Collective Action

Would businesses still choose good governance if nobody required it?

For much of the last two decades, the direction of travel on corporate governance appeared relatively clear. Governments and international organisations were asking more of businesses, while investors were paying greater attention to how companies were run. Anti-corruption compliance programmes became more established, and expectations around responsible business conduct continued to expand. The direction of travel is no longer obvious. Geopolitical fragmentation and concerns about regulatory burden are changing the conversation. In some parts of the world, there has been a total retreat from the ESG agenda. This has reopened questions about what should be required of businesses and what they might choose to do voluntarily. Would businesses still choose good governance if nobody required it? Some undoubtedly would. Others might not. The answer depends, at least in part, on what businesses believe governance is for. If businesses invest in governance and compliance structures primarily because somebody requires them to, then reduced regulation weakens the incentive to make that investment. If, though, stronger governance helps organisations make better decisions, its value looks different. This question is particularly interesting for small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs , which mostly face fewer formal governance requirements than larger or listed companies. It was also at the centre of a recent webinar delivered by the Basel Institute on Governance for the Malaysian Institute of Management MIM as part of its anti-corruption certification programme. Focusing particularly on SMEs, the session explored what governance and compliance mean in practice and how internationally recognised principles can be applied without creating unnecessary bureaucracy. It also looked at the relationship with organisational culture and at what happens when an integrity challenge is bigger than any one company. The discussion provided the starting point for many of the reflections in this article.

Four priorities for an effective EU Anti-Corruption Strategy

With good governance norms under growing pressure, the EU has an opportunity to show decisive leadership in the fight against corruption. The European Commission’s first EU-wide Anti-Corruption Strategy, building on the recently adopted EU Anti-Corruption Directive, is a chance to strengthen coordination across Member States and realise the promise of the Directive for the EU’s 450+ million inhabitants. Done well, it will reinforce the security, economic prosperity and political stability that underpin Europe’s long-term competitiveness. The Basel Institute on Governance has responded to the Commission’s call for evidence with recommendations drawn from more than two decades of research and hands-on work with governments, law enforcement agencies, businesses and civil society. Our submission highlights four areas that we believe should be central to the new Strategy. These are briefly summarised below, and included in full in the submission. Promote a whole-of-society approach Governments cannot tackle complex corruption risks alone. Businesses, civil society, researchers and affected communities all have a role to play. The Strategy should therefore explicitly endorse Anti-Corruption Collective Action. This approach brings stakeholders together to identify shared risks, agree standards and develop practical mechanisms for compliance and accountability. It has been used to address money laundering risks in the financial services sector, bribery and extortion in ports, corruption in public procurement and integrity challenges in the defence sector. It is widely endorsed by organisations including the OECD, UNODC and UN Global Compact, and already included in many national anti-corruption strategies. Harness data and technology responsibly Artificial intelligence, big data analytics, open-source intelligence and automated risk indicators can help identify suspicious procurement patterns, conflicts of interest, illicit financial flows and hidden relationships. Research through the EU-funded FALCON project, of which the Basel Institute is a consortium member, shows that effective anti-corruption systems increasingly depend on the ability to collect, connect and analyse large volumes of information. The Strategy should support responsible testing of new tools, including through regulatory sandboxes, while also investing in the foundations they require: digitisation, interoperable systems, standardised datasets, machine-readable information and secure cross-border data sharing. Focus on priority risks and high-risk activities Beyond these approaches, our submission highlights four high-risk areas requiring particular attention. - Foreign bribery: Enforcement remains uneven and settlements often fail to address the harm suffered by affected countries and communities. The Strategy should promote stronger enforcement and fairer approaches to compensation and the use of recovered proceeds. - Public procurement: Risks are rising as Europe increases investment in defence, infrastructure, energy security and strategic technologies. Priorities should include stronger transparency, better oversight and data-driven risk assessment. - Borders and customs: Corruption at borders can facilitate smuggling, trafficking, sanctions evasion and tax fraud. Greater automation, data integration and consistent procedures can strengthen prevention and detection. - Financial infrastructure: Shell companies, professional intermediaries, offshore structures and virtual assets can help conceal corrupt proceeds. The Strategy should strengthen links between anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and asset recovery, including through the EU’s new Anti-Money Laundering Authority. Build in an ongoing research, innovation and learning agenda Corruption constantly evolves as actors adapt to new laws, technologies and enforcement practices. Anti-corruption policy must evolve too. Research also shows that anti-corruption laws alone do not change corrupt behaviour. Social norms, political incentives and institutional cultures can sustain corruption even where formal rules are strong. The Strategy should support sustained applied research and create stronger channels for researchers, policymakers, law enforcement, businesses and civil society to exchange evidence and lessons. It should also use differences between national systems as opportunities to test approaches, evaluate results and improve policy across the Union. Learn more - Download the Basel Institute on Governance’s full submission to the European Commission’s call for evidence on the EU Anti-Corruption Strategy. - See complementary perspectives on the EU Anti-Corruption Directive on how it might affect anti-corruption enforcement from a legal and institutional perspective, and on what the Directive reveals about how corruption is evolving in the EU and beyond.

Congratulations to the winners of the International Collective Action Awards 2026

The winners of the International Collective Action Awards 2026 were announced on 9 June during the International Collective Action Conference in Basel, Switzerland. Presented by the Basel Institute on Governance, the Awards recognise outstanding initiatives that demonstrate the power of Collective Action to address corruption, strengthen business integrity and contribute to fairer and more transparent markets. Alliance for Integrity: Outstanding Achievements award The Gretta Fenner Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action Award 2026 was awarded to Alliance for Integrity. The initiative was recognised for building one of the world’s largest business integrity Collective Action networks, bringing together companies, business associations, governments and civil society organisations across 16 countries. Through practical training, dialogue and collaboration, Alliance for Integrity has helped thousands of businesses – particularly small and medium-sized enterprises – strengthen their integrity and compliance practices. The initiative demonstrates how Collective Action can be scaled across different regions and contexts to create lasting impact. CoST Malawi’s Red Flags Algorithm: Inspirational Newcomer award The Collective Action Inspirational Newcomer Award 2026 was awarded to CoST Malawi Infrastructure Transparency Initiative: Red Flags Algorithm. The initiative was recognised for its innovative approach to strengthening transparency and accountability in public infrastructure projects. At the centre of the initiative is the Red Flags Algorithm, integrated into Malawi’s Information Platform for Public Infrastructure, which helps identify potential corruption risks and anomalies in project data. By combining technology, transparency and multi-stakeholder collaboration, the initiative is helping improve oversight of public infrastructure investments and strengthen public trust. Recognising excellence in Collective Action The International Collective Action Awards celebrate initiatives that bring together businesses, governments, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to address shared integrity challenges that no single actor can solve alone. The Basel Institute congratulates the winners and all finalists for their commitment to advancing integrity and accountability through Collective Action. Their achievements demonstrate the continued importance of collaboration in addressing corruption risks and promoting responsible business conduct around the world. The Conference and Awards are supported by the Siemens Integrity Initiative.

Cast your vote in the 2026 Collective Action Awards

From grassroots transparency tools to global business integrity networks, this year’s finalists for the International Collective Action Awards show the breadth, creativity and growing impact of Collective Action around the world. Public voting is now open and everyone is invited to help choose the winners. The 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 in Basel, Switzerland, on 9–10 June 2026. Presented 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. A diverse field of finalists This 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. The shortlisted initiatives also highlight the geographical reach of Collective Action efforts today, with finalists working across Africa, Latin America, Europe and global multilateral platforms. An international jury selected the finalists from a strong field of nominations representing a wide variety of sectors, approaches and partnerships. Gretta Fenner Outstanding Achievement in Collective Action This category is named in honour of the Basel Institute’s late Managing Director, Gretta Fenner. It recognises organisations that have made a sustained and significant contribution to advancing Collective Action and promoting business integrity over time. The 2026 finalists are: 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. 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. 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. Collective Action Inspirational Newcomer The Inspirational Newcomer category recognises initiatives active for fewer than two years that have already shown strong promise and early impact. This year’s finalists are: 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. 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. 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. Although 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. An international jury with deep expertise The finalists were pre-selected by an international jury bringing together expertise from governance, anti-corruption, journalism, international law and public policy. The 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. Their 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. Cast your vote Public voting is open until 2 June 2026. Visit the Awards page on the B20 Collective Action Hub to learn more about the finalists and cast your vote in each category. The Collective Action Awards are supported by the Siemens Integrity Initiative.

Building trust: how Collective Action strengthens business ecosystems

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. At 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. Building trust is one critical element of Collective Action efforts, as it requires a genuine and sustained willingness from all involved stakeholders to collaborate. Trust across sectors: the foundation of effective markets Markets 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: Business relies on regulatory bodies to create fair and predictable markets. Governments depend on businesses to act with integrity, beyond merely meeting compliance requirements. Civil society holds both public and private sectors accountable whilst advancing transparency and public confidence. Where these relationships are founded in trust, business ecosystems function more effectively and markets remain stable. Yet, 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. The cost of low-trust systems When 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. In 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. Breaking this cycle requires a different approach – one built on shared commitment, sustained engagement and coordinated action. This is where Collective Action comes into play. Collective Action as a trust-building mechanism In 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. But 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. Over 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. From compliance to competitive advantage Too 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. Collective Action supports this shift by helping to shape markets that reward integrity, moving beyond a risk mitigation exercise. Building trust in practice This is exactly the focus of the 6th International Collective Action Conference, taking place on 9–10 June 2026 in Basel, Switzerland. Bringing 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. The 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. Learn more 6th International Collective Action Conference 2026 B20 Collective Action Hub Working Paper 56: Anti-corruption Collective Action: A typology for a new era Book: Collective Action in practice: a game-changer for business integrity

Working Paper 60: Understanding the enemy: Insights from corrupt networks to improve anti-corruption Collective Action initiatives

Anti-corruption Collective Action in the G20/B20 process: Charting progress 2020–2024

Collective Action in practice: a game-changer for business integrity

Working Paper 56: Anti-corruption Collective Action: A typology for a new era

Putting business integrity on the global agenda: Report from the 5th International Collective Action Conference