[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":336},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-scarlet-wannenwetschs-quick-guide-to-the-role-of-business-in-tackling-illegal-wildlife-trade-1014":3,"news-scarlet-wannenwetschs-quick-guide-to-the-role-of-business-in-tackling-illegal-wildlife-trade-1014-similar":79,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":331},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"date":12,"topic":13,"slug":17,"activity":18,"nid":21,"topics":22,"activities":23,"programme":24,"area":24,"websites":25,"language":24,"image":27,"translation_of":24,"countries":36,"tags":37,"authors":58,"images":76,"translations":77,"content":78},9796,"published","2022-05-26T22:55:48.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:59.000Z","Scarlet Wannenwetsch’s quick guide to the role of business in tackling illegal wildlife trade","Blog","Given the vast dimensions of the multibillion-dollar illegal wildlife trade (IWT), it may be surprising that until recently, global efforts to tackle IWT came mainly from the conservation sector. This has typically consisted of numerous donor-funded efforts to catch poachers and raise public awareness of the plight of endangered species. \n\nValuable as those efforts are, they do little to impact the organised crime networks, corruption and illicit financial flows that allow the lucrative illegal trade in wildlife products to continue. \n\nNow, triggered in part by recent high-profile conferences and initiatives targeting IWT, there is greater and growing awareness of the need to involve the private sector in efforts to combat the illegal trade.\n\n### Which industries are affected?\n\nThe transport and financial industries are the most clearly affected. Illegal products such as elephant ivory, rhino horn and timber are usually trafficked via commercial land, sea and air transport services, and financial transactions take place via regulated financial services providers and the global banking system. \n\nHowever, other industries are involved too. e-commerce and social media sites can be exploited as illegal trading platforms, and logistics or warehousing companies can unwittingly facilitate the storage and shipping of illegal goods.\n\n### IWT as a risk management issue\n\nCompanies in these sectors are starting to perceive of IWT not just as a conservation issue, and therefore confined to corporate social responsibility departments, but in terms of the risks this illegal trade presents to their business. \n\nThese risks are tightly intertwined with other risks, particularly corruption and security.\n\n*   Profits from wildlife crime that enter global financial markets are proceeds of crime, linked by default to other forms of financial crime such as money laundering and tax fraud. This leaves companies open to legal risks.\n*   Security is a major worry: if transport companies can be exploited through corruption or security loopholes to carry illegal wildlife products, what else might be stashed away in those dark lorries and containers?\n*   Reputational risks in this age of conscious consumerism are an additional, not insignificant category.\n\nThis shift in approach has started to trigger systemic and sustainable change in businesses worldwide.\n\n### Plus, it’s the law\n\nPrivate-sector efforts are being boosted by increasingly stronger laws and involvement of supervisory bodies. For example:\n\n*   The EU's [6th Anti Money Laundering Directive](https:\u002F\u002Feur-lex.europa.eu\u002Flegal-content\u002FEN\u002FTXT\u002F?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2018.284.01.0022.01.ENG) (6AMLD), which comes into effect in December 2020, makes environmental crimes a predicate offence to money laundering.\n*   The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has announced that illegal wildlife trade is _\"one of the priorities under the Chinese Presidency\"_ and has recently [launched a project](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.fatf-gafi.org\u002Fpublications\u002Ffatfgeneral\u002Fdocuments\u002Foutcomes-plenary-october-2019.html) \n>_\"to develop good practices in tackling the financial flows linked to illegal wildlife trade. This project will analyse common supply chains and payment methods, as well as case studies from countries that have experience in investigating the financial flows from illegal wildlife trade. It will also consider the role of public-private partnerships and international cooperation in combating this crime.\"_\n\nThese changes in the regulatory landscape evidence the shift from perceiving IWT as a conservation issue to recognising it as a serious transnational organised crime, with implications for both law enforcement and business.\n\n### Multi-stakeholder initiatives – the solution?\n\nCurrent multi-stakeholder initiatives aimed specifically at tackling industry-specific IWT risks, such as the [United for Wildlife](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unitedforwildlife.org\u002F) Transport and Financial Taskforces and the [ROUTES Partnership](https:\u002F\u002Froutespartnership.org\u002F) led by wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, show great promise to create a virtuous circle of engagement and action. But they face some major hurdles. \n\nChallenges include getting all relevant stakeholders around the table and building a strong business case for engagement that takes into account companies' specific risks and needs.\n\n### Companies want data\n\nA basic but major identified need is for more reliable, targeted and actionable information and intelligence on IWT, to enable companies to take informed internal measures, co-develop industry guidelines and effect real systems change. \n\nThis can best be achieved through mechanisms that allow all stakeholders to pool information and resources in pursuit of their common goals. The chance to share and benefit from valuable intelligence that enables businesses to strengthen their resilience against IWT, along with other forms of trafficking and financial crime, represent a powerful argument for companies to engage in multi-stakeholder initiatives against IWT. \n\nSuch an approach will also generate a sustainable and long-term engagement by the private sector.\n\n### The answer: Collective Action?\n\nThe challenges faced by multi-stakeholder initiatives focused on IWT echo some of the challenges addressed over the years by [Collective Action initiatives](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Finitiatives) focused on tackling shared corruption challenges. \n\nThis similarity, as well as the strong links between corruption and IWT, means that practitioners can benefit from lessons learned from anti-corruption Collective Action initiatives and do not need to reinvent the wheel. \n\nWhich is good, because there's still a long way to go and we'll need some fast wheels if we want to overtake the traffickers before any more endangered species go extinct.\n\n### More information\n\n*   Read the full [Working Paper 32 on Private-sector engagement in the fight against illegal wildlife trade](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fpublications\u002F1873).\n*   Find out more about the Basel Institute's programme to combat [financial crime in the illegal wildlife trade](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\u002Fqg12_business_iwt.pdf)","2019-10-22",[14,15,16],"Anti-Money Laundering","Collective Action","Green Corruption","scarlet-wannenwetschs-quick-guide-to-the-role-of-business-in-tackling-illegal-wildlife-trade-1014",[19,20],"Insights","International cooperation",1014,[14,15,16],[19,20],null,[26,15],"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},"1ea0f630-0cbb-4b9d-aadd-ca26b63a8922","local","1ea0f630-0cbb-4b9d-aadd-ca26b63a8922.webp","tmp.webp","image\u002Fwebp",21510,800,401,[],[38],{"id":39,"news_id":40,"tags_id":55},4390,{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":41,"date_created":7,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":28,"date":12,"topic":43,"slug":17,"activity":44,"nid":21,"topics":45,"activities":46,"programme":24,"area":24,"websites":47,"translation_of":24,"language":24,"countries":48,"tags":49,"authors":50,"images":52,"translations":53,"content":54},"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","b0662e2a-864d-4888-a1b7-4342b7570b30",[14,15,16],[19,20],[14,15,16],[19,20],[26,15],[],[39],[51],875,[],[],[],{"id":56,"name":57},1303,"Environment",[59],{"id":51,"news_id":60,"authors_id":72},{"id":5,"status":6,"user_created":41,"date_created":7,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"image":28,"date":12,"topic":61,"slug":17,"activity":62,"nid":21,"topics":63,"activities":64,"programme":24,"area":24,"websites":65,"translation_of":24,"language":24,"countries":66,"tags":67,"authors":68,"images":69,"translations":70,"content":71},[14,15,16],[19,20],[14,15,16],[19,20],[26,15],[],[39],[51],[],[],[],{"id":73,"name":74,"position":24,"image":75},293,"Scarlet Wannenwetsch","d9d0987f-7bda-4ad1-b9fe-c2704767a025",[],[],[],[80,113,144,166,187,219,243,267,287,309],{"id":81,"body":82,"status":6,"type":83,"date":84,"slug":85,"title":86,"image":87,"countries":88,"topic":92,"activity":93,"tags":95,"nid":102,"topics":103,"activities":104,"authors":105,"images":106,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":107,"translations":108,"translation_of":24,"user_created":41,"date_created":109,"user_updated":41,"date_updated":110,"content":111,"link":112},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",[89,90,91],7810,7811,7812,[16],[94],"Partnerships",[96,100],{"tags_id":97},{"id":98,"name":99},859,"Corruption risks",{"tags_id":101},{"id":56,"name":57},2973,[16],[94],[],[],"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":114,"body":115,"status":6,"type":83,"date":116,"slug":117,"title":118,"image":119,"countries":120,"topic":122,"activity":123,"tags":124,"nid":135,"topics":136,"activities":137,"authors":138,"images":139,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":107,"translations":140,"translation_of":24,"user_created":41,"date_created":110,"user_updated":41,"date_updated":141,"content":142,"link":143},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",[121],7813,[16],[94],[125,127,131],{"tags_id":126},{"id":56,"name":57},{"tags_id":128},{"id":129,"name":130},1373,"Corruption prevention",{"tags_id":132},{"id":133,"name":134},1374,"Law enforcement",2974,[16],[94],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:44.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fadvancing-malawis-efforts-against-corruption-and-environmental-crime-2974",{"id":145,"body":146,"status":6,"type":83,"date":147,"slug":148,"title":149,"image":150,"countries":151,"topic":152,"activity":154,"tags":156,"nid":157,"topics":158,"activities":159,"authors":160,"images":161,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":107,"translations":162,"translation_of":24,"user_created":41,"date_created":163,"user_updated":24,"date_updated":24,"content":164,"link":165},10616,"From grassroots transparency tools to global business integrity networks, this year’s finalists for the [International Collective Action Awards](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fawards) show the breadth, creativity and growing impact of Collective Action around the world.\n\nPublic voting is now open and everyone is invited to help choose the winners.\n\nThe Awards recognise organisations advancing business integrity through Collective Action – bringing together businesses, governments, civil society and other stakeholders to tackle corruption and strengthen fairer, more transparent markets. The winners will be announced during the [6th International Collective Action Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2026) in Basel, Switzerland, on 9–10 June 2026.\n\nPresented by the Basel Institute on Governance since 2022, the Awards celebrate initiatives that demonstrate how Collective Action can deliver practical solutions to shared integrity challenges across sectors and regions.\n\n### A diverse field of finalists\n\nThis year’s finalists reflect the growing diversity of Collective Action initiatives worldwide. They range from long-running international integrity networks supporting small businesses, to innovative digital tools improving transparency in public infrastructure, to emerging platforms creating new opportunities for business engagement in global anti-corruption policymaking.\n\nThe shortlisted initiatives also highlight the geographical reach of Collective Action efforts today, with finalists working across Africa, Latin America, Europe and global multilateral platforms.\n\nAn international jury selected the finalists from a strong field of nominations representing a wide variety of sectors, approaches and partnerships.\n\n### Gretta Fenner Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action\n\nThis category is named in honour of the Basel Institute’s late Managing Director, [Gretta Fenner](https:\u002F\u002Fgretta.baselgovernance.org\u002F). It recognises organisations that have made a sustained and significant contribution to advancing Collective Action and promoting business integrity over time.\n\nThe 2026 finalists are:\n\n*   Alliance for Integrity – a global multi-stakeholder initiative that has built integrity networks across 16 countries and supported hundreds of trainers and companies in strengthening compliance and anti-corruption practices, particularly among SMEs.\n*   Anti-Corruption Collective Action Impact Centre – hosted by the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA), the Centre supports locally led anti-corruption initiatives worldwide through mentorship, training and practical implementation support.\n*   Integridad Corporativa 500 (IC500) – a Mexican transparency benchmark initiative that evaluates the anti-corruption policies and governance practices of the country’s 500 largest companies, helping drive measurable improvements in corporate transparency.\n\n### Collective Action Inspirational Newcomer\n\nThe Inspirational Newcomer category recognises initiatives active for fewer than two years that have already shown strong promise and early impact.\n\nThis year’s finalists are:\n\n*   COSP Private Sector Platform – launched by the United Nations Global Compact and UNODC to create new opportunities for private sector participation in global anti-corruption policymaking linked to the UN Convention against Corruption.\n*   CoST Malawi Infrastructure Transparency Initiative: Red Flags Algorithm – an innovative digital tool that uses data analysis to identify potential corruption and procurement risks in public infrastructure projects in Malawi.\n*   TRIPODE: Collective Action for Business Integrity and SME Inclusion in Mexico – a joint initiative helping companies, especially SMEs, navigate integrity expectations through practical guidance, peer learning and public-private dialogue.\n\nAlthough very different in focus, the finalists all demonstrate the value of collaborative approaches in addressing complex integrity challenges – whether through technology, policy engagement or hands-on support for businesses.\n\n### An international jury with deep expertise\n\nThe finalists were pre-selected by an international jury bringing together expertise from governance, anti-corruption, journalism, international law and public policy.\n\nThe jury included Nathalie Delapalme, CEO of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Nicola Bonucci, former OECD Director of Legal Affairs and Basel Institute Board member, Rhoda Weeks-Brown, former General Counsel of the IMF, and award-winning investigative journalist Sheila S. Coronel of Columbia Journalism School.\n\nTheir collective experience spans anti-corruption policy, rule of law, investigative journalism, international governance and responsible business conduct, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of Collective Action itself.\n\n### Cast your vote\n\nPublic voting is open until 2 June 2026.\n\nVisit the [Awards page on the B20 Collective Action Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fawards) to learn more about the finalists and cast your vote in each category.\n\nThe Collective Action Awards are supported by the Siemens Integrity Initiative.","2026-05-20","cast-your-vote-in-the-2026-collective-action-awards-2969","Cast your vote in the 2026 Collective Action Awards","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fa69747f0-c2e6-48f5-8e19-4e059e545b2f?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[15,153],"Private Sector",[155],"",[],2969,[15,153],[],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:46.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fcast-your-vote-in-the-2026-collective-action-awards-2969",{"id":167,"body":168,"status":6,"type":10,"date":169,"slug":170,"title":171,"image":172,"countries":173,"topic":174,"activity":176,"tags":178,"nid":179,"topics":180,"activities":181,"authors":182,"images":183,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":107,"translations":184,"translation_of":24,"user_created":41,"date_created":163,"user_updated":24,"date_updated":24,"content":185,"link":186},10617,"As the use of virtual assets accelerates worldwide, so too does their appeal to criminal actors looking to move money faster, hide transactions more effectively and stay one step ahead of enforcement authorities.\n\nAnd it’s natural that when people discuss crypto-related crime, the focus is often on governments, regulators, law enforcement agencies and the private sector – crypto exchanges, financial institutions and blockchain intelligence firms.\n\nWhat about international organisations, non-profits, expert networks and professional associations – what role do they play behind the scenes? And how much impact can they really have when it comes to tackling illicit activity involving virtual assets?\n\nThese questions were at the centre of a [webinar](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002FIOs_virtualassets) co-hosted by the Basel Institute on Governance and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The discussion brought together experts from the OSCE, the Basel Institute, the Financial Intelligence Unit of Moldova, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime.\n\nAcross the discussion, speakers kept circling around the same point: the crypto-crime field does not need more vague talk about cooperation or more one-off awareness workshops. It needs practical, sustained and operational forms of support that help investigators, prosecutors and financial intelligence units respond to increasingly sophisticated criminal activity.\n\n### Beyond awareness raising\n\nA recurring theme throughout the discussion was the gap between recognising the problem and building the capability to address it.\n\nSpeakers noted that crypto-related crime evolves faster than most institutions can adapt. Bots on the Telegram messaging app are now providing money-laundering-as-a-service, as one speaker noted by way of example. Criminal actors – and bots – exploit regulatory gaps, fragmented information-sharing systems and uneven levels of expertise across jurisdictions.\n\nAt the same time, many authorities are still in the early stages of developing operational capacity.\n\nThis is where international organisations and networks can play an important role. Not simply by producing guidance documents or organising workshops and conferences – which are necessary but not sufficient – but by helping countries build practical and lasting capabilities.\n\nThe OSCE shared examples from its regional [project on mitigating the money laundering risks of virtual assets](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002FIOs_virtualassets), which supports participating states across Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, Central Asia and Mongolia.\n\nOne example was Moldova’s sectoral national risk assessment on virtual assets. Beyond identifying vulnerabilities, the process helped prompt institutional action and legislative development.\n\nThe OSCE also pointed to measurable operational outcomes linked to its capacity-building support. Institutions supported through the programme, for example, traced more than USD 100 million in illicit crypto assets in 2025 alone.\n\n### Why PowerPoint presentations are not enough\n\nSeveral speakers emphasised that complex investigations involving virtual assets and asset recovery require highly specialised expertise that cannot be built through isolated workshops.\n\nInvestigators need opportunities to apply knowledge in real cases. Financial intelligence units need ongoing mentoring and technical support. Prosecutors need to understand not only the technology itself but also how to present complex digital evidence in court.\n\nThe Basel Institute highlighted the importance of long-term engagement with practitioners. The approach of its [International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR)](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery) includes combining case-centered training with hands-on mentoring, operational support on live cases and efforts to foster collaboration between different government agencies and with the private sector.\n\nTogether with highly effective train-the-trainer programmes, the focus is on helping agencies develop capabilities that can evolve alongside changing technologies and criminal methods, rather than delivering isolated workshops.\n\n### Networks that make cooperation operational\n\nThe webinar also challenged the tendency to talk about “international cooperation” in abstract terms. In practice, it’s difficult to develop trusting relationships between individuals and institutions operating in very different legal and cultural contexts, especially where there are language barriers.\n\nIn this environment, organisations such as the OSCE, Basel Institute, UNODC and the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime can act as connectors between sectors, jurisdictions and professional communities. They can:\n\n*   help investigators and practitioners exchange expertise and emerging typologies;\n*   create trusted channels for faster information sharing;\n*   connect authorities facing similar challenges across jurisdictions;\n*   support the development of common standards and approaches; and\n*   bridge gaps between public authorities, financial institutions and technical experts\n\nOne example is the Global Coalition’s proposal to develop a framework for sharing illict crypto wallet attribution data between public authorities – a major need, especially for jurisdictions without the resources to purchase multiple blockchain intelligence tools.\n\n### Research and analysis as a basis for action\n\nAnother important thread running through the webinar was the role of research and evidence-based analysis.\n\nAs technologies and criminal typologies evolve rapidly, policymakers and practitioners need reliable analysis rather than hype or speculation. Speakers discussed how international organisations support countries by analysing emerging threats, identifying trends and helping governments design informed legal and operational responses.\n\nSpeakers highlighted several concrete projects, such as UNODC research into [scam compounds](https:\u002F\u002Ftrack.unodc.org\u002Ftrack\u002Fen\u002Ftrack\u002Fresourcehub\u002F2025\u002Finflection_point_global_implications_of_scam_centres_underground_banking_and_illicit_online_marketplaces_in_southeast_asia.html) and cyber-enabled fraud in Southeast Asia and into the links between [cybercrime and corruption](https:\u002F\u002Ftrack.unodc.org\u002Ftrack\u002Fen\u002Ftrack\u002Fresourcehub\u002F2025\u002Fthe_nexus_between_cybercrime_and_corruption.html), and the Global Coalition’s research on links between gaming and crypto-related financial crime.\n\n### A rapidly evolving challenge\n\nThe webinar closed with a discussion on what aspects of collaboration participants would most like to strengthen in the virtual assets space.\n\nWhile perspectives differed, there was broad agreement that current models of cooperation and capacity building are still not moving fast enough to match the pace of technological change and criminal innovation.\n\nIt’s been said many times, but it warrants saying again: As virtual assets continue to evolve at breakneck speed, so too must the international response.\n\nThe discussion demonstrated that international organisations, non-profits and professional networks can have significant impact – particularly when they focus less on rhetoric and more on operational support, sustained partnerships and measurable outcomes.\n\n### Speakers\n\nWith thanks to our moderator, Vera Strobachova-Budway, Head of the Economic Governance Unit, OSCE, and to our excellent speakers:\n\n*   Erlin Agich, Associate Anti-Corruption Officer, OSCE\n*   Valentin Draganel, Deputy Head, Financial Intelligence Unit Moldova\n*   Alexandru Donciu, Specialist, Financial Investigations – Virtual Assets, Basel Institute on Governance\n*   Fabrizio Fioroni, AML\u002FCFT Advisor, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)\n*   Michal Gromek, Chair, Digital Assets Task Force, Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   View the recordings: browse the [full playlist](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutube.com\u002Fplaylist?list=PLYRnhpCcnLP8mqlkcvhkC5kNXuX1M7ax4&si=HeEsEW6u_V9OnsCb) or go straight to individual interventions: [Vera Strobachova-Budway](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FPyjFVx3Da1I), [Erlin Agich](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FyxyKjh2qbc0), [Valentin Draganel](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Ffn-P6Q1Q04Y), [Alexandru Donciu](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Fi6AoR2bBGGk), [Fabrizio Fioroni](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002FJCET83V2nFk) and [Michal Gromek](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Fb18ACqpIM64), plus the final [lightning round](https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002Fu61VF8rxR5k).\n*   Sign up to the second joint Basel Institute-OSCE webinar on the role of [investigative journalists in tackling crime linked to virtual assets](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fjournalism_virtualassets), on 2 June 2026.\n*   Read the OSCE’s [Decoding Crypto Crime – A Guide for Law Enforcement](https:\u002F\u002Foceea.osce.org\u002Foceea\u002F587475) in multiple languages.\n*   Learn more about the [OSCE Virtual Assets project](https:\u002F\u002Fprojects.osce.org\u002Fvirtualassets).\n*   Learn about the Global Coalition’s [Digital Asset Task Force](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gcffc.org\u002Fsectors\u002Fdigital-asset-task-force-(datf)) and how you can get involved.\n\nThe Basel Institute’s training opportunities are now open to individuals – learn more about short online courses on [crypto and blockchain compliance](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcrypto-aml-training) and [financial investigations and asset recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fassetrecovery-openenrolment); plus [postgraduate courses on anti-corruption and asset recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fstudy).","2026-05-19","virtual-assets-real-world-crime-and-the-search-for-effective-responses-2967","Virtual assets, real-world crime and the search for effective responses","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fb16bddc0-613b-402f-baca-77cc9a835cd9?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14,175],"Asset Recovery",[177],"Events",[],2967,[14,175],[177],[],[],[],[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fvirtual-assets-real-world-crime-and-the-search-for-effective-responses-2967",{"id":188,"body":189,"status":6,"type":10,"date":190,"slug":191,"title":192,"image":193,"countries":194,"topic":195,"activity":196,"tags":197,"nid":209,"topics":210,"activities":211,"authors":212,"images":213,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":107,"translations":214,"translation_of":24,"user_created":41,"date_created":215,"user_updated":42,"date_updated":216,"content":217,"link":218},10621,"In this article, Celia Lourens examines the role of cross-sectoral trust for a functional business environment. Collective Action, she argues, can be an approach to overcoming trust deficits between relevant stakeholders. Celia Lourens supports the organisation of our 6th International Collective Action Conference.\n\nAt its core, anti-corruption Collective Action is about tackling corruption challenges together, rather than alone. Collective Action is primarily driven by businesses, often in collaboration with government representatives and civil society, to address a shared challenge and attain a common objective.\n\nBuilding trust is one critical element of Collective Action efforts, as it requires a genuine and sustained willingness from all involved stakeholders to collaborate.\n\n### Trust across sectors: the foundation of effective markets\n\nMarkets depend on trust – not only between businesses and their customers or employees and their organisational leadership, but between the institutions that shape the business environment:\n\n*   Business relies on regulatory bodies to create fair and predictable markets.\n*   Governments depend on businesses to act with integrity, beyond merely meeting compliance requirements.\n*   Civil society holds both public and private sectors accountable whilst advancing transparency and public confidence.\n\nWhere these relationships are founded in trust, business ecosystems function more effectively and markets remain stable.\n\nYet, cross-sector trust is increasingly under strain. Geopolitical volatility, tightening regulations and elevated complexity within supply chains are creating distance between the very actors who need to collaborate.\n\n### The cost of low-trust systems\n\nWhen trust between the private sector, government and civil society breaks down, the consequences are immediate: slower transactions, higher compliance costs and due diligence burdens, duplicated oversight and heightened reputational risk. Oversight becomes adversarial, compliance turns reactive and businesses invest more time managing risks than creating value.\n\nIn an era of heightened competitiveness, trust across sectors becomes the most valuable currency. Where it is systemically weak, a vicious cycle takes hold: low trust demands heightened scrutiny and more controls, which in turn erode trust further. Government enforcement of standards becomes inconsistent and civil society turns sceptical rather than being a partner.\n\nBreaking this cycle requires a different approach – one built on shared commitment, sustained engagement and coordinated action. This is where Collective Action comes into play.\n\n### Collective Action as a trust-building mechanism\n\nIn practice, Collective Action enables organisations to jointly raise integrity standards across industries, develop sector-specific norms and tackle systemic risks such as bribery and unethical conduct. Its ultimate objective – and the key incentive to participate in Collective Action initiatives – is to create fairer, more transparent markets where companies can compete on equal terms.\n\nBut beyond its role as an anti-corruption approach, Collective Action also serves as a powerful trust-building mechanism. In a low-trust environment, individual organisations acting ethically on their own can find themselves at a disadvantage. Collective Action changes this dynamic. Shared commitments level the playing field, the involvement of multiple stakeholders builds credibility and joint accountability mechanisms increase transparency.\n\nOver time, this collaborative approach fosters trust where it is hardest to achieve – between actors with different roles, responsibilities and pressures. The result is a shift in systemic behaviour that lowers the cost of doing business and drives a more predictable business environment.\n\n### From compliance to competitive advantage\n\nToo often, doing business with integrity is treated as a compliance obligation rather than a source of competitive advantage. Yet, in high-trust business environments, stronger partnerships and faster decision-making enable organisations to withstand disruptions. Organisations invested in building trust across their business ecosystem are better positioned to navigate complexity and sustain long-term value.\n\nCollective Action supports this shift by helping to shape markets that reward integrity, moving beyond a risk mitigation exercise.\n\n### Building trust in practice\n\nThis is exactly the focus of the [6th International Collective Action Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2026), taking place on 9–10 June 2026 in Basel, Switzerland.\n\nBringing together leaders from business, government and civil society, the conference is designed as a space not just for dialogue, but for practical exchange. It showcases how Collective Action initiatives are being implemented across sectors, what makes them effective and how they can be adapted to different contexts.\n\nThe conference reflects a core conviction: trust across sectors does not happen by default but must be actively built. Organisations that commit to building trust together, as a collective, will not only manage risks more effectively, but help shape a new competitive advantage rooted in integrity.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   [6th International Collective Action Conference 2026](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2026)\n*   [B20 Collective Action Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com)\n*   Working Paper 56: [Anti-corruption Collective Action: A typology for a new era](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fpublications\u002F2397)\n*   Book: [Collective Action in practice: a game-changer for business integrity](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fexplore\u002Fpublications\u002F2407)","2026-04-20","building-trust-how-collective-action-strengthens-business-ecosystems-2959","Building trust: how Collective Action strengthens business ecosystems","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fc470512d-6eaf-404e-86ec-545ebd052655?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[15,153],[19],[198,201,205],{"tags_id":199},{"id":200,"name":15},909,{"tags_id":202},{"id":203,"name":204},830,"Business integrity",{"tags_id":206},{"id":207,"name":208},982,"Anti-corruption",2959,[15,153],[19],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:13:50.000Z","2026-06-05T10:40:20.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbuilding-trust-how-collective-action-strengthens-business-ecosystems-2959",{"id":220,"body":221,"status":6,"type":83,"date":222,"slug":223,"title":224,"image":225,"countries":226,"topic":228,"activity":229,"tags":230,"nid":233,"topics":234,"activities":235,"authors":236,"images":237,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":107,"translations":238,"translation_of":24,"user_created":41,"date_created":239,"user_updated":41,"date_updated":240,"content":241,"link":242},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",[227],7807,[16],[177,94],[231],{"tags_id":232},{"id":56,"name":57},2950,[16],[177,94],[],[],[],"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":244,"body":245,"status":6,"type":10,"date":246,"slug":247,"title":248,"image":249,"countries":250,"topic":251,"activity":252,"tags":253,"nid":254,"topics":255,"activities":257,"authors":258,"images":260,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":107,"translations":261,"translation_of":24,"user_created":41,"date_created":262,"user_updated":263,"date_updated":264,"content":265,"link":266},10608,"_Criminal assets can cross borders in hours, while international asset recovery often struggles to keep pace. The INTERPOL Silver Notice is designed to close this gap by enabling earlier identification and tracing of criminal assets across jurisdictions. Can this new instrument fundamentally change how law enforcement responds to the rapid flight of illicit wealth?_\n\nCriminal funds can be moved across jurisdictions, layered through shell companies or converted into digital assets in a matter of hours. By contrast, international legal cooperation frequently moves at a far slower pace. The mismatch between the speed of asset flight and the pace of enforcement is one of the central reasons why several international bodies estimate that a very high proportion of [criminal assets](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.interpol.int\u002Fen\u002FNews-and-Events\u002FNews\u002F2025\u002FINTERPOL-publishes-first-Silver-Notice-targeting-criminal-assets#:~:text=Valdecy%20Urquiza%2C%20INTERPOL%20Secretary%20General,of%20criminal%20assets%20remain%20unrecovered.) ultimately remain unrecovered.\n\nINTERPOL’s Silver Notices seek to narrow this gap. They provide law enforcement with an early, structured mechanism to identify and trace assets across borders, strengthening one of the weakest stages of asset recovery: the initial [identification of criminal assets](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Finterpols-silver-notice-paving-way-improved-asset-recovery). For practitioners dealing with fraud, corruption, money laundering and organised crime, Silver Notices reflect a shift toward treating asset recovery as an enforcement priority rather than merely a consequence of criminal conviction.\n\n### The state of play\n\nINTERPOL launched the Silver Notice as a pilot initiative in January 2025, involving 52 jurisdictions across all regions. [As of November 2025, 133 Silver Notices and 35 Diffusions had been published](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.interpol.int\u002FNews-and-Events\u002FNews\u002F2025\u002FTogether-Against-Crime-INTERPOL-General-Assembly-approves-blueprint-for-future) at the request of 39 countries, linked to suspected financial harm exceeding EUR 30 billion, according to INTERPOL.\n\nSwitzerland does not currently participate in the pilot and therefore does not issue Silver Notices. However, Swiss authorities may still receive Silver Notices and share information through existing police cooperation channels.\n\nIn November 2025, during the 93rd INTERPOL General Assembly in Marrakech, delegates approved the extension of the Silver Notice pilot, allowing additional jurisdictions to participate. For practitioners, this expansion matters: broader participation directly increases the likelihood that assets can be identified and preserved before they are moved beyond the reach of enforcement authorities.\n\n### What is the Silver Notice?\n\nINTERPOL Notices enable countries to share critical criminal intelligence and request operational assistance across borders. A Silver Notice is a non-coercive intelligence tool designed to support the identification and tracing of assets linked to serious criminal offences. It does not, by itself, authorise the freezing, seizure or confiscation of assets. Any such measures must be taken in accordance with national law and applicable judicial procedures.\n\nIn practice, Silver Notices may be used to:\n\n*   flag bank accounts, real estate, corporate holdings and digital assets;\n*   identify beneficial owners or persons exercising control over assets;\n*   enable secure and structured intelligence sharing between participating jurisdictions.\n\n### From identification to legal action\n\nOne of the most persistent challenges in cross-border asset recovery lies in the slow and often complex operation of Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) mechanisms used to gather evidence or freeze assets. Evidentiary thresholds and procedural requirements vary widely across jurisdictions, and delays in cooperation can allow assets to be dissipated.\n\nWhen a Silver Notice leads to the identification of assets, the jurisdiction in which they are located informs the requesting country and INTERPOL, outlines domestic legal options, and acts within its legal framework. Early bilateral engagement allows investigators and prosecutors to align MLA requests with domestic standards, shortening the transition from intelligence to evidence and from tracing to freezing, helping preserve asset value and improving the prospects of confiscation and victim restitution or compensation.\n\n### Safeguards and limits\n\nBefore any Notice is circulated, it must pass a strict legal compliance review to ensure that it complies with INTERPOL’s Constitution, including the prohibition on matters of a political, military, racial or religious character. These safeguards are essential to maintaining trust between member countries and protecting the system from misuse, particularly in sensitive or high-profile cases.\n\nThe Silver Notice is also deliberately designed to avoid coercive overreach. Key safeguards include:\n\n*   restriction to serious criminal offences;\n*   a requirement for a clear factual link between the assets and suspected criminal conduct;\n*   use within the framework of national legal systems, including judicial or prosecutorial oversight where required.\n\nAt the same time, Silver Notices are not without limitations. For example, in politically sensitive cases, careful scrutiny is required to ensure that asset-tracing requests are not used to advance improper objectives. This makes the robustness and independence of INTERPOL’s compliance review mechanisms particularly important.\n\nUltimately, Silver Notices are not a solution to all asset recovery challenges. Their effectiveness depends on domestic legal framework and the willingness and ability of authorities to act on shared intelligence. They enhance international cooperation, but they do not replace the need for strong national asset recovery regimes or effective MLA processes.\n\n### Closing the enforcement gap\n\nThe speed at which criminal assets move across borders continues to outpace traditional enforcement tools. Silver Notices respond to this challenge by enabling earlier asset tracing and more timely operational engagement between jurisdictions.\n\nMore broadly, Silver Notices reflect an evolving approach to financial crime enforcement that prioritises proactive, intelligence-led intervention over reactive asset recovery at the end of lengthy criminal proceedings. Silver Notices are an enabler, not a shortcut. Used effectively and responsibly, they can strengthen the strategic focus on asset recovery and materially improve the prospects of asset confiscation and victim restitution.\n\n_This blog is also published on the [Hochschule Luzern Economic Crime Blog here](https:\u002F\u002Fhub.hslu.ch\u002Feconomiccrime\u002F?p=6536)._","2026-03-16","interpol-silver-notices-speeding-up-the-tracing-of-criminal-assets-2944","INTERPOL Silver Notices: Speeding up the tracing of criminal assets","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fdaf2f81c-8270-46aa-93a2-3a8a469a7420?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14,175],[19],[],2944,[14,256],"Asset Recovery and Enforcement",[19],[259],1371,[],[],"2026-04-15T22:45:19.000Z","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6","2026-05-29T22:22:40.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Finterpol-silver-notices-speeding-up-the-tracing-of-criminal-assets-2944",{"id":268,"body":269,"status":6,"type":83,"date":270,"slug":271,"title":272,"image":273,"countries":274,"topic":275,"activity":276,"tags":277,"nid":278,"topics":279,"activities":280,"authors":281,"images":282,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":107,"translations":283,"translation_of":24,"user_created":41,"date_created":284,"user_updated":24,"date_updated":24,"content":285,"link":286},10610,"Nominations are now open for the [International Anti-Corruption Collective Action Awards 2026](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fawards\u002F), recognising organisations and initiatives that demonstrate leadership, impact and innovation in advancing Collective Action to prevent corruption and strengthen business integrity.\n\nThe awards will be presented at the [International Collective Action Conference 2026](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fregistration-open-6th-international-collective-action-conference), taking place on 9–10 June 2026 in Basel, Switzerland.\n\nOrganisations and initiatives can submit their nomination for two award categories:\n\n*   Gretta Fenner Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action 2026 – acknowledging significant contributions towards fairer market conditions and the prevention of corruption through engagement in Collective Action.\n*   Collective Action Inspirational Newcomer 2026 – showcase accomplishments of initiatives that have been active in the field of anti-corruption Collective Action for less than two years.\n\nNomination are open until 27 March 2026.\n\nThe anti-corruption Collective Action Awards are non-monetary and will only be granted to organisations, not individuals. \n\n### Selection process\n\nEligible nominations will be reviewed by an international jury of experts. The three highest-scoring initiatives in each category will be shortlisted as finalists. Winners will then be determined through a combined vote of the jury and the public, with each jury member and the public vote carrying equal weight.\n\nPublic voting will take place online and will be anonymous. \n\n#### Jury members\n\nThe 2026 jury includes:\n\n*   Nathalie Delapalme, Chief Executive Officer of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation\n*   Nicola Bonucci, Board Member of the Basel Institute on Governance and former Director for Legal Affairs at the OECD\n*   Rhoda Weeks-Brown, Founder and CEO of Cape Palmas Global Advisors LLC and former General Counsel of the IMF\n\nThe awards are presented with the support of the [Siemens Integrity Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fbasel-institute-awarded-new-siemens-integrity-initiative-evolve-funding-advance-global).\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   For more information on the eligibility criteria, the selection process and the public vote, see our [award methodology](https:\u002F\u002Fb20-dev.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fa54d560f-0d11-439a-ac88-8bf89a6a2120).\n*   Learn more on the [B20 Collective Action Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F), the Basel Institute's platform for knowledge and engagement on anti-corruption Collective Action.","2026-03-04","international-collective-action-awards-2026-nominations-open-2941","International Collective Action Awards 2026: nominations open","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F7d9267b4-5c9c-4c0d-81a2-a1ca5c34eaa9?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[15,153],[177],[],2941,[15,153],[177],[],[],[],"2026-04-15T22:45:21.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Finternational-collective-action-awards-2026-nominations-open-2941",{"id":288,"body":289,"status":6,"type":10,"date":290,"slug":291,"title":292,"image":293,"countries":294,"topic":296,"activity":297,"tags":298,"nid":299,"topics":300,"activities":301,"authors":302,"images":303,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":107,"translations":304,"translation_of":24,"user_created":41,"date_created":305,"user_updated":263,"date_updated":306,"content":307,"link":308},10599,"Women can play a crucial role in the fight against corruption. This is the conviction that underpins the work of [SPAK Indonesia](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.spakindonesia.org\u002F), the organisation awarded Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action at the [International Collective Action Awards 2025](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Fawards-2025\u002Fawards).\n\nBut why women, specifically? Because of their central role in transmitting moral and ethical values within their families and communities, shaping society from the inside.\n\nOriginated from the SPAK movement (\"I am a Woman Against Corruption\"), SPAK Indonesia has, for over a decade, systematised and built anti-corruption ecosystems through a network of “agents”: women from diverse backgrounds who promote integrity values across different private and public contexts.\n\nThe Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action award they received is a well-deserved recognition of their leadership, impact and innovation in corruption.\n\nIn this interview, Maria Kresentia, Director of SPAK Indonesia, reflects on how the organisation operates, the challenges it has encountered and the strategies that have enabled it to sustain this work. \n\n### SPAK is known for empowering women and communities to fight corruption through education and everyday actions. Can you briefly explain how your approach works in practice and what makes it effective?\n\nCorruption is often viewed as something distant from oneself, as many people still believe that corruption is committed only by government officials. Addressing corruption is also often considered solely the responsibility of law enforcement authorities. SPAK takes a different approach by demonstrating that violations of moral and ethical values that become habitual are the starting point of larger corrupt practices.\n\nTherefore, corruption becomes everyone’s concern, and its prevention can begin with each individual through the implementation of anti-corruption values in everyday life.\n\nWomen play a strategic role in promoting integrity and ethical behaviour. As primary caregivers, they are often the first to introduce moral and ethical values to the next generation. \n\nIn the Indonesian context, women also benefit from strong social participation and community access. These factors enable women to serve as effective agents in disseminating anti-corruption values at both household and community levels.\n\nTo facilitate this role, SPAK has developed anti-corruption learning tools in the form of board games designed for different age groups. This approach has proven effective in fostering behavioural change through women-led corruption prevention initiatives.\n\n### Your work relies strongly on collaboration between citizens, schools, civil society and public institutions. Why is Collective Action so important for fighting corruption in Indonesia?\n\nAll Indonesian citizens have a responsibility to combat corruption. Under the SPAK approach, awareness of moral and ethical values as the foundation of anti-corruption principles must be instilled in everyone, regardless of rank or authority.\n\nWhile law enforcement remains important, building a society that is committed to anti-corruption values is equally critical to prevention efforts. This can only be achieved through coordinated actions among institutions and communities.\n\n### Looking back over the past years, what has been one of the biggest challenges SPAK has faced in building and maintaining this movement, and how did you overcome it?\n\nOne of the challenges is that prevention-oriented anti-corruption initiatives that centre on moral and ethical values are often underestimated and considered insufficiently newsworthy, causing stories of positive behavioural change to be overlooked by the media.\n\nOn the other hand, coverage of corrupt officials being arrested is generally viewed as more compelling than stories of teachers in remote elementary schools who refuse gifts from students in order to uphold the principle of fairness.\n\nTo address this challenge, SPAK consistently involves the media in its programmes, encouraging coverage that highlights how the application of anti-corruption values leads to meaningful change.\n\nSecuring funding support also remains challenging, as many institutions seek quick and measurable results. In response, SPAK proactively fosters collaboration with ministries, government bodies, local governments, the private sector and educational institutions to advance integrity-building efforts that are vital to strengthening Indonesia’s human capital.\n\nFinally, mobilising young people to take part in corruption prevention efforts, starting with the cultivation of anti-corruption values, is challenging, as youth are often more interested in dramatic and confrontational actions such as demonstrations that may lead to violence.\n\nTo channel this energy constructively, SPAK facilitates online, inter-campus discussions on up-to-date issues, inviting respected and influential speakers.\n\nBy embedding anti-corruption values within these discussions, SPAK successfully engages students in meaningful dialogue while strengthening their understanding of integrity as a key solution to corruption.\n\n### What does winning the Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action Award mean for SPAK Indonesia and the women in your network who have been working on anti-corruption for over a decade?\n\nReceiving this award is evidence that Indonesian women – regardless of their educational background or profession – are capable of building networks to drive change in the context of combating corruption.\n\nAfter receiving this international recognition, what are SPAK’s main priorities for the next phase of your work, and how do you hope the award will support your future plans?\n\nSPAK will remain committed to promoting anti-corruption values, which we consider essential in the fight against corruption in Indonesia. We seek to inspire more role models across government, private and educational institutions who are willing to lead change.\n\nThe awards we have received have strengthened our confidence that collaboration is the best way to build and expand an anti-corruption movement in society.\n\nThank you, Maria Kresentia for this enlightening conversation!\n\n### About the International Collective Action Awards\n\nThe International Collective Action Awards are awarded every year and acknowledge initiatives that showcase outstanding results, emerging best practices and innovation in the field of Collective Action to tackle corruption and raise standards of business integrity.\n\nThe Basel Institute on Governance, supported by an international jury of experts and a public vote, will present two Collective Action Awards at [6th International Collective Action Conference 2026](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2026).\n\n*   Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action: This award recognises organisations or initiatives that have made a significant contribution to fairer market conditions and the prevention of corruption through sustained and effective engagement in Collective Action.\n*   Collective Action Inspirational Newcomer: This award recognises organisations or initiatives that have been active in the field of Collective Action for less than two years and have shown strong potential to inspire others through their approach and early impact.\n\nNominations for the 2026 Awards are opened. For more information on the eligibility criteria, the selection process and the public vote, read the [award methodology](https:\u002F\u002Fb20-dev.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fa54d560f-0d11-439a-ac88-8bf89a6a2120) or visit the [Collective Action website](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fawards). The awards are presented with the support of the [Siemens Integrity Initiative](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.siemens.com\u002Fglobal\u002Fen\u002Fcompany\u002Fabout\u002Fcompliance\u002Fcollective-action.html#SiemensIntegrityInitiativePuttingCollectiveActionintopractice).","2026-02-27","the-power-of-women-as-agents-of-anti-corruption-qampa-with-spak-indonesia-2928","The power of women as agents of anti-corruption: Q&A with SPAK Indonesia","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F34519ca2-407d-4b49-90a0-88970e8636d7?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[295],7803,[15],[155],[],2928,[15],[],[],[],[],"2026-02-27T15:07:16.000Z","2026-04-15T22:28:53.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fthe-power-of-women-as-agents-of-anti-corruption-qampa-with-spak-indonesia-2928",{"id":310,"body":311,"status":6,"type":83,"date":312,"slug":313,"title":314,"image":315,"countries":316,"topic":318,"activity":319,"tags":320,"nid":321,"topics":322,"activities":323,"authors":324,"images":325,"websites":24,"area":24,"programme":24,"language":107,"translations":326,"translation_of":24,"user_created":41,"date_created":327,"user_updated":41,"date_updated":328,"content":329,"link":330},10601,"The only international anti-corruption Collective Action Conference is back!\n\nAre you working on corruption prevention in the private sector, government, civil society or academia?\n\nThen join us for the sixth edition of this biannual landmark event on 9–10 June in Basel, Switzerland.\n\nOver one and a half days of expert sessions, fireside chats and networking, we’ll bring together practitioners from around the world to build and strengthen communities of practice in Collective Action.\n\nThis edition will focus on concrete measures to make markets fairer and more transparent – with a strong hands-on approach:\n\n*   What does Collective Action look like in practice, and what makes it work?\n*   How can a multi-stakeholder approach help organisations respond more effectively to global business challenges?\n\nThe 6th International Collective Action Conference is supported by the Siemens Integrity Initiative. Participation is free of charge, but places are limited and subject to approval. \n\nLearn more on the [official event page on the B20 Collective Action Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fget-involved\u002Fevents\u002Ficac-2026) and [submit your registration request here](https:\u002F\u002Fdocs.google.com\u002Fforms\u002Fd\u002Fe\u002F1FAIpQLSeoO9mw-xZxNATMMIIr7vPqUqBPEWuOXW-AT2t3WXiYYMysaw\u002Fviewform).\n\n### Sponsorship opportunities\n\nWe are seeking a limited number of sponsors to support the conference and help advance practical, multi-stakeholder approaches to business integrity and anti-corruption. [See more information on sponsorship options and benefits](https:\u002F\u002Fb20-dev.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fb9939e69-4813-4b44-903e-2ab705068d45) and don't hesitate to get in touch.","2026-02-16","registration-open-6th-international-collective-action-conference-2933","Registration open: 6th International Collective Action Conference","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F40e65081-b8a4-44f9-b6d1-b16f6a5083be?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[317],7804,[15,153],[177,94],[],2933,[15,153],[177,94],[],[],[],"2026-02-27T15:07:17.000Z","2026-02-27T15:07:18.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fregistration-open-6th-international-collective-action-conference-2933",{"left":332,"top":332,"width":333,"height":333,"rotate":332,"vFlip":334,"hFlip":334,"body":335},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>",1780676401292]