries":125,"topic":129,"activity":130,"tags":132,"nid":139,"topics":140,"activities":141,"authors":142,"images":143,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":144,"translations":145,"translation_of":24,"user_created":40,"date_created":146,"user_updated":40,"date_updated":147,"content":148,"link":149},10613,"Carbon markets are meant to help finance forest protection and climate action. Yet too often they are undermined by weak governance, corruption risks and a lack of transparency.\n\nConcerns over the credibility of some carbon credits erode trust in a system designed to channel climate finance and support forest-dependent communities.\n\nA new international project aims to address these challenges head-on by strengthening governance and anti-corruption safeguards across forest carbon markets. The Basel Institute on Governance is pleased to join this effort as a project partner, contributing its expertise through the Green Corruption programme.\n\n### A collaborative effort for better carbon market governance\n\nThe project, [Towards Inclusive Governance for Forest Carbon Markets](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.transparency.org\u002Fen\u002Fprojects\u002Ftowards-inclusive-governance-for-forest-carbon-markets), is led by Transparency International and funded by the UK Government through the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) [Forest Governance, Markets and Climate](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gov.uk\u002Finternational-development-funding\u002Fforest-governance-markets-and-climate-fgmc2-programme-accountable-grants) programme.\n\nRunning until March 2028, the initiative brings together a consortium including the Basel Institute on Governance, Resource Extraction Monitoring and local Transparency International chapters in focus countries. Together, the partners will work to reduce corruption risks in forest carbon markets and strengthen the integrity of carbon credit systems.\n\nThe project will focus on three key countries – Indonesia, Ghana and Cameroon – supporting governments, civil society organisations, certifiers, private sector actors and forest-dependent communities to better identify and mitigate corruption risks linked to carbon credit projects.\n\nCarbon markets are inherently transnational: credits may be generated in one country, verified in another and purchased in a third. This complexity creates opportunities for corruption networks to exploit regulatory gaps, conflicts of interest and weak oversight mechanisms. The project aims to close those gaps by combining evidence generation, national advocacy and international engagement.\n\n### Bringing anti-corruption expertise to forest carbon markets\n\nThe Basel Institute will play a central role through our [Green Corruption programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption), which focuses on tackling corruption linked to environmental crimes and natural resource governance.\n\nOur team is leading the project’s first major output: consolidating available data, gathering evidence to identify typologies of corruption risks in forest carbon markets and developing global, gender-sensitive guidelines to help prevent them.\n\n*   Working closely with partners and national stakeholders, we are leading the organisation of corruption risk identification workshops in Indonesia and Ghana. These workshops will bring together key actors across the carbon market ecosystem to map corruption vulnerabilities in carbon markets systems and identify practical actions to mitigate these risks. The findings will feed into country-specific risk assessments.\n*   In parallel, our team is conducting an assessment of global carbon markets governance dynamics and vulnerabilities to corruption.\n*   Ultimately national and international assessments will inform the development of global guidelines, which will be designed to strengthen anti-corruption safeguards across carbon markets.\n*   These global guidelines will then support advocacy and reform efforts led by Transparency International and its national chapters.\n*   We will also contribute to global advocacy efforts by advising international certification bodies and other actors on improving safeguards and governance standards in carbon markets.\n\nDr Amanda Cabrejo le Roux, Deputy Director of the Basel Institute’s Green Corruption programme, said:\n\n> _“Carbon markets hold real promise for forests, communities, and the climate_ _— but promise alone isn't protection. Like any system that moves money at scale, they are vulnerable to those who would bend the rules for personal gain. The first step is a rigorous analysis of corruption risks: mapping_ _scenarios and building clear typologies, through sector-wide workshops and consultations with all key stakeholders. From there, those same actors can work together to develop practical mitigation measures_ _— building a system that is genuinely resilient. That is exactly what this project sets out to do.\"_\n\n### Part of a wider “green” governance agenda\n\nThe project aligns with the Basel Institute’s Green Corruption strategy, which increasingly focuses on corruption and governance challenges linked to climate change and the global energy transition.\n\nForest carbon markets involve complex financial flows, transnational actors and high-stakes environmental outcomes, making strong governance and anti-corruption safeguards essential.\n\nWith years of experience analysing corruption risks in environmental and natural resource sectors and beyond, the Basel Institute is well placed to contribute to this work.\n\nBy contributing our expertise to the project, we aim to help ensure that carbon markets deliver on their promise: protecting forests, supporting communities and advancing credible climate action.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   View the full [project overview](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.transparency.org\u002Fen\u002Fprojects\u002Ftowards-inclusive-governance-for-forest-carbon-markets) on the Transparency International website.\n*   Interested in corruption and governance in the environmental space? Join the [Countering Environmental Corruption Practitioners Forum](https:\u002F\u002Fenvironmental-corruption.org\u002F), a global community of practitioners jointly led by the Basel Institute on Governance, Transparency International, WWF and TRAFFIC.","News","2026-05-27","new-international-project-targets-corruption-risks-in-carbon-markets-2973","New international project targets corruption risks in carbon markets","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F2c25ec09-133d-47b9-a236-7cdd888ae525?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[126,127,128],7810,7811,7812,[14],[131],"Partnerships",[133,137],{"tags_id":134},{"id":135,"name":136},859,"Corruption risks",{"tags_id":138},{"id":77,"name":78},2973,[14],[131],[],[],"English",[],"2026-06-04T21:13:42.000Z","2026-06-04T21:13:43.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-international-project-targets-corruption-risks-in-carbon-markets-2973",{"id":151,"body":152,"status":6,"type":120,"date":153,"slug":154,"title":155,"image":156,"countries":157,"topic":159,"activity":160,"tags":161,"nid":172,"topics":173,"activities":174,"authors":175,"images":176,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":144,"translations":177,"translation_of":24,"user_created":40,"date_created":147,"user_updated":40,"date_updated":178,"content":179,"link":180},10614,"Malawi’s forests and wildlife are under growing pressure from illegal exploitation, driven by rising demand for natural resources and enabled by corruption and illicit financial flows. From illegal logging to wildlife trafficking, environmental crimes not only threaten biodiversity and local livelihoods, but also weaken public institutions and deprive the country of vital resources for sustainable development.\n\n> Charcoal illustrates the complex challenges involved: According to Malawi’s National Charcoal Strategy 2017–2027, 97% of households rely on illegally and unsustainably sourced charcoal and firewood for cooking and heating. In response to the resulting deforestation and forest degradation, the government has tightened enforcement against illegal wood harvesting and charcoal production while promoting alternative cooking fuels.\n\nBuilding on several years of collaboration with government partners in Malawi, the Basel Institute on Governance is launching a new project to strengthen the country’s response to environment-related financial crime and corruption.\n\nThe three-year initiative, _Mainstreaming Malawi’s progress in tackling environment-related financial crime and corruption_, is funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and implemented through the Basel Institute’s Green Corruption programme.\n\nActivities have commenced on the ground and will run through to June 2028.\n\n### A joined-up approach: enforcement and prevention\n\nThe project supports Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Department of Forestry and Anti-Corruption Bureau in strengthening both enforcement capacities and corruption prevention systems linked to wildlife and forestry crimes.\n\nRather than focusing solely on individual criminal cases, the initiative takes a broader institutional approach. It combines financial investigation techniques and case-based mentoring with efforts focusing on prevention to strengthen internal controls, improve inter-agency coordination and reduce corruption vulnerabilities within environmental agencies themselves.\n\nAmong the planned activities are:\n\n*   mentoring investigators and prosecutors working on corruption and money laundering cases linked to wildlife and forestry crime;\n*   supporting the development of digital case registration and tracking systems to strengthen case management from investigation to prosecution;\n*   helping Institutional Integrity Committees and internal auditors identify and mitigate corruption risks; and\n*   developing training, practical guidance and knowledge products to support long-term institutional capacity.\n\nDr Amanda Cabrejo le Roux, Deputy Director of Green Corruption and the project lead, said:\n\n> _“This project represents a significant step forward in our efforts to support environmental agencies in protecting Malawi’s wildlife and natural resources, while also reinforcing institutional integrity. By combining financial investigation techniques with robust prevention systems, we help our government partners create a sustainable framework for countering financial crime linked to the environment.”_\n\n### Building on proven partnerships\n\nThe project expands on [earlier DEFRA-funded work](https:\u002F\u002Fiwt.challengefund.org.uk\u002Fproject\u002FXXIWT117) implemented jointly by the Basel Institute and the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, which helped strengthen anti-corruption responses to wildlife crime through a combination of enforcement support and corruption prevention measures.\n\nThrough this and over a decade of engagement in Malawi, we enjoy strong working relationships with Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Department of Forestry and Malawi Police Service – partnerships that now provide the foundation for broader and more ambitious work on environment-related financial crime.\n\nThe initiative also connects to the Basel Institute’s wider Green Corruption programme, which supports governments and partners around the world in addressing corruption linked to environmental crime, climate change and the global energy transition.\n\nAs global demand for timber, minerals and other natural resources increases, corruption risks linked to environmental exploitation are becoming more complex and transnational. Through our work in Malawi and beyond, the Basel Institute aims to strengthen the governance systems needed to protect natural resources, safeguard communities and ensure environmental policies can be effectively enforced.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Find out about the [Green Corruption programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption).\n*   Interested in corruption and governance in the environmental space? Join the [Countering Environmental Corruption Practitioners Forum](https:\u002F\u002Fenvironmental-corruption.org\u002F), a global community of practitioners jointly led by the Basel Institute on Governance, Transparency International, WWF and TRAFFIC.","2026-05-26","advancing-malawis-efforts-against-corruption-and-environmental-crime-2974","Advancing Malawi’s efforts against corruption and environmental crime","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F40863cc9-1058-40d7-a0e5-404a96dc9ae9?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[158],7813,[14],[131],[162,164,168],{"tags_id":163},{"id":77,"name":78},{"tags_id":165},{"id":166,"name":167},1373,"Corruption prevention",{"tags_id":169},{"id":170,"name":171},1374,"Law enforcement",2974,[14],[131],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:44.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fadvancing-malawis-efforts-against-corruption-and-environmental-crime-2974",{"id":182,"body":183,"status":6,"type":120,"date":184,"slug":185,"title":186,"image":187,"countries":188,"topic":190,"activity":191,"tags":193,"nid":196,"topics":197,"activities":198,"authors":199,"images":200,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":144,"translations":201,"translation_of":24,"user_created":40,"date_created":202,"user_updated":40,"date_updated":203,"content":204,"link":205},10606,"A high-level meeting in La Paz, Bolivia brought together senior government officials and international partners to address a key driver of environmental crime: corruption. The event was one of the first public activities under the Basel Institute on Governance’s new UK-funded programme, _“Building a global network to prevent biodiversity-related corruption.”_\n\nParticipating authorities signed a joint declaration to strengthen integrity and prevent “green corruption” in the management of natural resources. \n\nThis is an important step. Strong political will is essential to tackle corruption risks that undermine conservation. The declaration shows a clear commitment by government partners to take action.\n\nThe event in March 2026 was jointly organised by the Basel Institute’s [Green Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) team in Latin America, Bolivia’s Vice Ministry of Transparency, Legal Certainty and Human Rights, and the Forest and Land Authority (ABT).\n\nSessions combined international perspectives – including from Peru’s Secretariat for Public Integrity and Basel Institute experts – with practical group work. Participants analysed real corruption risks affecting environmental governance and explored concrete prevention measures. \n\nThe event built on previous programmes in Bolivia and the region, particularly in the forestry sector, where partners have already made important progress in strengthening integrity systems.\n\n### A major driver of biodiversity loss? Corruption\n\nCorruption is a major enabler of environmental crime and illegal wildlife trade. It weakens law enforcement, undermines regulations and reduces the impact of conservation efforts. \n\nYet most responses still focus on enforcement alone. Preventing corruption risks in the first place remains largely overlooked.\n\n### Prevention, not just enforcement\n\nThis is what the Basel Institute’s new programme aims to change. Running until the end of 2028, the programme supports government partners in Bolivia, Indonesia, Madagascar and Malawi. It is funded by the [Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund](https:\u002F\u002Fiwt.challengefund.org.uk\u002F) of the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.\n\nInstead of focusing only on catching crimes, it focuses on stopping them from happening. \n\nA particular focus is on strengthening everyday administrative systems. This is where corruption most often undermines conservation outcomes. The programme will help partner agencies to identify where corruption occurs in processes such as licensing, inspections and resource management.\n\nOur teams will then help partners to design and implement practical measures to reduce those risks. It is in this patient, detailed work with frontline officials that the real impact actually happens.\n\n### A safe space for governments to learn from each other\n\nA key innovation is the creation of a Wildlife Corruption Prevention Support Network.\n\nThis network brings together government practitioners from different countries to openly discuss challenges, share experiences and test ideas. This kind of frank, practical exchange is rare, but essential.\n\nIt allows partners to learn directly from each other, avoid repeating mistakes and move faster.\n\n### Scaling what works globally\n\nThe programme will also develop a global database of tested anti-corruption measures. This will capture practical tools, lessons learned and real-world examples.\n\nTogether, the network and the database will help countries scale what works, rather than starting from scratch.\n\nBy strengthening systems and connecting practitioners, the programme aims to reduce corruption risks at their source. In the long term, this will help protect biodiversity, curb illegal wildlife trade and support more sustainable and equitable use of natural resources.","2026-03-30","authorities-step-up-action-on-green-corruption-in-bolivia-as-new-global-programme-launches-2950","Authorities step up action on “green corruption” in Bolivia as new global programme launches","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fd223ad45-f203-45ff-8f5f-3afe47d88307?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[189],7807,[14],[192,131],"Events",[194],{"tags_id":195},{"id":77,"name":78},2950,[14],[192,131],[],[],[],"2026-04-15T22:45:17.000Z","2026-04-15T22:45:18.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fauthorities-step-up-action-on-green-corruption-in-bolivia-as-new-global-programme-launches-2950",{"id":207,"body":208,"status":6,"type":120,"date":209,"slug":210,"title":211,"image":212,"countries":213,"topic":214,"activity":215,"tags":217,"nid":218,"topics":219,"activities":220,"authors":221,"images":222,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":144,"translations":223,"translation_of":24,"user_created":40,"date_created":224,"user_updated":24,"date_updated":24,"content":225,"link":226},10594,"On 23 November 2025, 222 professionals from Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia successfully completed the second edition of the virtual course “Corruption risk management in the timber value chain”. The initiative, led by the Basel Institute on Governance’s [Green Corruption Programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption), aims to strengthen integrity in the forestry sector and reduce the incidence of environmental crime.\n\n### Eight weeks of applied learning\n\nHeld between 26 September and 23 November, the course combined video lectures, readings, assessments, practical exercises and live sessions. This highly interactive methodology enabled participants to apply the concepts to real institutional contexts, fostering deep, action-oriented learning.\n\nOrganised into three modules and six learning units, the programme offered a comprehensive understanding of how to identify, formulate and manage corruption risks with an environmental perspective, from the forest to the final consumer.\n\nOne participant highlighted this shift in perspective:\n\n> “The greatest learning (…) was understanding that corruption risk is not an isolated issue, but a connecting thread that runs throughout the entire value chain from the forest to the final consumer. Rather than simply identifying corrupt acts, what matters is mapping the pressure points at each stage where corruption facilitates, in this case, illegal logging, document fraud or money laundering. This shifts the approach from passive monitoring to active and preventive management.” José Luis Vásquez Vegas, Coordinator, Directorate of Environmental Quality and Eco-Efficiency – Ministry of Environment of Peru\n\n### Real cases, real solutions\n\nA key milestone of the course was the practical workshop in which more than 40 groups developed corruption risk management plans based on real processes from their own institutions. This exercise encouraged critical analysis and innovation, strengthening skills that can be directly applied in daily work.\n\nThe diversity of the cohort – public officials, environmental specialists, researchers, students and representatives of indigenous communities – enriched the exchange of experiences and reinforced a shared regional message: addressing corruption in the forestry sector requires multisectoral collaboration and sustained commitment.\n\nAnother participant from Bolivia emphasised the value of a structured approach:\n\n> “The greatest learning from the course was understanding the importance of identifying, analysing and formulating corruption risks in a structured way, as well as determining their scope. I also found the course methodology very interesting – I liked it a lot – because it was clear and dynamic. It is important to highlight that the fight against corruption is a daily task; it is a commitment and a collective effort that we must all undertake together.” Nadir Camacho Llanos, Professional Auditor, Vice-Ministry of Institutional Transparency and the Fight Against Corruption, Bolivia\n\nAnd from Ecuador:\n\n> “It was very gratifying to receive guidelines, tips and methodologies that help us identify the corruption risks present in the activities we carry out as the National Environmental Authority.” Pablo Toledo Castelo, Specialist in Forest Administration and Control I, Ministry of Environment and Energy of Ecuador\n\n### A region exposed to corruption risks in the forestry sector\n\nCorruption in the timber trade is a significant economic and environmental threat, and countries with extensive forest resources tend to be particularly vulnerable.\n\nThis is the case in Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, where our Green Corruption Programme works closely with forestry authorities and environmental agencies to assess and mitigate corruption risks, strengthen internal controls and apply approaches that help “follow the money” behind environmental crimes.\n\nThe virtual course was designed to expand these efforts by fostering peer learning and experience sharing among professionals from the three countries.\n\nThe energy and dedication of the 222 graduates reflect a growing commitment to strengthening forest governance with transparency, sustainability and responsibility.\n\nThe course was developed by the Latin America–based Green Corruption team of the Basel Institute on Governance and funded by the Americas Security Programme of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s Integrated Security Fund (ISF).\n\n### More information\n\n*   Spanish news article:\n*   Course testimonials video:\n*   Course recap video:","2025-12-15","regional-success-over-200-professionals-complete-course-on-corruption-in-the-timber-value-chain-2903","Regional success: Over 200 professionals complete course on corruption in the timber value chain","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F5d603ea2-5471-4536-bf35-79f7918a3de3?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[216],"Courses",[],2903,[14],[216],[],[],[],"2025-12-16T17:01:51.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fregional-success-over-200-professionals-complete-course-on-corruption-in-the-timber-value-chain-2903",{"id":228,"body":229,"status":6,"type":120,"date":209,"slug":230,"title":231,"image":232,"countries":233,"topic":234,"activity":235,"tags":236,"nid":237,"topics":238,"activities":239,"authors":240,"images":241,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":144,"translations":242,"translation_of":24,"user_created":40,"date_created":243,"user_updated":24,"date_updated":24,"content":244,"link":245},10595,"El 23 de noviembre de 2025, 222 profesionales de Perú, Ecuador y Bolivia finalizaron con éxito la segunda edición del Curso–Taller virtual \"Gestión de riesgos de corrupción en la cadena de valor de la madera\", una iniciativa del [Programa Corrupción Verde](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) del Basel Institute on Governance que busca fortalecer la integridad en el sector forestal y reducir la incidencia de delitos ambientales.\n\n### Ocho semanas de aprendizaje aplicado\n\nRealizado entre el 26 de septiembre y el 23 de noviembre, el curso combinó videoclases, lecturas, evaluaciones, ejercicios prácticos y sesiones en vivo. Esta metodología altamente interactiva permitió que los participantes aplicaran los conceptos en contextos reales, generando un aprendizaje profundo y orientado a la acción.\n\nOrganizado en tres módulos y seis unidades de aprendizaje, el programa ofreció una comprensión integral de cómo identificar, formular y gestionar riesgos de corrupción con perspectiva ambiental, desde el bosque hasta el consumidor final.\n\nUno de los testimonios destaca este cambio de mirada:\n\n> \"el mayor aprendizaje del curso (…) fue comprender que el riesgo de la corrupción no es solo un problema aislado, sino un hilo conductor que puede comprender toda la cadena de valor desde el bosque hasta el consumidor final. Más que identificar actos de corrupción, lo crucial es mapear los puntos de presión en cada eslabón donde la corrupción facilita, en este caso, la tala ilegal, el fraude de los documentos o el lavado del dinero. Esto cambia el enfoque de una vigilancia pasiva a una gestión activa y preventiva.\" José Luis Vásquez Vegas, Coordinador de la Dirección de Calidad Ambiental y Ecoeficiencia, Ministerio del Ambiente de Perú\n\n### Casos reales, soluciones reales\n\nUn hito clave del curso fue el taller práctico en el que más de 40 grupos desarrollaron planes de gestión de riesgos basados en procesos reales de sus propias instituciones. Este ejercicio fomentó el análisis crítico y la innovación, fortaleciendo capacidades directamente aplicables al trabajo diario.\n\nLa diversidad del grupo, que reunió a funcionarios públicos, especialistas ambientales, investigadores, estudiantes y representantes de pueblos indígenas, enriqueció el intercambio de experiencias y reforzó una visión regional compartida: la lucha contra la corrupción forestal requiere colaboración multisectorial y compromiso sostenido.\n\nDesde Bolivia, otro participante enfatizó el impacto del enfoque estructurado:\n\n> \"El mayor aprendizaje del curso fue la importancia de identificar, comprender y formular los riesgos de corrupción de manera estructurada, así como su ámbito de aplicación. Por otra parte, respecto de la metodología del curso, me pareció muy interesante, me gustó mucho, ya que fue muy clara y dinámica. Es importante resaltar que la lucha contra la corrupción es un trabajo que se debe realizar día tras día, es un compromiso, es una colaboración que debemos realizarlo entre todos.\" Nadir Camacho Llanos, Profesional auditor del Viceministerio de Transparencia Institucional y Lucha Contra la Corrupción de Bolivia\n\nY desde Ecuador:\n\n> \"Es muy gratificante para mí haber recibido pautas, tips y metodologías con las cuales podamos identificar los riesgos de corrupción que se presentan en las actividades que desarrollamos como Autoridad Ambiental Nacional.\" Pablo Toledo Castelo, Especialista en Administración y Control Forestal 1 de la Dirección de Bosques del Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía de Ecuador\n\n### Una región expuesta a los riesgos de corrupción forestal\n\nLa corrupción en el comercio de la madera es una amenaza económica y ambiental significativa, y los países con gran riqueza forestal suelen estar especialmente expuestos.\n\nEste es el caso de Bolivia, Ecuador y Perú, donde nuestro Programa Corrupción Verde trabaja junto a autoridades forestales y agencias ambientales para evaluar y mitigar riesgos de corrupción, fortalecer controles internos y aplicar enfoques que permiten “seguir el dinero” detrás de los delitos ambientales.\n\nEl curso virtual se diseñó para ampliar estos esfuerzos, promoviendo el aprendizaje entre pares y el intercambio de experiencias entre profesionales de los tres países.\n\nLa energía y dedicación de los 222 graduados reflejan un compromiso creciente por fortalecer la gestión forestal con transparencia, sostenibilidad y responsabilidad.\n\nEl curso fue desarrollado por el equipo del Programa Corrupción Verde del Basel Institute on Governance en América Latina y financiado por el Programa de Seguridad de las Américas del Fondo de Seguridad Integrada (ISF) del FCDO del Reino Unido.","exito-regional-mas-de-200-profesionales-completan-curso-sobre-corrupcion-en-la-cadena-de-la-madera-2902","Éxito regional: más de 200 profesionales completan curso sobre corrupción en la cadena de la madera","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F6c729718-61a5-4f9f-90f9-cbd615a7f1fd?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[216],[],2902,[14],[216],[],[],[],"2025-12-16T17:01:52.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fexito-regional-mas-de-200-profesionales-completan-curso-sobre-corrupcion-en-la-cadena-de-la-madera-2902",{"id":247,"body":248,"status":6,"type":10,"date":249,"slug":250,"title":251,"image":252,"countries":253,"topic":254,"activity":255,"tags":257,"nid":272,"topics":273,"activities":274,"authors":275,"images":278,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":144,"translations":279,"translation_of":24,"user_created":40,"date_created":280,"user_updated":40,"date_updated":281,"content":282,"link":283},10604,"> The diversity of activities to prevent and combat corruption that harms the environment is laudable. But it is far from the scale needed to tackle today's corruption and environmental challenges.\n\nAdopted in 2019, UNCAC Resolution 8\u002F12 – _Preventing and combating corruption as it relates to crimes that have an impact on the environment_ – urges States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) to prevent, investigate and prosecute corruption offences where they may be linked to crimes that have an impact on the environment.\n\nIn 2023, the Basel Institute on Governance published its Working Paper 50, _Seedlings of hope_, providing a panorama of emerging and promising initiatives across the world since the adoption of Resolution 8\u002F12.\n\nThe new Working Paper _Saplings of hope_, prepared for the [11th Conference of the States Parties (CoSP)](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unodc.org\u002Fcorruption\u002Fen\u002Fcosp\u002Fconference\u002Fsession11.html) in Doha, Qatar in December 2025, highlights what progress has been achieved since then.\n\nThe report was made possible by the generous support of the Principality of Liechtenstein.\n\nBelow are the main takeaways, but we urge you to read the full [Working Paper](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-61) for concrete examples from Bolivia, Canada, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Ukraine and other countries.\n\n### Corruption prevention measures\n\nStates have implemented a host of initiatives to strengthen integrity systems.\n\nMost commonly, this included the revision and adoption of internal control policies, more dedicated risk management efforts, including through the establishment of corruption prevention committees, and a range of capacity building efforts to strengthen environmental agencies’ ability to mitigate their own corruption risks, such as workshops on ethics codes and other integrity measures.\n\nWhistleblower protection programmes were increasingly designed, implemented and promoted. Corruption risk assessments were conducted in sectors such as wildlife management, forestry and fisheries.\n\nPromising corruption prevention interventions include:\n\n*   Conducting regular corruption perception and experience surveys among staff. This can help assess both progress and the effectiveness of corruption prevention measures. It can also create baselines against which to measure progress. Not enough interventions and reform efforts start with such a baseline, which means they then struggle to assess progress.\n*   Involving high-level management and leadership at each stage of the corruption prevention approach. This can help develop ownership and accountability. Explaining how integrity efforts support the strategic and political priorities of the leadership is crucial to achieve this. It requires adapting technocratic approaches to be relevant to the institutional leadership.\n*   Stipulating a mandatory budget for corruption prevention across ministries, agencies and departments. This can help ensure that minimal investments in integrity and anti-corruption activities are effectively prioritised and implemented. Sanctions for not respecting the mandatory budget should be imposed.\n*   Launching awareness-raising campaigns to promote knowledge of anti-corruption measures. This is an important first step to their effective implementation.\n*   Developing whistleblowing mechanisms. They can help increase reporting and detection of corruption. To achieve their potential, whistleblower mechanisms require a strong system, reliable protections and an institutional culture that welcomes such feedback.\n*   Peer-to-peer learning for government representatives from different countries and institutions to exchange on corruption prevention actions. This can be relevant, as anti-corruption officials often struggle with similar institutional challenges. Peer exchanges can help people and institutions to learn from each other’s successes and challenges and jointly identify effective mitigation measures.\n\n### Enforcement actions\n\nSeveral countries have investigated and prosecuted corruption cases linked to crimes that have an impact on the environment. Financial investigations and money laundering legislation are more frequently used to tackle these crimes.\n\nThe systematic seizure and confiscation of assets is still just beginning, as is the creation of multi-agency and interdisciplinary task forces, nationally and internationally. However, enforcement actions on corruption as it relates to crimes that have an impact on the environment are still limited.\n\nPromising enforcement interventions include:\n\n*   Assessing the economic, social and environmental losses from cases of corruption linked to crimes that have an impact on the environment – and using these to calculate associated penalties and fines – can help compensate and restore some of the harm done. Combining calculations of losses due to corruption with those of losses due to the environmental crimes can result in stiffer sentences and penalties.\n*   Seizing and confiscating proceeds and instrumentalities of crime (bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, machineries, etc.) through the diverse legal instruments available in jurisdictions can help ensure that crime does not pay. It also removes the resources needed to continue activities that harm the environment, thereby halting ongoing destruction.\n*   Exploring legal avenues outside the anti-corruption field can help strengthen enforcement. These include legislation on money laundering and tax offences as well as the social re-use of seized and confiscation assets, sanctions and visa bans.\n\n### Essential role of civil society and the media\n\nAlongside States, civil society organisations and the media have played an essential role in increasing our understanding of the relationship between corruption and crimes that have an impact on the environment.\n\nTheir efforts span investigative reporting, publishing evidence-based research, capacity building, creating networks to bridge the gap between anti-corruption and environmental practitioners, as well as initiating strategic litigation cases. Their involvement is all the more commendable given that they are facing an increasingly repressive environment.\n\n### The way forward\n\nAs the Working Paper highlights, various activities are taking place to tackle corruption linked to crimes that have an impact on the environment. The paper picks out those that show significant promise.\n\nThe diversity of engagements is laudable, but it is far from the scale needed to make a systemic difference to both societal corruption and environmental challenges. States Parties need to adapt and scale up initiatives that are effective or look promising, by, among other things:\n\n*   Ensuring more robust staffing and prioritisation of corruption prevention systems in government and state-owned enterprises tasked with conserving, managing or trading natural resources.\n*   Developing specialised knowledge and expertise of governmental institutions and agencies to better address corruption that impacts the environment.\n*   Incorporating anti-corruption measures into environmental and natural resource policies and strengthening environmental governance structures to include anti-corruption internal controls and mechanisms.\n*   Dedicating greater resources for specialised law enforcement to pursue complex financial flows linked to corruption and crimes that have an impact on the environment.\n*   Increasing inter-agency collaboration and conducting joint operations on corruption that has an impact on the environment.\n*   Making use of legal frameworks and testing new legal avenues to hold individuals and legal persons accountable, including through asset recovery and remedies to repair the damage.\n*   Engaging in platforms for representatives from governments, civil society and other stakeholder groups to exchange experiences and know-how in tackling corruption that has an impact on the environment.\n*   Sharing knowledge, case law, success stories, etc.\n*   Ensuring that this issue is integrated in all relevant United Nations processes such as the ones related to climate and biodiversity.\n*   Protecting and defending civil society space, press freedom and human rights defenders working on the environment and corruption-related issues.\n\nAs these initiatives have now been conducted for six years, there is a sufficient body to scrutinise their effectiveness and efficiency. It is therefore essential to rigorously assess these measures, especially in an environment of increasingly scarce financial resources.\n\n### Addressing corruption that has an impact on the environment\n\nThe Working Paper also makes a case for moving from the concept of “corruption as it relates to crimes that have an impact on the environment” to “corruption that has an impact on the environment”.\n\nFocusing solely on corruption linked to crimes that have an impact on the environment overlooks situations where corruption causes environmental harm without an associated criminal offence. It does not take into consideration pressing issues such as corruption linked to climate finance, renewable energy and the exploitation of critical minerals.\n\nAdopting a holistic approach is crucial to address all forms of corruption that affect the environment, and thus to protect the environment and people.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Read the full Working Paper 61: [_Saplings of hope: Addressing corruption that has an impact on the environment in line with UNCAC Resolution 8\u002F12 and beyond_](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-61)\n*   View the recordings of the \"[Environment Day](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcosp11env-day)\" at the 11th CoSP.\n*   Learn more about our [Green Corruption programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption)","2025-12-11","from-seedlings-to-saplings-of-hope-updated-report-on-promising-efforts-to-address-environmental-corruption-2926","From seedlings to saplings of hope: updated report on promising efforts to address environmental corruption","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F186e3dc8-1f6d-4d45-ad33-596b4a3a7bb0?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[256,19],"Reports",[258,260,262,264,268],{"tags_id":259},{"id":77,"name":78},{"tags_id":261},{"id":166,"name":167},{"tags_id":263},{"id":170,"name":171},{"tags_id":265},{"id":266,"name":267},1375,"Civil society",{"tags_id":269},{"id":270,"name":271},804,"Natural resources",2926,[14],[256,19],[276,277],1369,1370,[],[],"2026-02-27T15:07:21.000Z","2026-02-27T15:07:22.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Ffrom-seedlings-to-saplings-of-hope-updated-report-on-promising-efforts-to-address-environmental-corruption-2926",{"id":285,"body":286,"status":6,"type":10,"date":287,"slug":288,"title":289,"image":290,"countries":291,"topic":24,"activity":24,"tags":292,"nid":24,"topics":293,"activities":297,"authors":299,"images":301,"websites":302,"area":303,"programme":306,"language":144,"translations":308,"translation_of":24,"user_created":309,"date_created":310,"user_updated":41,"date_updated":311,"content":312,"link":313},10590,"This feature appears in the 2025 Basel AML Index Public Edition report. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Findex.baselgovernance.org\u002Fdownloads\">Download the full report and related resources\u003C\u002Fa>.\n\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Ch3>Key takeaways\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Understanding national risks linked to virtual assets is now essential\u003C\u002Fstrong>, as their use has moved from niche to mainstream and is increasingly exploited for financial crime. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Risk assessments are inherently challenging \u003C\u002Fstrong>as (a) virtual assets are borderless by design, (b) large parts of the ecosystem fall outside regulation and (c) reliable national-level data remains limited. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Illicit activity involving virtual assets does not take place in isolation\u003C\u002Fstrong>: offenders exploit the same weaknesses – corruption, fraud, weak supervision and poor enforcement – that already undermine the wider financial system. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The Basel AML Index provides valuable indicators to assess both a jurisdiction’s structural vulnerabilities and its capacity to counter threats \u003C\u002Fstrong>related to financial crimes in general, including those related to virtual assets, even though it does not include a dedicated virtual assets risk indicator. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\u003Cem>Note: in this article we use the term virtual assets in line with the FATF’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fatf-gafi.org\u002Fen\u002Ftopics\u002Fvirtual-assets.html\">definition\u003C\u002Fa> of “any digital representation of value that can be digitally traded, transferred or used for payment”. The terms crypto, cryptoassets, digital assets, digital currencies, etc. form part of this loose family, though they are often defined differently in different contexts – a factor that also complicates risk assessments and data analysis.\u003C\u002Fem>\n\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cstrong>Why assessing risks related to virtual assets matters \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\nGovernments and private firms alike are under growing pressure to understand the risks associated with virtual assets. What was once a niche is becoming a mainstream part of financial markets and a common feature in all forms of financial crime.\n\nAs the virtual assets industry continues to mature, national authorities that lack a clear understanding of the risks find themselves on the back foot when drafting legislation, supervising market participants or countering financial crime.\n\nFor financial institutions, a clear picture of jurisdiction-level risk is essential for customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, calibrating controls and taking strategic decisions about where or where not to operate. Financial institutions that misjudge these risks leave themselves exposed to illicit finance, reputational harm and potential regulatory action.\n\n\u003Ch3>Why jurisdiction-level risk assessments are difficult\u003C\u002Fh3>\n\n\u003Ch4>1. A borderless system by design\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\nUnlike bank accounts or trust funds, virtual asset wallets or addresses do not have a meaningful jurisdictional location. There is no crypto equivalent of “a bank account in Switzerland”. A wallet can be accessed anywhere and may be controlled by a person or entity whose location is unknown or easily obscured. Large parts of the virtual asset ecosystem also fall outside the boundaries of traditional financial regulation. Self-hosted wallets, peer-to-peer transfers, decentralised finance (DeFi) protocols and informal over-the-counter (OTC) brokers create pockets of activity that are largely invisible. Any jurisdiction-level assessment will inevitably be incomplete.\n\nThe activities of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) further complicate matters. A VASP may be established in one jurisdiction while primarily serving customers in another. In the absence of harmonised legislation or cooperation among supervisors, many operate across numerous markets with minimal physical presence or regulatory engagement.\n\n\u003Ch4>2. Data is limited, patchy and uncertain\u003C\u002Fh4>\n\nReliable quantitative data on financial crime risks related to virtual assets at the national level is scarce. In addition to the issue of contrasting definitions and the technology’s borderless nature, several factors contribute to this lack.\n\nFirst, commercial blockchain analytics providers publish broad indicators of virtual asset adoption and estimates of illicit usage. These can be helpful for spotting trends but require careful interpretation. They rely on estimates and proxies, including web traffic to exchanges or intermediaries, and do not provide precise amounts or reliably distinguish licit from illicit activity.\n\nSecond, it is reasonable to assume that where adoption rises, illicit activity will also increase, simply because criminals use the same infrastructure as legitimate users. However, such relationships cannot be measured with confidence.\n\nThird, at the government level, many jurisdictions still lack a coordinated approach across authorities to collect, share and analyse statistics on money laundering and related financial crimes. In many jurisdictions, data on virtual assets is either not gathered consistently or not collected at all.\n\nWithout reliable data on virtual assets usage and risks, national risk assessments may become detached from real-world threats. The result: regulation and supervision that is either insufficient or unnecessarily burdensome.\n\n### How the Basel AML Index can be used\n\nFor the above reasons, the Basel AML Index does not offer a dedicated indicator for virtual assets. Nevertheless, the Index data is still useful because illicit activity involving virtual assets typically exploits the same underlying weaknesses that enable money laundering, corruption, fraud and other financial crimes in the traditional financial system. Where protections against fraud are weak, for example, where supervision is lacking or where enforcement of regulations is inconsistent or politically compromised, opportunities to misuse virtual assets for illegal purposes tend to expand.\n\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cstrong>Two components of risk \u003C\u002Fstrong>\n\nIn line with the holistic methodology of the Basel AML Index and most AML\u002FCFT risk assessment frameworks, evaluating jurisdiction-level risk related to virtual assets centres on two elements:\n\n\u003Cp>a) \u003Cem>vulnerability \u003C\u002Fem>to the illicit use of virtual assets; and b) \u003Cem>capacity to mitigate \u003C\u002Fem>and respond to these threats. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n### Relevant indicators\n\nThe following graphic highlights indicators of the Basel AML Index that are relevant for assessing either \u003Cem>structural vulnerabilities \u003C\u002Fem>that illicit actors may exploit, or a jurisdiction’s \u003Cem>capacity to counter \u003C\u002Fem>threats. These can be viewed individually in the Expert Edition.\n\n![](https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F7f446525-136f-4018-a322-8a4e8872f23b) *Indicators visible in the Basel AML Index Edition that are particularly relevant to assessing national risks relating to virtual assets.*\n\n\n#### FATF data\n\nUsing the Expert Edition Plus subscription and its quantitative analysis of the latest FATF mutual evaluation and follow-up reports, Basel AML Index users can gain rapid insights into whether a jurisdiction’s AML\u002FCFT framework provides it with the capacity to \u003Cem>counter threats \u003C\u002Fem>related to financial crimes generally, including those involving virtual assets. FATF Recommendations that may be highly relevant for this include:\n\n- R.15 (new technologies)\n- R.16 (payment transparency)\n- R.26 & 27 (regulation and supervision)\n- R.29–31 (law enforcement)\n- R.36–40 (international cooperation)\n\nAn additional useful source of information for jurisdiction-level risk assessments is the FATF’s \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fatf-gafi.org\u002Fen\u002Fpublications\u002FFatfrecommendations\u002Ftargeted-update-virtual-assets-vasps-2025.html\">\u003Cem>2025 Targeted Update on Implementation of the FATF Standards on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fa>. This report summarises progress in implementing FATF Recommendation 15 by FATF members and additional jurisdictions with materially important global virtual asset activity. “Materially important” refers to the presence of large VASPs (accounting for more than 0.25 percent of global trading) and\u002For a large virtual asset user base.\n\n### Where to start\n\nFor jurisdictions at an early stage of assessing national risks related to virtual assets, the World Bank’s \u003Cem>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fopenknowledge.worldbank.org\u002Fentities\u002Fpublication\u002Fbb5a7475-ac52-4697-afdc-5f618a550623\">AML\u002FCFT National Risk Assessment on Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers: Guidance Manual\u003C\u002Fa> \u003C\u002Fem>(published in October 2025) is a strong starting point. It covers both threats and vulnerabilities, as well as the effectiveness of mitigation measures.\n\nAdditional useful resources include:\n- \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002F9crc-crypto-regulation\">\u003Cstrong>Practical recommendations from regulators and supervisors\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>, developed at the 9th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptoassets, on understanding financial crime risks linked to virtual assets and designing effective regulatory and supervisory frameworks.\n- \u003Cstrong>Structured public–private partnerships\u003C\u002Fstrong>, such as the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fefippp.eu\u002F\">Europol Financial Intelligence Sharing Public Private Partnership\u003C\u002Fa>, which offer opportunities to learn from peers and obtain early insights into emerging threats and financial crime typologies involving virtual assets.\n","2025-12-08","assessing-national-risks-related-to-virtual-assets","Assessing national risks related to virtual assets","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F78f8a1ec-bf8d-469a-ab92-228e79ddd8f2?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[],[294,295,296,22],"Anti-Money Laundering","Asset Recovery and Enforcement","Business Integrity Ethics and Compliance",[298,18],"Basel AML Index",[300],1365,[],[298],[304,305],"Asset Recovery & Enforcement","Business Integrity & Governance",[307],"International Centre for Asset Recovery",[],"545a204d-e41b-4882-afda-481ecf3fd971","2025-12-05T11:43:36.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:39.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fassessing-national-risks-related-to-virtual-assets",{"id":315,"body":316,"status":6,"type":120,"date":317,"slug":318,"title":319,"image":320,"countries":321,"topic":322,"activity":323,"tags":324,"nid":325,"topics":326,"activities":327,"authors":328,"images":329,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":144,"translations":330,"translation_of":24,"user_created":40,"date_created":331,"user_updated":24,"date_updated":24,"content":332,"link":333},10585,"_The mining sector is a backbone of many national economies. Yet recent trends including the surge in gold prices and the global competition for minerals essential to the energy transition are making the sector more vulnerable than ever to corruption. In response, a new working group aims to confront these challenges through collective action._\n\n### A rising challenge: corruption across the minerals value chain\n\nMineral corruption refers to the abuse of power for private gain at any stage of the minerals value chain. It takes many forms, from irregular licensing and data manipulation to undue influence over environmental processes, conflicts of interest, and opaque corporate structures used for tax evasion or to legalise illegally extracted minerals.\n\nThese practices directly undermine good governance, fuel inequality, facilitate environmental harm and divert revenues that should support national development.\n\n### Why experts are sounding the alarm\n\nThe call for action comes from the [Countering Environmental Corruption Practitioners Forum](https:\u002F\u002Fenvironmental-corruption.org\u002F), a platform launched by WWF, the Basel Institute on Governance, Transparency International and TRAFFIC. The Forum was created to bring conservationists and anti-corruption practitioners together to address corruption as a fundamental driver of environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change.\n\nAgainst this backdrop, the organisations coordinating the new Working Group – including the Basel Institute on Governance, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) and the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) – highlight that a coordinated professional response is urgently needed. The consequences for ecosystems, governance systems and societies are accelerating.\n\n### The soaring price of gold\n\nRecord gold prices have driven a sharp rise in illegal mining worldwide. The result has been increasing deforestation, widespread mercury contamination and the expansion of criminal networks linked to extraction and trade.\n\nTransnational organised crime groups, as well as state and non-state armed actors, are using precious metals and stones supply chains for money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions evasion.\n\n### The global race for critical minerals\n\nGold is not the only concern. Demand for critical minerals such as nickel, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements is rising rapidly. These minerals are vital for the energy transition, the defence sector and high-tech industries.\n\nAs the competition to secure these resources intensifies, so do environmental, social and governance risks. Without stronger integrity measures, the expansion of the minerals sector risks repeating and amplifying the systemic failures of past resource booms.\n\n### A collective response: the new Minerals Corruption Working Group\n\nTo help address these challenges, the Countering Environmental Corruption Practitioners Forum has launched the new [Minerals Corruption Working Group](https:\u002F\u002Fenvironmental-corruption.org\u002Fworking-groups\u002Fminerals-corruption). Its aim is to bring together mining-sector professionals, governance experts and anti-corruption practitioners to exchange experiences, discuss emerging trends and explore collaborative solutions.\n\nThe Working Group will provide a space for peer learning, case discussion and cross-border collaboration.\n\n### First session on 9 December\n\nThe first session will take place online on 9 December, with simultaneous interpretation in English, French and Spanish. Participants will work in breakout groups to define:\n\n*   priority topics for 2026;\n*   relevant professional experience;\n*   expectations and needs the Working Group could address.\n\nParticipation is free and open to any interested professional.\n\n### Next steps\n\n*   Interested in joining the first session of the new Working Group? [Sign up for the launch event on 9 December](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnode\u002F2876) and take part in this growing community of professionals at the forefront of tackling corruption in the minerals sector.\n*   Looking for another working group? The Countering Environmental Corruption Practitioners Forum also hosts groups on [land corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fenvironmental-corruption.org\u002Fworking-groups\u002Fland-corruption), [follow-the-money](https:\u002F\u002Fenvironmental-corruption.org\u002Fworking-groups\u002Ffollow-the-money), [open data](https:\u002F\u002Fenvironmental-corruption.org\u002Fworking-groups\u002Fopen-data) and [climate finance](https:\u002F\u002Fenvironmental-corruption.org\u002Fworking-groups\u002Fclimate-finance).","2025-11-25","new-working-group-to-tackle-corruption-risks-in-the-minerals-sector-2878","New working group to tackle corruption risks in the minerals sector","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F1057d9b6-bc53-4949-8c9b-021fb6797a36?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[192],[],2878,[14],[192],[],[],[],"2025-11-27T17:01:45.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-working-group-to-tackle-corruption-risks-in-the-minerals-sector-2878",{"id":335,"body":336,"status":6,"type":120,"date":337,"slug":338,"title":339,"image":340,"countries":341,"topic":344,"activity":346,"tags":347,"nid":348,"topics":349,"activities":350,"authors":351,"images":352,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":144,"translations":353,"translation_of":24,"user_created":40,"date_created":354,"user_updated":355,"date_updated":356,"content":357,"link":358},10574,"We are delighted to announce a new grant that will enable the Basel Institute on Governance to continue and expand its support to Ukraine on integrity and accountability.\n\nThrough the Government of Norway's [Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.norad.no\u002Fen\u002Fthematic-areas\u002Fhumanitarian-assistance-and-comprehensive-response-and-the-nansen-programme-for-ukraine\u002Fthe-nansen-support-programme-for-ukraine\u002Fthe-nansen-support-programme-for-ukraine\u002Fhow-norad-fights-corruption-in-ukraine\u002F), the Basel Institute will work from 2025 to 2028 to promote transparency and accountability in three strategically vital sectors:\n\n*   Natural resources: Tackling corruption risks in forestry and the critical minerals sector, building on our long-standing work to combat [corruption in Ukraine’s forestry industry](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fdeepdive1-ukraine) and the expertise of our wider [Green Corruption programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption).\n*   Energy: Supporting transparency and accountability in energy-related enterprises. In the first year, this will begin with our collaboration with the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (Gas TSO), a vital state-owned enterprise with which we recently [signed a Memorandum of Understanding](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fgas.tso.ua\u002Fphotos\u002F%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80-%D0%B3%D1%82%D1%81-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%97%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%87%D0%B0%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%96%D0%B2%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%86%D1%8E-%D0%B7-%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BC-%D1%96%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%83%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BC-%D1%83%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BB%D1%96%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8F-%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80\u002F1414177947376981\u002F) to establish a comprehensive anti-corruption compliance system.\n*   Defence industries: Strengthening compliance and integrity systems in defence manufacturers as they produce vital materiel for Ukraine’s defence and integrate with Europe’s broader security architecture. This builds on our ongoing partnership with [Ukraine Defense Industries](https:\u002F\u002Fukroboronprom.com.ua\u002Fen\u002Fupravlinnya-ta-komplajens\u002Fat-uop-i-bazelskii-institut-upravlinnya-proveli-persu-zustric-v-ramkax-spivpraci-shhodo-posilennya-vnutrisnix-komplajens-spromoznosteiopk) (UkrOboronProm or UOP).\n\n### Strengthening integrity where it matters most\n\nThis programme is significant because natural resources, energy and defence are at the heart of Ukraine’s resilience and recovery. They are essential for the country’s security, economic stability and EU integration – yet also among the most vulnerable to corruption.\n\nWeak governance in these sectors risks undermining resilience, slowing reconstruction and eroding donor confidence.\n\nThe Government of Norway [recognises](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.norad.no\u002Fen\u002Fthematic-areas\u002Fhumanitarian-assistance-and-comprehensive-response-and-the-nansen-programme-for-ukraine\u002Fthe-nansen-support-programme-for-ukraine\u002Fthe-nansen-support-programme-for-ukraine\u002Fhow-norad-fights-corruption-in-ukraine\u002F) that “combating corruption and building strong institutions are central” to achieving the goals of its comprehensive Nansen Support Programme, which aims to “help secure a safe, free and independent Ukraine, strengthen vital state functions and reduce human suffering”. Like the Basel Institute, our partners in Norway acknowledge Ukraine’s progress in tackling corruption and the strong commitment of Ukrainian civil society and the public to building robust anti-corruption institutions.\n\n### Sustaining Ukraine’s path to resilience\n\nJorun Nossum, Director of Norad’s Department for the Nansen Support Programme, said:\n\n> We are very pleased to be able to continue our partnership with Basel Institute on Governance in working to prevent corruption in sectors central to Ukraine’s resistance and reforms.\n\nJuhani Grossmann, who leads the Basel Institute’s work in Ukraine and the opening of our new office in Kyiv, commented:\n\n> The support of Norway allows us to boost our integrity-building partnerships in Ukraine for the long term at a time when reliability is especially crucial. The three priority areas have been carefully selected to reflect both Ukraine's immediate needs and the desire for a sustainable recovery.\n> \n> Our natural resource partnerships will seek to ensure Ukraine’s people derive the maximum benefit from its environment and natural resources. Our energy partnerships will help build trustworthy energy partners as Ukraine integrates into European energy markets. Our defence partnerships are designed to enable Ukraine’s manufacturers to reap the full benefits for Ukraine’s security from their technical prowess.\n> \n> Enhanced and more compliant corporate structures will unlock Ukraine’s full potential to contribute to Europe’s emerging security infrastructure.\n\n### A decade of partnership with Ukraine\n\nAs featured in the [Basel Institute’s Annual Report 2024](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Far2024), we have been engaged in Ukraine for over a decade, supporting both corruption prevention and enforcement.\n\nOn the prevention side, our work since 2013 has included Collective Action and compliance initiatives in government permitting and corporate governance. We have also advised on the establishment of the Business Ombudsman, provided guidance to the Ukrainian Road Authority and supported independent commissions tasked with recruiting leaders of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions.\n\nFollowing the full-scale invasion in 2022, we significantly expanded our anti-corruption support, recognising it as both a contribution to Ukraine’s long-term European integration and to its short-term wartime resilience.\n\nWith significant funding from Switzerland and contributions from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and NEFCO, we have helped Ukrainian authorities and state-owned enterprises ensure the integrity of the wartime economy and reconstruction efforts. Priority areas have included restoration, transport and natural resources.","2025-10-20","strengthening-integrity-in-ukraines-natural-resources-energy-and-defence-sectors-with-norways-support-2857","Strengthening integrity in Ukraine’s natural resources, energy and defence sectors with Norway’s support","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fc22c8770-c1ad-4fd3-8af1-7174cdbe6b0b?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[342,343],7797,7798,[14,345],"Private Sector",[131],[],2857,[14,345],[131],[],[],[],"2025-10-20T16:01:43.000Z","dfef11db-1bc6-47e9-a61d-93443995484b","2026-05-08T21:11:16.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fstrengthening-integrity-in-ukraines-natural-resources-energy-and-defence-sectors-with-norways-support-2857",{"id":360,"body":361,"status":6,"type":120,"date":362,"slug":363,"title":364,"image":365,"countries":366,"topic":367,"activity":370,"tags":372,"nid":373,"topics":374,"activities":376,"authors":377,"images":378,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":144,"translations":379,"translation_of":24,"user_created":40,"date_created":380,"user_updated":41,"date_updated":381,"content":382,"link":383},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!","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",[],[368,369],"Prevention"," Research and Innovation",[216,371],"Training",[],2851,[22,375],"Prevention Research and Innovation",[216,371],[],[],[],"2025-09-29T16:01:39.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:37.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fglobal-professionals-begin-new-anti-corruption-studies-2851",{"left":385,"top":385,"width":386,"height":386,"rotate":385,"vFlip":387,"hFlip":387,"body":388},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>",1780676403758]