[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":314},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-type-2473":3,"news-type-2473-similar":26,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":309},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":9,"date":11,"topic":12,"slug":14,"activity":15,"nid":16,"topics":17,"activities":18,"programme":8,"area":8,"websites":8,"language":19,"image":8,"translation_of":8,"countries":20,"tags":21,"authors":22,"images":23,"translations":24,"content":25},10631,"published","2026-06-04T21:14:03.000Z",null,"Type","News","2023-06-22",[13],"","type-2473",[13],2473,[],[],"English",[],[],[],[],[],[],[27,64,95,121,142,178,197,236,276],{"id":28,"body":29,"status":6,"type":10,"date":30,"slug":31,"title":32,"image":33,"countries":34,"topic":36,"activity":38,"tags":40,"nid":49,"topics":50,"activities":52,"authors":53,"images":54,"websites":55,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":8,"translations":57,"translation_of":8,"user_created":58,"date_created":59,"user_updated":60,"date_updated":61,"content":62,"link":63},10404,"Mozambique faces critical infrastructure challenges – and opportunities – across all areas of its economy.\n\nYet the type of high-value procurement and infrastructure projects needed to boost development in the country are well known to be vulnerable to corruption. Risk factors include the high complexity, large transactions and multi-party negotiations that require close cooperation between the public and private sectors.\n\nTo ensure procurement projects are not hijacked by corrupt interests, law enforcement officials need specific training to identify and investigate corruption and, if necessary, to recover stolen funds.\n\n### Gaining specialised knowledge\n\nFrom 6-9 November 2023, 23 anti-corruption practitioners took part in ICAR's specialised [training programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery\u002Ftraining-programmes) on \"Corruption in Infrastructure Projects and Procurement\" at the Prosecutor General's Office in Maputo, Mozambique.\n\nICAR experts Phyllis Atkinson, Tom Walugembe and Emmanuel Mringo explored the most common fraudulent practices in procurement and infrastructure projects together with participants. In Mozambique as elsewhere, these include non-compliance with contract specifications, inflated invoices, product substitution, false claims and over-invoicing.\n\nThe sessions led into interactive workshops and a simulated corruption case which participants investigated in teams.\n\n### Learning through investigation\n\nICAR courses allow participants to test out new knowledge and receive real-time feedback on their evolving skills by investigating a simulated case of public procurement corruption.\n\nIn this course, a simulated case in a road construction project tested participants' ability to identify the \"red flags\" that can reveal a corruption scheme such as bid rigging, collusive bidding, fraud, conflict of interest, bribery and kickbacks.\n\nParticipants found the learning structure helpful, with one stating:\n\n> The methodology used for the course was excellent. The explanations in the presentations were directly relevant to the practical exercise. I will apply these new skills when investigating cases of corruption and the embezzlement of state funds.\n\nICAR’s \"learning by doing” approach means that participants are able to quickly apply new skills and easily transfer them to their daily work. As another participant noted:\n\n> The training was excellent. It connects with very pertinent aspects of my day-to-day work. That means I was able to acquire more skills and investigative methodologies in the various legal types of crime that were covered here. This will enable me to achieve better results.\n\n### Constructing the local context\n\nThe participants' presentations at the end of the training demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the various offences common to public procurement corruption cases, such as abuse of office, passive corruption, embezzlement and money laundering. Importantly, their new knowledge was tailored to the local context, taking into account Mozambican law and procedures.\n\nIdentifying and confiscating illicit assets was also a major focus of the training, through the use of both criminal\u002Fextended forfeiture laws and in the future, we hope, new [civil forfeiture](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fmozambique-drafts-new-civil-confiscation-law-boost-recovery-stolen-assets) mechanisms. The successful implementation of these mechanisms is crucial to preventing future corruption in infrastructure and procurement.\n\n### Learn more\n\n*   Learn more about [ICAR’s training programmes](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery\u002Ftraining-programmes) and team.\n*   The training programme was delivered in the context of a long-running partnership with the Attorney General’s Office of Mozambique that started in 2019 and is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Through a local team of field experts, we provide technical assistance and ongoing capacity building to law enforcement and judicial practitioners in investigating financial crimes and recovering illicit assets. Mozambique is also at the heart of a new Knowledge Community on Asset Recovery that arose from the ICAR-organised [Lisbon Conference](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Flisbon-conference-2022-lusophone-countries-come-together-expand-asset-recovery-toolbox) in 2022.","2023-11-15","building-integrity-from-the-ground-up-in-mozambique-training-programme-2538","Building integrity from the ground up in Mozambique: training programme","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fa49376d4-a5ca-49b3-8ffb-7f28ebd58c07?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[35],7149,[37],"Asset Recovery",[39],"Training",[41,45],{"tags_id":42},{"id":43,"name":44},1113,"Infrastructure",{"tags_id":46},{"id":47,"name":48},1378,"Public financial management",2538,[51],"Asset Recovery and Enforcement",[39],[],[],[56],"Main page",[],"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","2023-11-15T11:01:31.000Z","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6","2026-05-29T22:22:28.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbuilding-integrity-from-the-ground-up-in-mozambique-training-programme-2538",{"id":65,"body":66,"status":6,"type":67,"date":68,"slug":69,"title":70,"image":71,"countries":72,"topic":74,"activity":78,"tags":80,"nid":83,"topics":84,"activities":85,"authors":86,"images":87,"websites":88,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":8,"translations":89,"translation_of":8,"user_created":58,"date_created":90,"user_updated":91,"date_updated":92,"content":93,"link":94},9644,"\u003Cvideo controls=\"controls\" height=\"480\" width=\"640\">\u003Csource src=\"\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2020-12\u002FHLRM_Bogota%20Metro.mp4\" type=\"video\u002Fmp4\">\u003C\u002Fvideo>\n\nIn this short video, Gabriel Cifuentes, former Secretary of Transparency in the Office of the President in Colombia, talks about his experience in implementing the second High Level Reporting Mechanism (HLRM) to ensure a clean procurement process for the construction of the Bogotá Metro.\n\nDeveloped by the Basel Institute on Governance, OECD and Transparency International, the HLRM is a preventive tool that acts as an early warning system in connection with potential corruption. Acting as a complement to institutions and legal systems, it provides an alternative dispute resolution process in high-value procurement and infrastructure projects.\n\nVariations on the HLRM have been implemented in several sectors and the Basel Institute continues to work closely with the OECD to support its adaptation and implementation in countries across Latin America, Central Europe and Asia.\n\nYou can find out more in the [HLRM resource section](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm) of the B20 Collective Action Hub. But first, watch the short video or read the transcript of Gabriel Cifuentes’ recommendations below:\n\n> Colombia was one of the first countries to implement this instrument back in 2015. We had a pilot experience in one of the biggest procurement processes led by the National Infrastructure Agency. Then we had a second implementation of the HLRM in 2018, with the Bogotá Metro project. This was the biggest infrastructure project in Colombia and one of the biggest in Latin America.\n> \n> On this occasion, we implemented the HLRM with the lessons learned from the experience we had in 2015. I believe these lessons are very useful for the processes that are going on around the world and in other countries.\n> \n> First, there is no cookie-cutter model of a HLRM. Each HLRM depends on the context in which it is applied - and that means political context, legal context and social context. This is very important because the experiences you may learn from other countries may be useful in part or in full depending on the context in which you are applying this mechanism.\n> \n> Second, expectations must be managed. The HLRM is not a judicial mechanism. The HLRM is a very useful tool to prevent corruption, but it is not a vaccine. It doesn't absolutely shield corruption cases, which may depend on external variables that affect the procurement or tender process.\n> \n> Third, the HLRM requires political will at the highest level. In order for it to work, it requires the political commitment to put in place a mechanism or instrument that will be able to raise red flags about possible corruption or situations that may lead to corruption. As you may know, the HLRM is applied in the biggest tenders or procurement processes, in which different interests – political, social and economic interests – may converge or may not converge.\n> \n> The fourth lesson learned is that this mechanism is very useful to build trust between the parties. Not only between the private actors and public actors, but also between the different private actors that are involved in the procurement and tender process.\n> \n> Fifth, the mechanism must work very quickly - in real time. If there is a delay in the reception of the information, the processing of the information and providing the necessary recommendation, this mechanism will not work. The HLRM is applied in a very specific part of the procurement process, namely the tender process. If the mechanism doesn't work and is not agile, its purpose will be void.\n> \n> Lastly, it is important to consider the financing of the HRLM. It may depend on each context, but in my advice, in order for it to be fully independent I would not make it depend on public resources. It should be financed by the budget allocated in the procurement or tender process as such. This budget must be used to hire experts in financial, legal and technical issues.\n> \n> All in all, the HLRM is a very useful tool to prevent corruption. But it must be managed in terms of expectations and in the faith you put in it. Also, you have to find independent ways to finance it. You have to act very quickly.\n> \n> And remember: each context is different and each country may find its own way to interpret and implement the HLRM.\n\n### More on the HLRM\n\n*   [High Level Reporting Mechanism resources and case studies](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm)\n*   [New OECD study on how to implement a HLRM for clean, transparent public procurement](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fnew-oecd-study-how-implement-hlrm-clean-transparent-public-procurement), a guest article by William Loo and Elisabeth Danon of the OECD Anti-Corruption Division\n*   [Clean procurement in times of covid-19 – transparency and the High Level Reporting Mechanism](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fclean-procurement-times-covid-19-transparency-and-high-level-reporting-mechanism), by Vanessa Hans","Blog","2020-12-11","gabriel-cifuentes-on-the-high-level-reporting-mechanism-quotnot-a-vaccine-against-corruption-but-a-very-useful-tool-for-clean-procurementquot-1942","Gabriel Cifuentes on the High Level Reporting Mechanism: \"Not a vaccine against corruption, but a very useful tool for clean procurement\"","\u002Fpics\u002Fimg-placeholder.png",[73],7364,[75,76,77],"Collective Action","HLRM","Private Sector",[79],"Anti-corruption interventions",[81],{"tags_id":82},{"id":47,"name":48},1942,[75,76,77],[79],[],[],[56,75],[],"2022-05-26T22:53:42.000Z","dfef11db-1bc6-47e9-a61d-93443995484b","2026-05-08T21:11:03.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fgabriel-cifuentes-on-the-high-level-reporting-mechanism-quotnot-a-vaccine-against-corruption-but-a-very-useful-tool-for-clean-procurementquot-1942",{"id":96,"body":97,"status":6,"type":10,"date":98,"slug":99,"title":100,"image":101,"countries":102,"topic":103,"activity":104,"tags":105,"nid":109,"topics":110,"activities":111,"authors":112,"images":113,"websites":114,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":8,"translations":115,"translation_of":8,"user_created":58,"date_created":116,"user_updated":117,"date_updated":118,"content":119,"link":120},9829,"The International Centre for Collective Action (ICCA) has launched two projects to bolster the evidence base and business case for two different types of Collective Action initiatives: Integrity Pacts and Certification Initiatives.\n\nWith financial support from the KBA-NotaSys Integrity Fund, the projects involve analysis and sharing of lessons learned. Findings and new resources on Integrity Pacts and Certification Initiatives will be added to the ICCA’s [B20 Collective Action Hub](\u002Fnode\u002F1095).\n\n### About Integrity Pacts and Certification Initiatives\n\nIntegrity Pacts and Certification Initiatives are different approaches to anti-corruption Collective Action that share a common feature: some form of external oversight or monitoring of anti-corruption common standards. \n\n*   Integrity Pacts are agreements between government procurement authorities and bidding companies that commit all parties to refrain from bribery, corruption or collusion and appoint a monitor to oversee the tender process. [Find out more about Integrity Pacts](\u002Fnode\u002F1526) on the B20 Collective Action Hub.\n*   Certification Initiatives typically establish common anti-corruption policies and standards that all members must incorporate into their compliance management systems. They then require that initiative members obtain external assurance that they are sufficiently respecting these standards.\n\n_“The majority of Collective Action initiatives rely on voluntary commitments to anti-corruption standards without any oversight, but we are increasingly hearing a greater interest in moving towards Collective Action initiatives that have more teeth,”_ said Gemma Aiolfi, Head of Compliance, Corporate Governance and Collective Action at the Basel Institute on Governance.\n\n_“Integrity Pacts and Certification Initiatives are two different means to meet this end. We are grateful to the KBA-NotaSys Integrity Fund for their support to launch these new projects.”_\n\n### About the KBA-NotaSys Integrity Fund\n\nKBA-NotaSys AG is a Swiss company that is a global provider of high security printing solutions, including secure banknotes since 1952. It established the [KBA-NotaSys Integrity Fund](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.integrityfund.ch\u002F) in 2017 to promote ethical behaviour, transparency and compliance in business and, in particular, in the securities and banknote printing industry.","2019-07-23","new-collective-action-projects-on-integrity-pacts-and-certification-initiatives-960","New Collective Action projects on Integrity Pacts and Certification Initiatives","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fe18942d1-3535-46b3-9da2-5add56b27072?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[75,77],[79],[106],{"tags_id":107},{"id":108,"name":75},909,960,[75,77],[79],[],[],[56,75],[],"2022-05-26T22:56:16.000Z","b0662e2a-864d-4888-a1b7-4342b7570b30","2025-08-31T23:14:59.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fnew-collective-action-projects-on-integrity-pacts-and-certification-initiatives-960",{"id":122,"body":123,"status":6,"type":10,"date":124,"slug":125,"title":126,"image":71,"countries":127,"topic":128,"activity":129,"tags":130,"nid":131,"topics":132,"activities":133,"authors":134,"images":135,"websites":136,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":8,"translations":137,"translation_of":8,"user_created":58,"date_created":138,"user_updated":60,"date_updated":139,"content":140,"link":141},10201,"Video file \u003Cvideo controls=\"controls\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\">\u003Csource src=\"\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2019-02\u002Fassetsforimpact.mp4\" type=\"video\u002Fmp4\">\u003C\u002Fvideo>\n\nThe Basel Institute on Governance supports the [\"Assets for Impact\" campaign](http:\u002F\u002Fassetsforimpact.org\u002F), which aims to promote the use of recovered assets for development initiatives.\n\nThe campaign seeks to advocate for governments, civil society, and other partners to work together to return assets in ways that address national development priorities, are fully transparent and accountable, and that rebuild trust, strengthen public services, and benefit those most affected by corruption.","2014-11-05","short-film-on-returning-stolen-assets-348","Short film on returning stolen assets",[],[37],[13],[],348,[51],[],[],[],[56],[],"2022-05-26T22:59:26.000Z","2026-05-29T22:22:18.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fshort-film-on-returning-stolen-assets-348",{"id":143,"body":144,"status":6,"type":67,"date":145,"slug":146,"title":147,"image":148,"countries":149,"topic":151,"activity":153,"tags":157,"nid":166,"topics":167,"activities":168,"authors":169,"images":171,"websites":172,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":8,"translations":173,"translation_of":8,"user_created":58,"date_created":174,"user_updated":117,"date_updated":175,"content":176,"link":177},10351,"\u003Cvideo width=\"620\" height=\"440\" controls>\n  \u003Csource src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Fc315a766-6b2a-4f99-84cb-fe855bd087c7\" type=\"video\u002Fmp4\">\n  \u003Csource src=\"movie.ogg\" type=\"video\u002Fogg\">\n  Your browser does not support the video tag.\n\u003C\u002Fvideo>\n\n*The Basel Institute has published a comprehensive new analysis of corruption and illegal logging in Ukraine. Juhani Grossmann, who leads the Basel Institute’s Green Corruption programme, explains what it covers and why the report comes at a crucial time for Ukraine and its partners.*\n\nUkrainian forests cover over 10 million hectares – about the size of Iceland, or 2.5 times the size of Switzerland – mainly in the western and northern parts of Ukraine. Their preservation is key for the rich ecosystems and climate benefits that Ukrainian forests represent and the communities that depend on them.\n\nEconomically, the full-scale Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022 has drastically heightened the relative value of the previously under-utilised role that forests play in the national economy.\n\nThis is because Ukraine’s main industrial areas are located in occupied and fought-over territories and a large share have thus become dysfunctional. Forests, thankfully, are largely located in the “safe” areas of Ukraine and thus remain a largely intact resource.\n\n## Corruption: an ever-present threat to Ukraine’s forests\nContinued attacks on civilian infrastructure are creating high demand for forest products to generate heat and be used in reconstruction efforts. The Ukrainian Government has recognised the sector’s increased importance by creating a new state-owned enterprise, Forests of Ukraine.\n\nHowever, corruption still fails to appear at the core of the discussions in the governance of the forestry sector.\n\nIn this regard, Ukraine is unfortunately no different from many of the other countries in which the Basel Institute’s [Green Corruption programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) operates: environmental corruption prevention efforts are a low priority everywhere.\n\nFor Ukraine’s forests to play their role in its reconstruction, significant reforms are needed: both its sustainability and governance are currently insufficient to meet this challenge.\n- Without sustainability, any short-term benefits of exploiting forests will be outweighed by the long-term harm to Ukraine’s environment and economy.\n- Without solid governance systems, corruption could undermine even short-term reconstruction benefits.\n\n## First Environmental Corruption Deep Dive\nThe report, in English and Ukrainian, is the first in a new Environmental Corruption Deep Dive series of research papers by the Basel Institute on Governance. The research series is funded by the Principality of Liechtenstein, which provides core funding to the Basel Institute's[ Green Corruption programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption).\n\nIt seeks to take systematic stock of the pre-war governance and corruption issues in Ukraine’s forestry sector. It reveals significant challenges as governance reforms have not yet had a significant effect.\n\nConsidering that the EU is tightening its transparency and sustainability requirements for forestry products, and that the EU makes up the majority of Ukraine’s wood products exports, these reforms are increasingly urgent to ensure this vital market remains accessible.\n\nThis report identifies a typology of the main corruption patterns that enable illegal logging, involving both private actors and culprits within national authorities.\n\nIt illuminates, among other corruption patterns, the challenge of corruptly obtained permits allowing illegally sourced wood to be sold and exported “legally” and contributing to the governance issues. And it proposes targeted recommendations for European authorities, Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada and Cabinet of Ministers, and relevant Ukrainian government agencies.\n\n## Building back greener\nWe urge all actors to come to the table at this critical time and take stock of corruption challenges and anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine’s forestry sector so far. And, based on their knowledge, to play their parts to ensure that Ukraine’s forestry sector does not become the reconstruction effort’s Achilles’ heel.\n\nIt is our hope that this pre-war stock-taking will enable Ukraine to rebuild back better and greener. \n\nDownload and launch event\n- [Download the report](publications\u002Fdeepdive1-ukraine) in English and Ukrainian.\n- View a summary of the [launch event](\u002Fnews\u002Ffresh-hope-for-ukraines-forests-2442) on Wednesday, 5 April 2023.","2023-03-22","how-corruption-threatens-the-forests-of-ukraine-launch-of-environmental-corruption-deep-dive-report-2411","How corruption threatens the forests of Ukraine: launch of Environmental Corruption Deep Dive report","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Faf51d775-62ce-4251-ae60-42351cfd5a5d?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[150],6920,[152],"Green Corruption",[154,155,156],"Research","Reports","Insights",[158,162],{"tags_id":159},{"id":160,"name":161},804,"Natural resources",{"tags_id":163},{"id":164,"name":165},1303,"Environment",2411,[152],[154,155,156],[170],997,[],[56],[],"2023-03-22T17:01:28.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:40.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fhow-corruption-threatens-the-forests-of-ukraine-launch-of-environmental-corruption-deep-dive-report-2411",{"id":179,"body":180,"status":6,"type":67,"date":181,"slug":182,"title":183,"image":71,"countries":184,"topic":185,"activity":186,"tags":187,"nid":188,"topics":189,"activities":190,"authors":191,"images":192,"websites":8,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":19,"translations":193,"translation_of":8,"user_created":58,"date_created":194,"user_updated":8,"date_updated":8,"content":195,"link":196},10630,"\u003Ciframe width=\"100%\" height=\"600\" title=\"Basel Institue 20th anniversary\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fembed.timepath.co\u002Fembed\u002Ffree?type=timeline\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>(function(){window.onmessage=(e)=>{if ( e.origin===\"[https:\u002F\u002Fembed.timepath.co](https:\u002F\u002Fembed.timepath.co)\" && e.data.hasOwnProperty(\"frameHeight\") ){document.getElementById(e.data.timelineId).height=\\`${e.data.frameHeight}\\`;}};})();","2023-11-28","timeline-test-blog-2544","timeline test blog",[],[13],[13],[],2544,[],[],[],[],[],"2026-06-04T21:14:01.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Ftimeline-test-blog-2544",{"id":198,"body":199,"status":6,"type":10,"date":200,"slug":201,"title":202,"image":203,"countries":204,"topic":205,"activity":206,"tags":208,"nid":225,"topics":226,"activities":227,"authors":228,"images":229,"websites":230,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":8,"translations":231,"translation_of":8,"user_created":58,"date_created":232,"user_updated":60,"date_updated":233,"content":234,"link":235},9516,"[_Versión en español aquí._](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fenriquecimiento-ilicito-libro-de-acceso-abierto-dedicado-las-leyes-sobre-enriquecimiento)\n\nWe are delighted to announce that our open-access book, [_Illicit Enrichment: A Guide to Laws Targeting Unexplained Wealth_](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fillicit-enrichment-guide-laws-targeting-unexplained-wealth) by Andrew Dornbierer is now available in [Spanish](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fenriquecimiento-ilicito-una-guia-sobre-las-leyes-que-abordan-los-activos-de).\n\nThe book explores the rapid growth of illicit enrichment (unexplained wealth) legislation around the world and its use to target corruption and recover illicitly obtained assets.\n\nLike the original English version, it is a peer-reviewed publication that is freely available to read, download and share at [illicitenrichment.baselgovernance.org](https:\u002F\u002Fillicitenrichment.baselgovernance.org\u002F).\n\n### Targeting unexplained wealth in the Spanish-speaking world\n\nMany Spanish-speaking countries have drafted and introduced illicit enrichment legislation to target corruption. These laws are particularly prevalent in South and Central America, where [25 countries](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002Fmod\u002Fdata\u002Fview.php?id=2033) have already enacted some form of this type of law.\n\nWhile some countries have had success using these laws – such as Argentina and Mexico – other countries seem hesitant to consistently enforce these laws. Most of these countries have never actually used their laws at all.\n\nThis is a common problem throughout the world. Why? One reason is that there isn’t a significant amount of commentary and guidance regarding how these laws can be drafted, investigated, prosecuted and adjudicated.\n\n_Enriquecimiento ilícito: una guía sobre las leyes que abordan los activos de procedencia inexplicable_ will provide much-needed guidance to Spanish-speaking law enforcement agencies throughout the Americas region. It will also provide some foundational knowledge to practitioners regarding the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of these laws.\n\n### The challenge of translating concepts, laws and practice\n\nThis book was translated from English into Spanish by [Pantoglot, Ltda](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pantoglot.com\u002Fen\u002F). The translation was reviewed by Sandra Comesaña of [Hengeler Mueller](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.hengeler.com\u002Fen), a leading international corporate and white-collar law firm based in Germany. Commenting on the experience, she said:\n\n> Andrew Dornbierer's and the Basel Institutes's work on _Illicit Enrichment_ is an important contribution to the international effort of detecting, sanctioning and eventually preventing corruption and other financial crimes by \"going after the money\". The book's practical guidance on asset recovery in more than 100 jurisdictions is an invaluable tool for practitioners from both the private and public sectors and academics alike that is now finally available in Spanish, facilitating ready access for individuals and institutions specifically from the Spanish and Latin American markets.\n> \n> Hengeler Mueller is grateful for having had the opportunity to contribute to the Spanish version. Hengeler Mueller regularly advises international clients in various matters involving complex questions of multi-jurisdictional asset recovery both on its own and together especially with the members of its Best Friends network of Europe's leading independent law firms.\n\nThe pro-bono support for the translation review was facilitated by [The Academy of Financial Crime Litigators](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.financialcrimelitigators.org\u002F), an independent, non-partisan global centre that shapes and advances financial crime litigation practices for the future.\n\n### About the book\n\nPublished in English by the Basel Institute on Governance in June 2021, _Illicit Enrichment_ by Senior Asset Recovery Specialist Andrew Dornbierer features:\n\n*   Extensive analysis of jurisprudence and cases from around the world\n*   Tables, flow charts and graphics explaining key concepts\n*   Discussion of common questions and challenges\n*   Contributions from practitioners around the world, including a discussion of the introduction and evolution of Peru’s criminal illicit enrichment offence by Dr. Alcides Chinchay, a Senior Prosecutor of the Peruvian Public Prosecutor’s Office.\n*   [Annex 1](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fcompilation-illicit-enrichment-legislation-and-other-relevant-legislation): A collection of laws from 103 jurisdictions, also as an online [database](https:\u002F\u002Flearn.baselgovernance.org\u002Fmod\u002Fdata\u002Fview.php?id=2033) (in English)\n*   [Annex II](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fproving-illicit-enrichment-using-financial-investigation-and-source-and-application): A step-by-step guide to financial investigations and source and application analyses to support illicit enrichment cases (in English)\n\n_Illicit Enrichment_ was developed and published by the Basel Institute on Governance through its [International Centre for Asset Recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery), with research support from the NYU School of Law.\n\n### Where to find it\n\nYou can find the online version in both languages at: [illicitenrichment.baselgovernance.org](https:\u002F\u002Fillicitenrichment.baselgovernance.org\u002F). Re-use and re-sharing are encouraged under a Creative Commons [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https:\u002F\u002Fcreativecommons.org\u002Flicenses\u002Fby-nc-nd\u002F4.0\u002F) licence.\n\nThe book is also available to [print at cost price from Amazon worldwide](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fenriquecimiento-ilicito-una-guia-sobre-las-leyes-que-abordan-los-activos-de).","2022-04-25","enriquecimiento-ilicito-open-access-book-on-illicit-enrichment-laws-now-available-in-spanish-2211","Enriquecimiento ilícito – open-access book on illicit enrichment laws now available in Spanish","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F7a0e3134-f2db-4187-9a8a-501a6fa2fd16?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[37],[154,207],"Media releases",[209,213,217,221],{"tags_id":210},{"id":211,"name":212},821,"Unexplained wealth",{"tags_id":214},{"id":215,"name":216},1215,"Illicit financial flows",{"tags_id":218},{"id":219,"name":220},973,"Corruption",{"tags_id":222},{"id":223,"name":224},1371,"Public governance",2211,[51],[154,207],[],[],[56],[],"2022-05-26T22:51:51.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:39.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fenriquecimiento-ilicito-open-access-book-on-illicit-enrichment-laws-now-available-in-spanish-2211",{"id":237,"body":238,"status":6,"type":67,"date":239,"slug":240,"title":241,"image":242,"countries":243,"topic":246,"activity":249,"tags":250,"nid":263,"topics":264,"activities":266,"authors":267,"images":269,"websites":270,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":8,"translations":271,"translation_of":8,"user_created":58,"date_created":272,"user_updated":60,"date_updated":273,"content":274,"link":275},9548,"_Bila watu hufiki popote._ “Without people or connections you won’t reach anywhere,” said a Tanzanian businessman participating in our recently completed research project on informal networks and corruption.\n\nHis words encapsulate something we see time and again in our research on corruption: that bribery is far more than just a brute monetary transaction.\n\nOften more important, and far less studied, are the informal social networks that connect private individuals and public officials.\n\n### Exploring informal networks and corruption\n\nOur two-year research project, part of the UK Aid-funded [Global Integrity Anti-Corruption Evidence Programme](https:\u002F\u002Face.globalintegrity.org\u002F) (GI-ACE), builds on our previous extensive research project on [informal governance](https:\u002F\u002Finformalgovernance.baselgovernance.org\u002F) across seven countries.\n\nThe evidence from this project highlighted that corruption is usually not the result of individual “rotten apples” acting in isolation to abuse their entrusted power for private gain. Rather, corrupt behaviour takes place according to unwritten rules and through informal social networks that connect the public and private sectors.  \n\nIt is becoming increasingly clear that anti-corruption practitioners need to pay more attention to networks, not only individuals.\n\nBut a lot of questions still remained to be answered.\n\n*   Are distinct types of informal networks associated with particular types of corruption?\n*   How, why and by whom are these networks built?\n*   What roles and functions do different individuals have within the networks?\n*   What unwritten expectations, understandings and norms govern such networks?\n*   What are the implications for anti-corruption practice?\n\n### Case studies: snapshots of corruption from a network lens\n\nWith my colleague at the Basel Institute, Senior Research Fellow Jacopo Costa, and Lucy Koechlin, Senior Lecturer at the University of Basel, we set about answering these questions with the help our local researchers Danstan Mukono and Robert Lugolobi in Tanzania and Uganda.\n\nWhat emerged were 10 short case studies (six from [Tanzania](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fcase-studies-tanzania-gi-ace-research-informal-networks-and-corruption) and four from [Uganda](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fcase-studies-uganda-gi-ace-research-informal-networks-and-corruption)) that illustrate ways in which citizens and business people invest significant efforts in building informal social networks to overcome shortcomings in public service delivery and to access business opportunities.\n\nThe case studies give life to the [research report](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Finformal-networks-investment-east-africa), which show how monetary bribes and associated benefits are essential to developing informal networks, especially in societies with strong norms around reciprocity and gift-giving. In turn, these networks enable and perpetuate corruption in public service delivery.\n\nImportantly, informal networks may go beyond simply friends and acquaintances. In many cases, citizens and business people must use “brokers” – individuals with existing strong connections with relevant public officials – to act as door-openers.\n\n### How do informal networks help to “get things done”?\n\nThe stories we heard illustrate how informal networks help citizens and business people to gain benefits in three main areas:\n\n#### 1 - Ease access to public services\n\nAt a basic level, this can mean someone using personal connections to skip red tape or speed up a service to which they are officially entitled but may otherwise be delayed. As one research participant said, for example: _“For those who don’t have ‘jamaa’ (a social connection) and sometimes ability to provide money, it takes time to get a business license.”_\n\nHighly bureaucratic procedures such as land transactions are especially vulnerable to this type of behaviour.\n\nAt a more pernicious level, social networks can help users to obtain services they are not entitled to, or manipulate processes to their advantage. Examples include obtaining a driver’s licence despite not having the right documents, and influencing land valuations to minimise tax.\n\n#### 2 - Secure business opportunities with government\n\nThe case studies illustrate that informal networks play a vital role in facilitating fraud and corruption in public procurement.\n\nBusiness people with the right connections need only pay the requested “fee” to be awarded a public tender, said one participant, referring to a bribe or kickback. Informal networks can also facilitate privileged access to information about tenders.\n\nTo build those connections, said participants in both countries, business people may secretly collect information on public officials’ tastes and habits, or develop sophisticated strategies to cultivate links with them.\n\n#### 3 – Help businesses run smoothly\n\nInformal networks help entrepreneurs to leapfrog the many bureaucratic hurdles they face when establishing and running businesses.\n\nAs one of the Tanzanian case studies shows, numerous informal connections have to be established with various public agencies (and the officials that work there) to get the business off the ground. These connections then form the basis for a network that will allow the business to run smoothly going forward.\n\nComplex networks can be built to solve seemingly simple problems. Another Tanzanian case study illustrates how a transport company owner built a “bribery network” involving drivers, conductors, traffic police, bus agents and the transportation regulatory authority. The network ensures that the company’s vehicles can provide a faster and more reliable service compared to competitors by avoiding roadblocks and speeding fines.\n\n### What else does the research show?\n\nThe research report also details, using examples from the case studies:\n\n*   The six functional roles that different individuals play in informal networks – from the “seekers” (citizens seeking connections to public officials) to the “doers” – those who have the ability to “make things happen”.\n*   How entry to these informal networks is controlled to make them exclusive for insiders.\n*   Social dimensions, including how people invest time and effort in developing their networks and cultivating trust.\n\nThe case studies offer a wealth of qualitative information and evidence on informal networks, corruption and the links between them.\n\n### So, what does this mean?\n\nIn our analysis, we emphasise that anti-corruption practitioners should consider how to save the positive aspects of these informal networks (which, in effect, act as efficient mutual support mechanisms in challenging contexts) while eliminating their negative effects.\n\nUnderstanding how these informal networks work can help to understand, and target, the motivations of those who engage in bribery and other illicit practices.\n\nAddressing the hurdles that individuals experience while accessing public services and competing in public tenders should be a central element of an informed anti-corruption approach. Otherwise, the case studies show how adding formal control mechanisms to prevent corruption (for example in competitive public bidding processes) can actually generate more corruption than would have occurred otherwise – if only because of the fact that more people need to be bribed to obtain the desired result.\n\nThe evidence from this research can also point the way to alternative approaches to tackling corruption in such contexts. These include harnessing social [norms](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fblog\u002Fclaudia-baez-camargos-quick-guide-social-norms-and-corruption) (the topic of our [second GI-ACE project](https:\u002F\u002Face.globalintegrity.org\u002Fprojects\u002Ftanzhealth\u002F)) and\u002For introducing efficient ways to resolve business-related disputes between the public and private sectors, such as [Ukraine’s Business Ombudsman Council](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fb20-collective-action-hub\u002Fhrlm\u002Fhlrm-ukraine).","2021-11-02","bribery-isnt-only-an-exchange-of-money-what-new-research-tells-us-about-how-informal-networks-enable-corruption-and-vice-versa-2129","Bribery isn’t only an exchange of money: what new research tells us about how informal networks enable corruption and vice versa","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F3b826289-7a58-4033-91ff-5c4d54387cdc?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[244,245],7283,7284,[247,248],"Prevention"," Research and Innovation",[154,155,156],[251,255,259],{"tags_id":252},{"id":253,"name":254},848,"Behavioural science",{"tags_id":256},{"id":257,"name":258},1309,"Informality",{"tags_id":260},{"id":261,"name":262},982,"Anti-corruption",2129,[265],"Prevention Research and Innovation",[154,155,156],[268],1179,[],[56],[],"2022-05-26T22:52:19.000Z","2026-05-07T21:29:41.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbribery-isnt-only-an-exchange-of-money-what-new-research-tells-us-about-how-informal-networks-enable-corruption-and-vice-versa-2129",{"id":277,"body":278,"status":6,"type":10,"date":279,"slug":280,"title":281,"image":282,"countries":283,"topic":287,"activity":289,"tags":293,"nid":298,"topics":299,"activities":300,"authors":301,"images":302,"websites":303,"area":8,"programme":8,"language":8,"translations":304,"translation_of":8,"user_created":58,"date_created":305,"user_updated":60,"date_updated":306,"content":307,"link":308},9576,"A newly published [_Compendium of Jurisprudence on Extinción de Dominio_](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gob.pe\u002Finstitucion\u002Fprocuraduria\u002Finformes-publicaciones\u002F1976509-compendio-de-jurisprudencia-de-extincion-de-dominio) will enable Peruvian judges, prosecutors and other law enforcement actors to assess progress and legal precedents in the implementation of Peru’s 2019 law on non-conviction based confiscation (_Extinción de dominio_).\n\nThe 1,100-page document compiles all judgments relating to the _Extinción de dominio_ law issued by the judicial authorities in 2019 and 2020.\n\nThe compendium is a collaboration between Peru’s Procuraduría General del Estado (Special State Attorney General) and the Basel Institute on Governance, with the support of our Swiss-funded [Subnational PFM Strengthening Programme](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublic-finance-peru) and our [International Centre for Asset Recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery) (ICAR) team in Lima.\n\nThe jurisprudence reveals that Peru has already recovered around PEN 163 million (approximately USD 41 million) using this legal mechanism. This makes Peru a leader in Latin America in the use of such non-conviction based confiscation mechanisms. It is also the first country to have enforced these type of laws in international financial centres.\n\nMuch of this experience will be invaluable to lawmakers and practitioners in other countries that are considering introducing similar laws.\n\n### Opening up asset recovery possibilities for Peru\n\n_Extinción de dominio_ is a law that allows Peru to recover money and other misappropriated assets without the need for a criminal conviction. As such, it is particularly valuable in recovering the proceeds of grand corruption schemes, where the perpetrators may have died, fled the jurisdiction or otherwise be immune from prosecution.\n\nAmong the legal precedents set so far, a notable point is the high potential of this law in the context of international asset recovery. In December 2020, for example, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Peru signed a [tripartite agreement to return approximately USD 26 million in assets](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fit-takes-three-tango-switzerland-luxembourg-and-peru-sign-agreement-return-usd-26-million) that had been confiscated by Peru under the Extinción de dominio law.\n\n### High-level launch event\n\nThe compendium was launched at a high-level virtual event on 15 July 2021. The event was attended by the Minister of Justice and Human Rights Eduardo Vega Luna, the Swiss Ambassador in Peru Markus Alexander Antonietti, the Special State Prosecutor General Daniel Soria Luján, and representatives of the Basel Institute and Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.\n\nSpeaking at the event, the Basel Institute’s Head of Latin America, Oscar Solórzano, said:\n\n> Non-conviction based confiscation mechanisms are increasingly being recognised as an important complement to traditional criminal confiscation, fines, civil reparations, disgorgements and other tools against economic crime.\n> \n> In this context, Extinción de dominio is a criminal policy tool that must be integrated into the national legal framework. It needs to occupy the place that the Peruvian legislator has assigned to it, respecting clear principles of proportionality and due process.\n\nSergio Jimenez, leader of the asset recovery component of the PFM Programme, spoke about the application of the tool in the context of recent cases.\n\nMinister Vega Luna praised the compendium, calling it:\n\n> A great support in the fight against the criminality that is proving so damaging to Peru and to the world.\n\n### More\n\n*   View and download the [Compendio de Jurisprudencia de Extinción de Dominio](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gob.pe\u002Finstitucion\u002Fprocuraduria\u002Finformes-publicaciones\u002F1976509-compendio-de-jurisprudencia-de-extincion-de-dominio).\n*   See the [Twitter announcement](https:\u002F\u002Ftwitter.com\u002FMinjusDH_Peru\u002Fstatus\u002F1415816803750711296?s=20) issued by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights (in Spanish).\n*   Download the speech of Oscar Solórzano (in Spanish): [La política criminal moderna y el rol de la recuperación de activos](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2021-07\u002FSpeech_La%20poli%CC%81tica%20criminal.pdf).\n*   See how [Peru recovered USD 8.5 million in proceeds from a corrupt arms deal](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fperu-recovers-usd-85-million-through-non-conviction-based-confiscation) from a Swiss bank account held by businessman Moshe Rothschild Chassin.\n*   Read a detailed case study of how extinción de dominio has enabled the confiscation of USD 1 million in assets intended for terrorist financing – [The Nun: Confiscating assets of the Shining Path terrorist organisation](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fcase-study-the-nun) (also available in Spanish).","2021-07-22","launch-of-compendium-of-jurisprudence-on-perus-non-conviction-based-confiscation-law-2062","Launch of compendium of jurisprudence on Peru’s non-conviction based confiscation law","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F46aafd75-9373-4a56-b335-c09d0cf1b333?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[284,285,286],7312,7313,7314,[37,288],"Public Finance Management",[290,291,292],"Events","Presentations","International cooperation",[294],{"tags_id":295},{"id":296,"name":297},1379,"Non-conviction based forfeiture",2062,[51,288],[290,291,292],[],[],[56],[],"2022-05-26T22:52:43.000Z","2026-05-29T22:21:43.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Flaunch-of-compendium-of-jurisprudence-on-perus-non-conviction-based-confiscation-law-2062",{"left":310,"top":310,"width":311,"height":311,"rotate":310,"vFlip":312,"hFlip":312,"body":313},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>",1780676521673]