The Basel Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate with Colombian authorities to adapt and apply a High Level Reporting Mechanism (HLRM) to prevent corruption and promote fair competition in tenders related to the building of the City of Bogotá’s First Metro Line. The signing ceremony held on 6 August 2018 in Bogotá was one of the final acts by Colombia’s outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos on his last day in office and the day that marked the 280th anniversary of the founding of Bogotá.

Gemma Aiolfi, Head of Compliance, Corporate Governance and Collective Action at the Basel Institute on Governance, took part in a dialogue on Anti-Corruption Compliance and Collective Action organised by the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM).

The invitation-only event took place in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 30 October 2018. It is part of the institute's Crucial Conversations@MIM series.

This report discusses the different contexts and processes through which a High Level Reporting Mechanism (HLRM) has been designed and implemented in Colombia, Ukraine, Panama and Argentina, as well as initial interest in the HLRM model in Peru.

Its aim is to understand the specificities of each case and draw lessons applicable to future projects in other countries, whilst respecting the commitment to develop an HLRM that takes account of the specific country’s context. 

Intensified economic globalisation has had positive and negative effects. It has left nation states struggling to deal with the negative fall-out. National regulation against abuses has, however, proven increasingly ineffective, especially since companies have the freedom to move their hazardous activities to under-regulated areas.

There is a strong business case for Collective Action against corruption - and more and more companies, law enforcement agencies, international organisations and civil society representatives are willing to engage. Which is good, because we need all players around the table to achieve sustainable change. 

These were key recurring messages during the Basel Institute's 3rd International Collective Action Conference, which took place on 14-15 November 2018 at the Volkshaus Basel, Switzerland.