The crypto industry has exploded in recent years, and authorities in different countries have been reacting in very different ways. Some have banned cryptocurrencies, while others are embracing them to varying degrees. Some are working hard to align their anti-money laundering regulations with FATF standards, while others are turning a blind eye. A few countries have confiscated huge quantities of crypto assets linked to crime and money laundering.

Where are the weakest links in the illegal wildlife trade enforcement chain? Lessons from corruption risk assessments with agencies in three countries is a Practice Note developed for the Targeting Natural Resource Corruption (TNRC) project. It:

This Problem Analysis is a review of the efficacy and opportunities for using social norm and behaviour change (SNBC) approaches to combat illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and other natural resource-related corruption.

What role could tax investigations play in detecting, investigating and prosecuting cases of illegal wildlife trade? Potentially a large one, with the right coordination and capacity.

This chapter (26) of Perspectives on Antitrust Compliance covers the scope and purpose of anti-corruption Collective Action and explains why Collective Action and peer collaboration are important in tackling corruption. It then gives practical advice on how to overcome concerns and avoid antitrust risks, including many examples from initiatives around the world.

This news alert focuses on the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Managing Director Gretta Fenner writes:

Dear friends and colleagues,

It is particularly difficult to write a newsletter note at times like these, when everything other than the horrific military aggression on Ukraine seems irrelevant. At the Basel Institute, we are heartbroken for our partners and friends in Ukraine, and for all the people of Ukraine.

Broadly, “internal controls” refers to systems of policies, procedures and practices to prevent, detect and respond to issues, errors and irregularities. 

Systems of internal control can be very effective in addressing corrupt conduct, which is the focus of this quick guide. But internal controls can also address other problems that affect an organisation’s efficiency and effectiveness, such as poor employee performance or the failure to accomplish important organisational goals. 

Why do many countries still struggle with high levels of corruption, in spite of years of investment in anti-corruption programmes and even where the right laws, rules and institutions are in place?

We believe one reason is that anti-corruption laws and policies are too often focused narrowly on individuals, rather than networks of individuals.

Transparency International's practical guide to civic monitoring of public contracting projects emerges from the Integrity Pacts – Civil Control Mechanism for Safeguarding EU Funds project.

Under this project, between 2015 and 2021, 15 civil society organisations monitored 46 public contracting procedures in the EU. 

Drawing on broad stakeholder consultations, corruption case analysis and reviews of existing best practices, this guidance proposes concrete measures that companies should adopt to reduce corruption risks in their work with state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the oil, gas and mining industries. It also recommends measures SOEs can take to strengthen their anticorruption safeguards.

The guidance for private-sector companies has five parts: