U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre

Anti-Corruption Helpdesk. The relationship between business integrity and commercial success. Transparency International.

Corruption harms both markets and companies, leading to higher costs and damage to reputation. Strong integrity boosts innovation, efficiency, and growth — even for small businesses.

🔗 Learn more in our latest #HelpdeskAnswer, developed with @u4acrc.bsky.social: anticorru.pt/3dV

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Overcrowding, limited resources, and systemic corruption hinder Peru’s ability to manage its prisons, where mobile phone smuggling thrives.

Paper available at https://www.u4.no/publications/corruption-as-a-limit-to-state-capacity-mobile-phones-in-peruvian-prisons

🧵1/4 We’re excited to share a new blog post on the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre @u4acrc.bsky.social, where Kristýna Bašná and Radim Bureš unveil findings from a pilot study conducted in the Czech Republic.📖

What the Financial Secrecy Index tells us about corruption today One route to tackling corruption is to close down opportunities for regulatory arbitrage. The 2025 Financial Secrecy Index shows us how.

🪄Dirty money doesn’t disappear by magic, it’s enabled.

In this blog for @u4acrc.bsky.social, Miroslav Palansky & Moran Harari break down the 2025 Financial Secrecy Index, exposing the countries, loopholes, & systems that make it possible.

www.u4.no/blog/what-th...

#FinancialSecrecy #FSI2025

Measuring what matters in a crisis: Reforming corruption risk assessment in emergencies Crises cause system-wide shifts that demand a different approach to corruption risk assessments – moving away from static models towards context-sensitive and dynamic techniques.

🆕 Blog post:
Crises cause system-wide shifts that demand a different approach to corruption risk assessments – moving away from static models towards context-sensitive and dynamic techniques. 👉 www.u4.no/blog/measuri...

From transparency to metrics: Measuring corruption in government contracts The Global Public Procurement Dataset helps users to uncover corruption ‘red flags’ in government contracting across 42 countries.

72 million contracts. 42 countries. The Global Public Procurement Dataset is helping expose corruption risks in real time.

www.u4.no/blog/from-tr...

Illicit financial flows and economic growth Illicit financial flows (IFFs) undermine economic growth by weakening institutional quality, state legitimacy, facilitating corruption and discouraging foreign and domestic investment. Empirical stu...

Illicit financial flows (IFFs) divert resources from public investment and reduce productivity, both crucial for economic growth.

Our research review explains what the evidence says – and what’s missing. Essential reading for policy-makers.

Read the paper 👉 www.u4.no/publications...

Anti-corruption as a feminist cause: The gendered dimensions of power abuse At an online event in March 2025, more than 100 participants discussed strategies to curb corruption while promoting gender equality and social justice.

It's clear that integrating gender perspectives in anti-corruption efforts isn't just good policy – it's essential for justice, good governance, and equity.
U4 Blog post by the @uncaccoalition.bsky.social Isabella Moggs and Betina Pasternik👇
u4.no/r/BL2511

Call for consultant

📢 Consultancy opportunity on corruption risks in climate financing in Kenya 🇰🇪

We're looking for consultants to work on identifying and analysing corruption vulnerabilities within climate finance mechanisms in #Kenya.

See terms of reference 👉 www.u4.no/call-for-con...

Apply by 26 May 2024.

Card. Call for consultant

📣 Consultancy opportunity on anti-corruption and climate funds. Please re-share!

We are seeking consultants to contribute to a project assessing corruption vulnerabilities in multilateral climate funds.

See terms of reference 👉 www.u4.no/call-for-con...

Apply by 20 May 2025.

Card with publication thumbnail. Integrity Zones in Indonesian prisons: Addressing corruption amid overcrowding

📢 New paper: Integrity Zones in Indonesian prisons: Addressing corruption amid overcrowding

Indonesia seeks to reduce prison #corruption. Integrity Zones are a start – but broader reforms are vital, including non-custodial sentencing and fair pre-trial detention.  

Read in full 👉 u4.no/r/BR2502

Reading the future, meaningfully: The Corruption Risk Forecast. Part 8 of our blog series on corruption measurement in practice

🧭 How can we really measure corruption – and track if it’s changing? Alina Mungiu-Pippidi breaks down how the Corruption Risk Forecast (CRF) and Index for Public Integrity (IPI) were built to do just that:

Read the blog 👇
www.u4.no/blog/reading...

Anti-corruption measures in the context of oil Uganda’s emerging oil industry could paradoxically undermine its socioeconomic development. This is because of opportunities for corruption, including in project expenditure, procurement, land…

The Petroleum Fund was introduced in Uganda’s Public Finance Management Act (2015) to prevent oil revenue mismanagement. But are institutional constraints limiting its impact? Our new paper investigates. u4.no/r/BR2407
#Accountability #ResourceGovernance #Uganda

Anti-corruption capacity in Ukraine’s local self-government Investing in anti-corruption capacity is an important route to securing the democratic benefits of decentralisation reforms in Ukraine.

Despite war challenges, Ukraine's local governments maintain autonomy in public service delivery. Strengthening their anti-corruption capacity ensures reconstruction is fair, efficient, and free from corruption.

Learn more: u4.no/r/BL2502

Anti-corruption as a feminist cause: the gendered dimensions of power abuse Corruption disproportionately affects women and marginalised groups, limiting access to essential services, economic opportunities, and political representation. This event explores how anti-corruptio...

📢 Join the online event, “Anti-corruption as a feminist cause: the gendered dimensions of power abuse” at the NGO CSW69 Beijing+30 Forum.

🗓️ Friday, 21 March | 8:30 am New York time (1:30 pm CET)
📍 Online access: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Learn more here 👉 www.u4.no/events/anti-...

Decoding corruption: The DATACORR database for better survey questions Policymakers need to decode which types of corruption raise public concern and where intervention is urgent. The DATACORR database of 3,000+ survey questions can help develop innovative, appropriate…

Decades of survey data show a shift from generic to specific questions about corruption. DATACORR's database captures this evolution, providing valuable insights for researchers.

Read the blog: u4.no/r/BL2417

Self-paced course: Gender and corruption

Corruption isn't gender-neutral – it affects women and men in profoundly different ways.

This #IWD2025, learn how gender and corruption intersect in this short self-paced course designed for development and anti-corruption practitioners. Part 1 available now!

Enrol at www.u4.no/courses/gend...

The Unbundled Corruption Index: Prototyping a multi-dimensional measure. Part 7 of our blog series on corruption measurement in practice

The Unbundled Corruption Index is a methodological innovation in corruption measurement. It is the first Index that explores qualitatively distinct types of corruption across regions, using structured surveys of country experts.

Read the blog👇
u4.no/r/BL2506

#AntiCorruption #Governance #Research

Anti-corruption measures in the context of oil Uganda’s emerging oil industry could paradoxically undermine its socioeconomic development. This is because of opportunities for corruption, including in project expenditure, procurement, land…

Uganda’s oil industry could fuel economic growth—or corruption. What measures are in place to prevent the ‘resource curse’? Our recent research explores governance challenges and solutions.

Read more: u4.no/r/BR2407

#AntiCorruption #Uganda #ResourceGovernance

Corruption in vaccines research and clinical trials. Risks in low-income countries Clinical trials that take place in a range of countries ensures that vaccines are effective for different populations and bring opportunities for researchers and investment into a country’s medical…

Large pharmaceutical companies play a major role in vaccine research. But without strong oversight, their influence can distort trial data & erode trust. Strengthening integrity measures ensures safer, fairer outcomes for all.

Read more: u4.no/r/HDA2440

#PharmaEthics #ClinicalTrials

Business integrity and democracy Business integrity and democracy are deeply intertwined. Both are complex multidimensional concepts, so this relationship can be traced across several areas, from the effect of corporate activity…

When businesses engage ethically in politics, democracy benefits. When they don’t, institutions weaken, trust declines, and corruption risks rise. How can companies contribute to a virtuous cycle instead of a vicious one?

Learn more in our recent U4 paper. u4.no/r/HDA2446

Pitfalls in measuring corruption with citizen surveys Citizens’ survey responses can be unreliable and influenced by perceived expectations. Researchers must understand this behaviour, clearly set the context, and define key terms to improve corruption…

Can citizen surveys accurately measure corruption? 🤔📊 Perceptions & experiences often don’t match. Our recent blog post explores why survey responses can be unreliable—and what can be done to improve data quality.

Read more: buff.ly/3Q61EQ3

Anti-corruption in peacebuilding practice Despite the vital role of anti-corruption in sustaining peace, the scope and success of integrating anti-corruption provisions in peace agreements has never been examined. Our study finds that, in…

Strengthening anti-corruption provisions in peace agreements requires action across multiple negotiation channels. Our recent study highlights strategies to integrate reforms from ceasefire talks to final agreements.

Read more 👇
u4.no/r/IS24-8

Advancing anti-corruption capacity in Ukraine’s local self-government The recovery of Ukraine depends on empowering local self-government authorities (LSGs) to counter corruption and ensure transparent reconstruction efforts. These decentralised bodies, strengthened…

War-related uncertainty shouldn't compromise transparency.

Our recent paper examines how Ukraine's local authorities can maintain anti-corruption measures while managing post-war reconstruction.

Read in full 👉 buff.ly/4gbBOok

Publication cover and title: Sustainability reporting and anti-corruption provisions: unlocking the potential for impact

When it comes to sustainability reporting, inconsistent global standards can hamper anti-corruption efforts.

Our latest study explores the development organisations that are leading the way in transparency and accountability.

Read in full 👉 u4.no/r/IS2501

Publication cover with title: Advancing anti-corruption capacity in Ukraine's local self-government

🇺🇦 Local self-government authorities play an essential role in Ukraine's reconstruction efforts. Our new research shows how these bodies can lead transparent, fair recovery initiatives while fighting corruption at the community level.

Read the paper: www.u4.no/publications...

#Ukraine #Governance

Anti-corruption measures are most common in comprehensive peace deals but rare in other negotiation stages. Find out how anti-corruption measures are utilised in peace agreement.

New U4 paper available at 👉 u4.no/r/IS24-8

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Ukraine's EU accession goals are important, but legal compliance alone might not be enough. Our paper argues for "constructive prevention" to build a more sustainable anti-corruption future. 🇺🇦🏗️

Read more: buff.ly/4gHl88U

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What does effective anti-corruption look like for Ugandan oil? Our recent paper discusses regulations, monitoring, and actions to move beyond performative transparency.

Find out more: buff.ly/3ZKKcoC

Publication cover and title: How to make UNCAC's Implementation Review Mechanism more effective

📢 New U4 paper! How can UNCAC’s Implementation Review Mechanism be improved? Our recent research offers actionable recommendations for transparency, accountability, and better implementation.

Read here: https://buff.ly/41ECBuD