our work
Our strategy
Our 2020-2023 strategy aims to expand the actors engaged in asset recovery & push forward global debates
Sanctions Watch
Sanctions Watch documents the people subject to anti-corruption sanctions and provides in-depth research into their use
Investigate
Our investigate programme supports journalists to investigate illicit financial flows and asset recovery
What is cifar
CiFAR’s vision is a world where public officials are unable to steal public money and hide it overseas. Our mission is to end cross-border corruption and to ensure transparency and accountability in asset recovery. We do this through supporting civil society across the globe to be a strong and effective actor on stolen assets. We provide civil society with the skills, knowledge and network to advocate, campaign and investigate cases where public and private officials are complicit in the illicit removal of public goods to private ownership across country borders. We also ensure that civil society can be an active voice in ensuring the return and monitoring the use of confiscated stolen assets. We campaign against individuals and the structures that enable asset theft, we support cross-border civil society cooperation on asset recovery and we develop the expertise of civil society to be strong voices across the globe on asset theft.
our news and features
Asset recovery data availability – small steps forward
The United Nations World Data Forum which builds a pathway to better data for sustainable development, and which took place in Hangzhou at the end of April, offered a moment to reflect on data availability across the Sustainable Development Goals framework, including SDG 16.4. As we have written before, there is currently no indicator that Read more about Asset recovery data availability – small steps forward[…]
Returning assets indirectly through third-party entities
Read our new report – Indirect Asset Return Through Third-Party Entities Indirect return mechanisms describe the practice of returning recovered money across borders indirectly via third-party entities that stand between cooperating governments. These entities might be called in to aid in the negotiations, as well as in the process of the distribution of the returned Read more about Returning assets indirectly through third-party entities[…]
Recovering assets through reconciliation agreements
Read our new report – Reconciliation agreements and asset recovery Reconciliation agreements are a way for states to recover assets obtained through corruption by entering into deals with persons involved in corruption, whereby money is given to the state in exchange for amnesty from prosecution for the original crime. For states involved in long and Read more about Recovering assets through reconciliation agreements[…]
Anti-corruption sanctions: 2022 in numbers
While sanctions lists have grown this year primarily due to new listings in connection to individuals linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, anti-corruption sanctions have not been forgotten. As CiFAR launches its updated Sanctions Watch platform today, which tracks individuals sanctioned for reasons related to corruption, this blog takes stock of this year’s changes in Read more about Anti-corruption sanctions: 2022 in numbers[…]
WEBINAR: Enforcing sanctions successfully and using fines for the public good.
Online event: 25 January 2023, 16:00 – 17:15 CET Event link Background The successful enforcement of sanctions relies on the action and compliance of a range of actors across cooperating jurisdictions, from financial institutions to the business sector. Several jurisdictions have, or are thinking of introducing, legislative or policy tools to ensure and respond to Read more about WEBINAR: Enforcing sanctions successfully and using fines for the public good.[…]
Outcome statement – Global South Forum
Between the 7 – 9 November 30 civil society organisations, engaged on asset recovery from across the world, came together in Nairobi to discuss priorities in asset recovery with a particular focus on the priorities of the Global South and countries typically designated as ‘countries of origin’ – countries where the predicate offence(s) occurred – Read more about Outcome statement – Global South Forum[…]
Unexplained Wealth Orders: A New Tool for Asset Recovery?
CiFAR has launched a new report Unexplained Wealth Orders: A New Tool for Asset Recovery? This report assesses the efficiency of Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs), primarily as existing in UK legislation, in advancing asset recovery and the fight against grand corruption. The report introduces the UWO legislation, explores how, when and where UWOs have been Read more about Unexplained Wealth Orders: A New Tool for Asset Recovery?[…]
Global South Forum on Asset Recovery, Nairobi
Nairobi – The first Global South Forum on Asset Recovery (GSF) is taking place in Nairobi, Kenya on 7-9 November. The Global South Forum is organised by the Civil Forum for Asset Recovery (CiFAR) and it is a first-of its-kind civil society-led meeting aimed at discussing current issues, challenges and opportunities presented by ongoing cases Read more about Global South Forum on Asset Recovery, Nairobi[…]
WEBINAR: Opportunities for the confiscation of sanctioned assets.
Online event: 3 November 2022, 16:00 – 17:15 CET Event link Link to the webinar recording Background Sanctions imposed on Russian individuals in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 once again highlighted the issue of the vast amount of assets of illicit origin that are hidden across Western jurisdictions. One Read more about WEBINAR: Opportunities for the confiscation of sanctioned assets.[…]
Asset Recovery in Kenya: Overview and Explainer
Read CiFAR’s new research paper: Asset Recovery in Kenya The Kenyan government has been engaged in more recent years in cross-border asset freezing, confiscation, and return of the proceeds of corruption. Nevertheless, it is not lost on many that to a large extent, international cases have begun due to the proactivity of the countries holding Read more about Asset Recovery in Kenya: Overview and Explainer[…]