U.K. - Nigeria - Liberia

 

Prison officers in England and Wales to undergo 'financial stability checks' in new anti-corruption measure using technology. "New and existing front-line staff at prisons throughout England and Wales will be asked to undergo checks of their "financial stability" in beefed-up security measures intended to serve as a bulwark against potential bribery or corruption. 

Public Technology: https://www.publictechnology.net/articles/news/prison-officers-undergo-%E2%80%98financial-stability-checks%E2%80%99-new-anti-corruption-measure 

 

Nigeria to introduce e-procurement system to ease contract documentation. "The e-procurement system is being developed by the bureau in collaboration with the World Bank. As the drivers of the procurement reforms in your ministries, it is important that the information is brought to the attention before deploying it." 

Naira metrics: https://nairametrics.com/2022/05/28/fg-to-introduce-e-procurement-system-to-ease-contract-documentation/ 

 

[Opinion] Liberia, Corruption and the Consequences of Impunity. "The question now becomes: when are we going to muster the strength and collectively fight against this evil that has plagued us for so long? The answer has always been with us: A push back with the full might of the power and will of the people." 

Global News Network Liberia: http://gnnliberia.com/2022/05/30/liberia-corruption-and-the-consequences-of-impunity/ 

Nigeria – Cyprus - Fiji

The Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office engages anti-corruption agencies to prevent illicit funds. "We are working closely with Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to know beneficiary of mineral titles because some don't have their real name on their titles. 

NNN: https://nnn.ng/cadastre-office-engages-anti/ 

 

Cyprus vows zero tolerance to corruption. "President Nikos Anastasiades said in a meeting with OSCE Parliamentary leader Margareta Sederfeld that his government is determined to tackle corruption and promote transparency and accountability." 

WORLDAKKAM: https://worldakkam.com/cyprus-vows-zero-tolerance-to-corruption/759361/ 

 

A high-level event is organised by the University of the South Pacific Students' Association as part of UNDP Pacific's anti-corruption project funded by the U.K. "Pacific political and business leaders, young people and civil society groups met today for the Pacific Regional Leaders Dialogue to discuss the benefits and applications of the Right to Information (RTI) and generate ideas to enhance RTI at all levels to strengthen good governance and fight corruption in the Pacific region." 

USP: https://www.usp.ac.fj/news/pacific-regional-leaders-dialogue-advancing-the-right-to-information-to-improve-governance-and-fight-corruption/ 

Norway - Africa - UNITAR

[Publication] "Investigating the ethics of investments" by U4 Research Centre. "A Council on Ethics monitors whether companies in which the Fund invests meet ethical standards of the Norwegian government. If a company is found to be persistently corrupt, it is put under observation or excluded until it can demonstrate that corruption risks have been adequately addressed." 

U4 Research Centre: https://www.u4.no/publications/investigating-the-ethics-of-investments 

 

[Opinion] Africa's urban planners face huge corruption pressures: some answers. "Individual changes in behaviour alone are not enough to address urban corruption challenges on the continent. Legal reforms of outdated planning laws, public service reforms and greater transparency in procurement processes will be equally necessary." 

The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/africas-urban-planners-face-huge-corruption-pressures-some-answers-170281 

 

Contemporary Literacy on Anti-corruption: Global Conference by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center (ROLACC), in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). "The lack of literacy on contemporary issues related to anti-corruption plays an important role in the proliferation of corrupt acts, especially in regard to the 'Five Alarms' raised by the United Nations Secretary General in 2022, these being; challenges coming from COVID19; the global financial system; climate change; lawlessness of cybersecurity; as well as peace and security." 

UNITAR: https://unitar.org/about/news-stories/news/contemporary-literacy-anticorruption-global-conference, https://event.unitar.org/full-catalog/conference-contemporary-literacy-anticorruption 

Vietnam - South Africa - Nigeria

Vietnam's Infrastructure, Public Service Improve, but Anti-Corruption Efforts, Transparency Need Focus: The Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) 2021. "Insights from the PAPI 2021 report can help local authorities at different levels to improve decision-making and policy-making and provide decent public services." 

Vietnam Briefing: https://www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/vietnams-infrastructure-public-service-improve-but-anti-corruption-efforts-transparency-need-focus-papi-2021.html/ 

 

South Africa's Transport Minister warns public entities against corruption in national mega projects. "Government will act against those who fail to execute their duties in an ethical manner, thereby compromising government's efforts to create jobs and contribute towards economic recovery." 

TDPel Media: https://tdpelmedia.com/minister-warns-public-entities-against-corruption 

 

Cooperate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) have advocated sustainable implementation of Beneficial Ownership Disclosure regime to help in tackling corruption, especially in the extractive sector. "They made the call at the Accountability in Extractive Sector (AES) Cluster learning led by CISLAC, the national chapter of Transparency International in Nigeria within the framework of the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project." 

NAIJA 247News: https://naija247news.com/2022/05/23/mining-cac-csos-advocate-implementation-of-ownership-disclosure-regime/ 

Africa - Sri Lanka - Global

Covid-19 corruption deepens wounds of pandemic across Africa. "Corruption related to Covid-19 has been reported from all over Africa, mainly in procurement." 

Daily Maverick: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-05-19-covid-19-corruption-deepens-wounds-of-pandemic-across-africa/ 

 

15-points on essential anti-corruption reforms to revive Sri Lanka by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL). "Ensuring maximum transparency and accountability of decisions at the highest level and taking immediate action to curb ongoing and possible corruption are essential if the country is to effectively implement any economic recovery plan." 

TISL: https://www.tisrilanka.org/15-points-on-essential-anti-corruption-reforms-to-revive-sri-lanka%e2%80%af/ 

 

[Opinion] Inculcating anti-corruption behaviour in children: Role of parents. "Parents and the elderly in communities took on the responsibility of ensuring children conform to societal norms by correcting them when they went wrong and/or reporting their deviant behaviours to their parents for further disciplining." 

Graphic Online: https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/opinion/inculcating-anti-corruption-behaviour-in-children-role-of-parents.html 

Malawi - South Africa - U.S.

The Malawi government has disclosed plans to establish a special court that will handle corruption-related matters in the country. "The court is as one of the strategies the Tonse Alliance government is undertaking to expedite corruption cases, which usually take decades to conclude because of limited capacity." 

Nyasa Times: https://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi-govt-to-establish-economic-and-financial-crimes-court/ 

 

Plans to take South Africa's courts and legal services online. "The Department of Justice and Correctional Services says it is rolling out four digital pilot projects nationally this year – with four additional projects in the pipeline to digitise and modernise South Africa's judiciary." 

Business Tech: https://businesstech.co.za/news/technology/587706/plans-to-take-south-africas-courts-and-legal-services-online/ 

 

Examining Strategic Corruption in the U.S. - Being ready to act. "Strategic corruption can include various tactics that can be used to influence foreign countries' governments, democratic institutions, and foreign policies." 

Thomson Reuters: https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/investigation-fraud-and-risk/strategic-corruption-ready-to-act/ 

France - Pakistan - Global

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published Mutual Evaluation France 2022. "This report summarises the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) measures in place in France as at the date of the on-site visit from 28 June to 28 July 2021. It analyses the level of compliance with the FATF 40 Recommendations and the level of effectiveness* and provides recommendations on how the system could be strengthened." 

*Assessment of risk, coordination and policy setting; Financial intelligence, ML/TF investigations, prosecutions and confiscation; Preventive measures; Supervision; Transparency and beneficial ownership; International co-operation, etc. 

FATF: https://www.fatf-gafi.org/publications/mutualevaluations/documents/mer-france-2022.html  

 

Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman said optimum resources were being utilized to eradicate the menace of corruption from the country. "He said NAB has been made a functioning institution by introducing various new reforms." 

Associated Press of Pakistan: https://www.app.com.pk/national/optimum-resources-being-utilised-to-eradicate-corruption-nab/ 

 

FINANCIAL SECRECY INDEX 2022 by Tax Justice Network. "Financial secrecy facilitates tax abuse, enables money laundering and undermines the human rights of all. The index identifies the world's biggest suppliers of financial secrecy and spotlights the laws that governments can change to reduce their contribution to financial secrecy." 

Tax Justice Network: https://fsi.taxjustice.net/ 

TI - ICIJ - OECD

[Opinion] UN and the international community must do more to collectively address the type of corruption that results in widespread harm. "To develop more comprehensive and effective solutions, a UN expert working group should be established to bring together specialists from the UN bodies and offices overseeing all relevant agreements, along with experts from civil society, private sector and academia." 

Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/en/blog/un-grand-corruption-organised-crime-break-out-of-silos 

 

International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) publishes final batch of Pandora Papers data on more than 9,000 offshore companies, trusts and foundations. "ICIJ believes that providing this data to all for free helps shine light on the offshore economy and, in many cases, the damage it causes." 

ICIJ: https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/icij-publishes-final-batch-of-pandora-papers-data-on-more-than-9000-offshore-companies-trusts-and-foundations/ 

 

[Job announcement] Head of Anti-Corruption Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). "Support the implementation of the Organisation's Programme of Work and Budget and the advancement of the Strategic Orientations of the Secretary-General, in particular as they relate to Anti - Corruption and Anti – bribery." 

UN Jobnet: https://www.unjobnet.org/jobs/detail/41411002   

G7 - Nigeria - U.S.

G7 Germany 2022 - Foreign Ministers' Communiqué. "We recognize the corrosive impact of corruption in undermining public confidence in democracy and remain committed to convening a stronger, more unified voice in our action against corruption. We support and promote the effective implementation of our international anticorruption obligations and commitments, including those made within the G7." 

Germany Federal Foreign Office: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/news/-/2531266 

 

[Opinion] Digitalisation As Panacea To Corruption At Ports of Nigeria. "We must be on guard against its excesses and the most credible and scientific approach to resolving it is to digitalize the port processes which in turn will reduce human contact." 

New Telegraph Nigeria: https://www.newtelegraphng.com/digitalisation-as-panacea-to-corruption-at-ports/ 

 

U.S. Treasury Department, Outlines Strategy to Fight Terrorist Funding, Illicit Finance. "The 2022 National Strategy for Combatting Terrorist and Other Illicit Financing is meant to strengthen the country's anti-money laundering framework and other threats in the wake of the pandemic, the rise of fraud and corruption and the increased digitalization of the financial world." 

PYMNTS.com: https://www.pymnts.com/news/security-and-risk/2022/treasury-department-promotes-illicit-finance-combat-strategy/ 

U4 – U.K. – Council of Europe

Introduction of U4's publication: Select anti-corruption success stories. "There is far less in terms of anti-corruption success stories that have been studied (due to several factors, including methodological challenges and what anti-corruption success actually means)." 

U4 Anti-corruption Research Centre: https://www.u4.no/publications/select-anti-corruption-success-stories 

 

Queen's Speech: UK government to introduce bill to tackle illicit finance. "A bill will be brought forward to further strengthen powers to tackle illicit finance, reduce economic crime and help businesses grow. Measures will be introduced to support the security services and help them protect the United Kingdom." 

The Block: https://www.theblockcrypto.com/post/145992/queens-speech-uk-government-to-introduce-bill-to-tackle-illicit-finance 

 

Annual Report 2021 by the Council of Europe's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing body MONEYVAL. "Governments need to step up their efforts and coordination to combat money laundering and terrorist financing by adopting stricter regulation and supervision of the virtual assets sector and the specialised "gatekeeper" professions" 

The Council of Europe: https://www.coe.int/en/web/moneyval/-/stricter-regulation-of-virtual-assets-and-specialised-gatekeeper-professions-should-be-priorities-in-combating-money-laundering 

U.S. - Africa - C7

The U.S. Government and AIR (Alliance for Innovative Regulation) Announce First TechSprint to Combat Global Corruption. "The Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and Department of the Treasury's Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes are partnering with the AIR to support an inaugural Anti-Corruption Solutions through Emerging Technologies (ASET) Global Anti-Corruption TechSprint to combat global corruption." 

Department of State: https://www.state.gov/the-u-s-government-and-air-alliance-for-innovative-regulation-announce-first-techsprint-to-combat-global-corruption/ 

 

Africa Anti-corruption conference concludes with strong commitment for greater collaboration to tackle corruption. "They committed to stronger local, regional, and international cooperation and collaboration among anti-corruption agencies in Commonwealth Africa to enhance the capacity-building of investigators and prosecutors of corruption offences, and to support the speedy and unfettered repatriation of recovered assets." (Read the Communiqué: here) 

The Commonwealth: https://thecommonwealth.org/news/africa-anti-corruption-conference-concludes-strong-commitment-greater-collaboration-tackle 

 

C7 (international civil society) urges G7 to do more to protect civic space and enable anti-corruption efforts. "The G7 must support civil society so they can deliver on their promise of a more just and equitable world. When authoritarianism takes control into the hands of a few, social movements are the last remaining check on power – but they are struggling." 

Transparency International: https://www.transparency.org/en/press/g7-urged-to-do-more-to-protect-civic-space-and-enable-anti-corruption-efforts 

U.K. - Ukraine - Tanzania

In the U.K., Golden Visas issued to investors of university age or below prompted anti-corruption campaigners to warn that kleptocrats may have used their children to secure the permits. "Instead of attracting major entrepreneurs, it was used to open the door to the scions of wealthy families - including from countries where that presented a heightened risk of receiving illicit funds." 

Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-04/gen-z-millionaires-buying-golden-visas-in-the-u-k-raises-alarm 

 

Ukraine Allows All Accused Of Corruption To Payback During War & Escape Criminal Liability. "The enactment of this measure is critical in order to develop private sources of cash mobilisation without jeopardising criminal justice obligations." 

Republicworld.com: https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/russia-ukraine-crisis/ukraine-allows-all-accused-of-corruption-to-payback-during-war-and-escape-criminal-liability-articleshow.html 

 

Tanzania's educational institutions to establish anti-corruption clubs which will play a key role in the fight against corruption. "Go and establish anti-graft clubs in college and universities so that every student understands the negative effects of the vice even at workplaces." 

Ippmedia: https://www.ippmedia.com/en/news/establishanticorruption-clubs-educational-institutions-urged   

Papua New Guinea - FATF - Vietnam

Papua New Guinea anti-corruption funding update. "The government can still decide to reallocate funding to prop up these anti-corruption organisations." 

DEVPOLICY blog: https://devpolicy.org/png-anti-corruption-funding-update-20220429/ 

 

FATF President's phenomenal speech at the AML Intelligence Public Private Summit. "We see that weaknesses remain in investigating and prosecuting high-profile cross-border cases, and preventing anonymous shell companies and trusts from being used for illicit purposes." 

AML Intelligence: https://www.amlintelligence.com/2022/04/exclusive-fatf-presidents-phenomenal-speech-at-amli-ppp-summit/ 

 

Vietnamese Central anti-corruption committee discusses settlement of corruption cases. "Since the beginning of the year, assets worth over 2.05 trillion VND (89.25 million USD) have been seized and frozen, while nearly 4 trillion VND has been recovered." 

Vietnam plus: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/central-anticorruption-committee-discusses-settlement-of-corruption-cases/227664.vnp