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Illicit financial flows

International actors whose activities lead to corruption – options for countering the problems

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Mike Wilson, Unsplash

Basic guide

Read our introduction to corruption and anti-corruption efforts in illicit financial flows.

Featured content

The gold sector in Madagascar: at the heart of illicit practices

In Madagascar, gold mining could be a major source of development for the government and the population. However, every year the country suffers losses due to the increase in illicit practices such as corruption and money laundering.

28 November 2022

How to (legally) silence an anti-corruption activist

Violence and threats against anti-corruption defenders are common, but legal actions are also used to silence them – also known as 'lawfare'. See what…

17 October 2022

Who owns what? Three lessons for transparency in beneficial ownership

The authors work with the CSABOT project, offering training in beneficial ownership transparency. Our latest session (in France, June 2022) generated…

Beneficial ownership disclosure at the UN General Assembly against corruption

Shining a light on those who own and control corporate legal entities can disrupt and deter corruption. The UNGASS in June 2021 is an opportunity to…

150 million euros confiscated following vice-president Obiang’s conviction in France

How will France return the stolen assets to the people of Equatorial Guinea?

From the blog

Blog
How to (legally) silence an anti-corruption activist
Violence and threats against anti-corruption defenders are common, but legal actions are also used to silence them – also known as 'lawfare'. See what…
17 October 2022
Illicit financial flows
Civil society
Blog
Who owns what? Three lessons for transparency in beneficial ownership
The authors work with the CSABOT project, offering training in beneficial ownership transparency. Our latest session (in France, June 2022) generated…
3 August 2022
Illicit financial flows
Blog
Strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPP): fighting back against vexatious lawsuits
Strategic litigation against public participation – SLAPP – targets journalists, whistleblowers, researchers, and civil society organisations with…
23 November 2021
Illicit financial flows
Civil society
Politics of anti-corruption
Blog
Beneficial ownership disclosure at the UN General Assembly against corruption
Shining a light on those who own and control corporate legal entities can disrupt and deter corruption. The UNGASS in June 2021 is an opportunity to…
12 March 2021
Illicit financial flows
Auditing and financial control
Private sector
Blog
Foreign bribery and money laundering: it’s time for reparation!
Countries recover huge sums of money from companies to settle cases of bribery overseas. These fines should be used for the public good.
26 October 2020
Illicit financial flows
Blog
Blockchain technology to prevent corruption in Covid-19 response: how can it help overcome risks?
Blockchain technology is not a one-stop remedy to combat corruption. It needs surrounding structures in place to support its successful application.
17 June 2020
Covid-19 and corruption
Development cooperation
Illicit financial flows
Blog
Addressing the “seven deadly thins” – weak spots where corruption can fester
The origins of anti-corruption in DFID
26 March 2020
Development cooperation
Anti-corruption basics
Illicit financial flows
Justice sector
Blog
150 million euros confiscated following vice-president Obiang’s conviction in France
How will France return the stolen assets to the people of Equatorial Guinea?
25 March 2020
Illicit financial flows
Blog
China and global integrity-building: Challenges and prospects for engagement
China’s involvement in corruption and governance issues on a global scale is multifaceted. Challenges for Western donors coexist with opportunities…
10 July 2019
Politics of anti-corruption
Illicit financial flows
Development cooperation

Learning and Events

Workshop

Madagascar – Natural resources and illicit practices

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Workshop

Corruption, anti-corruption and environmental crimes in Peru: A focus on coordination and effectiveness

Lima, Peru

30 April 2023

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Workshop

Angola – Natural resources and illicit financial flows

30 December 2022

Register

Event

Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation – Crushing down anti-corruption defenders

Online

30 September 2021

Register

Latest publications

U4 Brief
The gold sector in Madagascar: at the heart of illicit practices
In Madagascar, gold mining could be a major source of development for the government and the population. However, every year the country suffers…
28 November 2022
Illicit financial flows
Natural resources and energy
Oil, gas, and mining
U4 Helpdesk Answer
Lebanon: Overview of corruption and anti-corruption
7 September 2022
Anti-corruption basics
Illicit financial flows
Anti-corruption agencies
U4 Practitioner Experience Note
Investigating the ethics of investments
Norway’s global pension fund invests in 1.3% of all listed companies in the world. Its chief advisor responsible for the fund's ethical guidelines…
22 May 2022
Illicit financial flows
Justice sector
U4 Helpdesk Answer
The role of private actors in asset recovery
More and more countries are attempting to recover illegally obtained assets via private actors, which can be faster and more efficient than the…
20 December 2021
Illicit financial flows
Private sector
U4 Helpdesk Answer
Illicit finance and national security
Illicit finance can be used by adversarial actors to conduct a range of hostile activities, such as interfering in another country’s political system,…
5 December 2021
Illicit financial flows
U4 Helpdesk Answer
Illicit gold flows from Central and East Africa
Due to its ease of movement and global exchangeability, gold tends to attract illicit actors. Between US$300 and US$600 million is smuggled out of…
30 August 2021
Illicit financial flows
Natural resources and energy
Oil, gas, and mining
U4 Helpdesk Answer
Supervisory and professional bodies dealing with professional enablers of illicit financial flows
Services offered by financial and non-financial businesses and professionals can help criminals to perpetrate offences, such as corruption and tax…
26 August 2021
Illicit financial flows
U4 Helpdesk Answer
Professional enablers of illicit financial flows and high-risk service and jurisdictions
Professional enablers not only launder dirty money, but they also make it harder for law enforcement officials to identify them and recover stolen…
14 August 2021
Illicit financial flows
U4 Helpdesk Answer
The impact of anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing regulations on civic space and human rights
Regulations regarding anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism are being used to justify civil space restrictions and human…
15 April 2021
Illicit financial flows
Civil society
Human rights

Further Resources

Blog post
The Obiang case: how will France return the stolen assets?
25 March 2020
Policy discussion
Putting the IFF agenda into action at the country level – blog series

Resource Collections

Collection
Targeting Natural Resource Corruption

Topic Experts

Sophie Lemaître

Senior Adviser

Email: sophie.lemaitre@cmi.no

Aled Williams

Principal Adviser

Email: aled.williams@cmi.no

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The U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre works to reduce the harmful impact of corruption on society. U4 is a permanent centre at Chr. Michelsen Institute in Norway.

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