CiFAR stands with the CPJ (Commitee to Protect Journalists) in solidarity with our former “Investigate West Africa” trainee Chernoh Alpha Bah. As an investigative journalist, Chernoh has been facing ongoing legal and physical threats linked to his work as an investigative journalist, that are still continuing as we’re publishing this post. Since at least May Read more about Statement in support of Sierra-Leone journalist Chernoh Bah[…]
We are pleased to launch today volume II of our groundbreaking Investigate Manual, providing tools and resources for journalists looking into financial crime, illicit financial flows, cross-border corruption and asset recovery. Building on our first manual (found in EN and FR here), which included guides on the theoretical framework for investigations, investigative resources and techniques Read more about Launched today: Investigate – the manual, volume II[…]
The European Commission proposed on Wednesday the development of a Directive on criminal penalties for the violation of Union law on restrictive measures and for new measures to be introduced under their planned Directive on asset recovery and confiscation. Under the new proposals, new EU-wide rules would come into force that cover several aspects related Read more about EU Sanctions Proposals: what do they mean and what to look out for[…]
Lessons and challenges in sanctions as an anti-corruption tool Online event: 31 May 202218:00 – 19:30 CEST / 17:00 – 18:30 (BST), 12:00 – 13:30 (EDT)Event link The introduction of wide-ranging and extensive sanctions against Russian officials, parliamentarians and business people in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to persistent calls for Read more about EVENT: From Russian Sanctions to Anti-Corruption Investigations and Asset Recovery[…]
The loss of public assets to corruption has a significant impact on countries and their populations. Public programmes, such is infrastructure development and social welfare are deprived of their intended impact due to the loss of funding to corruption, which harms the people who rely on these resources for their well-being. Brought on by work Read more about Asset Recovery and Victims of Grand Corruption[…]
In 2022, the UK government published a new Framework for transparent and accountable asset return, designed to ‘ensure consistency, transparency, and accountability’ in the return of funds by the UK government. This framework relates to funds returned under both Articles 57(3)(a) or (b) of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) – in other words obligatory Read more about New UK asset recovery framework: important elements for civil society[…]
In May 2021, we launched the third installment of our “Investigate” training series, this time targeting francophone and anglophone journalists from West Africa and Europe. In partnership with the investigative center CENOZO, based in Burkina Faso, and other partner journalists from the OCCRP and the ICIJ, and supported by GIZ, we trained and mentored a Read more about CiFAR “Investigate West Africa” programme: looking ahead[…]
Today, 9th of December, marks Anti-Corruption Day. As cross-border corruption continues to threaten the rule of law and sustainable development, we at CiFAR have continued documenting the people under anti-corruption sanctions and analysing sanctions as a tool against cross-border corruption and for asset recovery. Anti-corruption sanctions The theft of public funds and resources by public Read more about International Anti-Corruption Day 2021: Spotlight on Individuals Sanctioned for Serious Corruption[…]
This is a guest blog by Vaclav Prusa, independent researcher and asset recovery expert, and Samuel Asimi, programme officer at the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre. For any inquiries, you may contact vaclavprusa@yahoo.com. To read CiFAR’s blog series about Nigerian asset recovery, see here. In the first part of this blog we analyzed how Nigerian asset recovery effort is sabotaged by Read more about The lost potential of Nigeria’s asset recovery: How to counter Nigerian murky politics in asset recovery?[…]
CiFAR launches its 2021 country profiles today. Across these seven countries, we see new advancements and setbacks in the anti-corruption and asset recovery fields. Covering a broad range of policy and legislation surrounding asset recovery, we hope that these profiles can provide useful insight into the current state of asset recovery in the countries covered. Read more about Launch of CiFAR’s 2021 Country Profiles[…]