This virtual side event at the 2021 Special Session of the General Assembly against Corruption (UNGASS) explored the scope and possibilities of anti-corruption Collective Action, which the UNGASS Political Declaration 2021 recommends and encourages.

What does Collective Action mean for governments, companies and citizens? Does it work in practice? Is it an efficient way for the public and private sectors to partner? What benefits can it bring? 

The rapid expansion of anti-corruption Collective Action is offering businesses, governments and civil society groups powerful ways to enhance business integrity and create fair business conditions. What does Collective Action look like in practice? What benefits does it bring, what is success, and how do you measure it? And what should we expect from each other in these multi-stakeholder initiatives?

The European Commission has issued a strong endorsement of anti-corruption Collective Action as a “best practice” in the fight against corruption.

Its Handbook of good practices in the fight against corruption explains how Collective Action can bring together “stakeholders in the private and public sectors, civil society, and international organisations to tackle shared problems of corruption and raise integrity standards."

On 21 February 2023, the Basel Institute on Governance together with the National Business Initiative (NBI), the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and Covington organised a Thought Leadership Dialogue on "Partnering Against Money Laundering and Corruption in South Africa and the Subregion" in Johannesburg.

This event allowed for thought-provoking discussions on how to strengthen the fight against illicit financial flows in the region.

The future is looking bright for Collective Action as our community and Collective Action Mentoring Programme continues to grow. The programme provides free hands-on support for organisations working with the private sector on corruption issues. Programme leaders Scarlet Wannenwetsch and Liza Young look back on the first year and reflect on what we – not just our mentees! – have learned.

Brazil’s huge agricultural sector is no stranger to corruption scandals – but now a group of agribusinesses are working together with government and civil society to raise standards of integrity and prevent corruption from damaging their business opportunities and reputation. This guest blog by Ana Aranha and Jacqueline Oliveira, Anti-Corruption Manager and Anti-Corruption Coordinator at the UN Global Compact Network Brazil, explains how Collective Action is helping the group to collaborate on anti-corruption and achieve tangible change on the ground.