Illicit financial flows (IFFs) are a significant obstacle to Africa’s development, as they drain essential resources. To confront this challenge, the African Union took concrete steps, starting with the adoption of the Special Declaration on Illicit Financial Flows in January 2015.
Today, CiFAR has launched its new strategy – Ready for Action. Our strategy builds on the work we have done since 2016 to support more citizen and civil society engagement in asset recovery and looks to further position us as leaders in forward thinking about transparency, accountability and participation in the recovery of the proceeds of corruption.
To answer this question, CiFAR has recently conducted research published in a report From Sanctions to Investigations. Legislation, policy and practice linking investigations into the origins of sanctioned assets and recommendations for governments to strengthen the investigation and confiscation of sanctioned assets in From Sanctions to Investigations. Policy brief and recommendations.
For the first time since the beginning of its Investigate programmes, CiFAR organised an investigative journalism training in Latin America in Autumn 2023. With the support of GIZ, we gathered 15 early to mid-career journalists in Lima, Peru, for 4 intensive training days around asset recovery, illicit financial flows, and cross-border corruption.
In the past 20 years, African governments have made considerable progress to recover stolen assets as a tool to combat Illicit Financial Flows and contribute to sustainable development. Asset recovery has gained attention among governments, the media and citizens. Several governments have introduced new asset recovery laws and created institutions in charge of recovering or managing stolen assets. This has led to an increase in recovered assets, both domestically and internationally. However, legislative and institutional frameworks, as well as efforts in international cooperation are still insufficient.
On the 10 December the 10th Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC CoSP 10) kicks off in Atlanta, USA. The CoSP process is an opportuniy for States who are party to the UNCAC, which is virtually every country in the world, to come together to discuss progress in implementing the treaty and to agree to new ideas to advance the fight against corruption.
Between autumn 2022 and June 2023 CiFAR and European Investigative Collaborations, with the support of OCCRP and thanks to IJ4EU and the National Endowment for Democracy, coordinated the Russian Escape investigations into how far sanctions applied against Russian individuals following the invasion of Ukraine were being effectively implemented in Europe.
Glencore, a giant in the world of multinational commodities trading and mining, has found itself at the epicentre of one of the biggest corporate scandals in recent history. Allegations of widespread bribery and corruption have not only tarnished the company's reputation, but also raised urgent questions about the ethical conduct of multinational corporations. For those unfamiliar with the unfolding saga, Glencore stands accused of using illicit means to secure business advantages in several countries, mainly in Africa.
The announcement of the Jersey return of GBP 3 million - the latest cross border return to Kenya - was welcomed with pomp and gladness by Kenyans in general, because these had been a long coming return! The signing and announcement of the Agreement for the recovery, transfer, repatriation, disposition and management of recovered asset was completed on the 28th of March 2022. However, to date, public information on the return has been limited.
← Previous
Page 4 of 6
Next →
