Instituting good governance through research, advice, and training

Mauritius

This ongoing project has supported Mauritius to prepare for its accession process to the OECD Working Group on Bribery (WGB) through a mock evaluation (drawing from the Phase 1 and Phase 2 parts of the Working Group’s country assessment process) which identified relevant gaps in the country’s legal and regulatory framework (and, to an extent, the institutions and practices to enforce this framework) and recommended corresponding remedial actions.

Beyond the assessment, GovRisk has held workshops to develop a detailed, practical and traceable Action Plan to help the relevant authorities gather updated economic data and arguments to meet the WGB’s mutual interest criteria and submit a formal accession request in December 2024.

GovRisk has also reviewed and provided feedback on relevant documents, such as the FCC Act, and provided technical and secretariat support for two Task Force meetings.

Impact Story

GovRisk supported Mauritius in preparing for its accession process to the OECD Working Group on Bribery (WGB), building on a previously completed mock evaluation to provide technical advice on legal amendments and the coordination of preparatory actions by key stakeholders in line with identified gaps and recommended remedial actions. Through collaboration with stakeholders and engagement with the OECD, significant progress was made in advancing legal reforms to combat corruption. The project furthermore successfully facilitated dialogue and coordination among key stakeholders, laying the groundwork for continued efforts to enhance anti-corruption measures in Mauritius.

Western Balkans

GovRisk is working in partnership with Chemonics in the delivery of the Western Balkans Rule of Law Initiative (WBROLI), a six-country programme aiming to contribute to high level UK Government objectives related to reducing the threat and impact of Serious and Organised Crime (SOC), including corruption and illicit financial flows in the Western Balkans and its impact on the UK. WBROLI comprises two workstreams which aim to promote the application of the principles of democratic governance:

i) Criminal justice

ii) Transparency & accountability.

GovRisk has been working across both workstreams since July 2022, acting as the lead implementer for the programme’s anti-corruption work in BiH and as a key delivery partner for criminal justice reform interventions Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro.

GovRisk’s work on WBROLI focuses on two key areas in the different jurisdictions: strengthening the anti- corruption regime at the cantonal level in Sarajevo and strengthening the criminal justice systems which work to fight SOC and corruption in Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

Impact Story

GovRisk has worked with State Prosecutor’s Offices in the Western Balkans to improve the efficiency and clarity of their indictments against Serious Organised Crimes charges. There has been a noticeable change in indictments drafted over the past year, with the Offices submitting documents that are clearer with more concise wording and that are significantly shorter in length, bringing the indictments closer in line with international best practice, particularly aligning with the UK system.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, GovRisk collaborates with local stakeholders to advance anti-corruption efforts and promote the rule of law. The impact of these efforts in Bosnia includes educating citizens and public institutions on reporting corruption, enhancing the media's investigative capabilities in uncovering financial crimes, and providing comprehensive capacity-building support to the ACO (Anti-Corruption Office) to bolster its anti-corruption endeavours and collaboration with other anti-corruption institutions. Furthermore, GovRisk's facilitation of a press conference for the ACO has led to the dissemination of the office's achievements through over 70 news articles in independent local press outlets. Through these initiatives, GovRisk aims to promote transparency, integrity, and accountability within Bosnia's governance structures, contributing to a more resilient and accountable society.

Peru

GovRisk is a key subcontractor to Chemonics in the delivery of this five year programme which launched in 2020. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), it is designed to develop integrity standards to be applied by regional governments delivering public works, which will be monitored by integrity networks made up of civil society and private sector representatives. GovRisk is responsible for the delivery of activities designed to contribute to strengthening prevention, control, and supervision mechanisms to reduce corruption at the regional and national level.

This includes supporting the following: the application and monitoring of an Integrity Index; the development of an effective methodology for detecting and managing corruption risk and integrity gaps; the application of Simultaneous Control in prioritised investment projects; the implementation of an improved risk management methodology; the application of the Integrity Standards; and the development of an online corruption reporting system for citizens.

Impact Story

TAPI has committed to transforming the challenges posed by the lack of integrity in public procurement into opportunities. With this goal in mind, the implementation of integrity networks and standards was crucial. These networks foster meaningful dialogue between public servants and civil society, specifically regarding projects related to public investment and procurement within selected regional governments

China

In its role as the principal technical advisor to China on anti-money laundering, GovRisk delivered the AML strand of the China Business Environment Programme (BEP), funded by the FCDO. This was a continuation of technical assistance which GovRisk had been providing in collaboration with the People’s Bank of China (PBC) since 2016.

This programme supported China’s on-going efforts to modernise its AML regime in line with the standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and worked with a variety of stakeholders to deliver technical assistance across a broad range of focus areas, including beneficial ownership, supervision, and use of financial intelligence. As part of this work, GovRisk also conducted extensive in-person and online training of Chinese officials and organised technical visits to the UK for both public and private sector representatives.

This programme has allowed us to build an extensive and trusted network of Chinese public and private sector organisations and to create an inter-institutional debate fostering the alignment of international best practice.

Kenya | Mexico

This cross-governmental programme is funded by the DIT and FCDO. The initiative connects several of Britain’s strategic priorities, including: ‘Reaching Export 2020 with Integrity’, UK 2017-2022 Anti-Corruption Strategy, ‘Global Britain’ strategy, or the House of Lords Select Committee on the Review of the Bribery Act.

In 2018, GovRisk delivered the pilot project under this initiative, working in partnership with DIT to develop the first iteration of integrity content for GREAT.gov.uk in line with Government Digital Service and wider commitments made by the FCO and DIT to boost assistance to UK companies to increase investment in high-risk markets. GovRisk then acted as the Monitoring and Learning agent on the country pilots in Kenya and Mexico and has since established itself as a strategic advisor to Her Majesty’s Government (HMG), recommending the most effective, impactful, and efficient ways to continue this initiative and facilitate a global roll-out.

Brazil

In October 2019 GovRisk, in partnership with Genius Sports, hosted a landmark, multi-stakeholder Sports Integrity Summit in Brazil. This was the first summit bringing together policy makers, athletes, investigators, prosecutors, the betting industry, as well as representatives of the UN and other international organisations to discuss issues at the intersection of corruption, organised crime, betting, and sports integrity.

Five expert panels discussed the importance of integrity in professional sport; the growing relevance of technology in identifying suspicious betting activities; the dangers of illegal betting markets; the impact that legislative and regulatory changes can have and the possible ways to create networks of local, national, and global cooperation with legislators, regulators, enforcement agencies, promoters, data providers, and betting operators to avoid manipulation of game results.

The Summit resulted in a pledge by participating representatives from both the public and private sectors to create a Task Force to ensure continuous cooperation towards the design of Brazil’s regulatory framework.

Mexico

ACROL is a four-year programme launched in 2019 under the cross-governmental UK Prosperity Fund. The programme works with a range of state and federal level institutions with the aim of strengthening Mexico’s criminal justice system, thereby contributing to poverty reduction, improved gender equality and inclusive economic development.

Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the programme activities are designed to improve the capacity of Mexican authorities to prevent, detect and investigate three serious crime types: homicide, embezzlement, and cyber-crime. Working together with PA Consulting, GovRisk supplies expertise and advisory support across a range of technical, capacity-building, and knowledge-sharing interventions for each crime type.