From Research to Practice: The Journey of GI-ACE
On the second day of the conference, the research teams were joined by civil society actors to further discuss research findings, this time narrowing the thematic lens. Sarah Chayes gave a keynote speech on the state of the anti-corruption field as we know it today and practitioner partners shared their experience working as key stakeholders to research projects. In the evening, the ACE programme held a conference-wide film screening showcasing the successful partnerships between researchers and actors working on the ground to combat corruption.
Welcome and Agenda-Setting
Speaker: Johannes Tonn
Johannes Tonn from Global Integrity set out the agenda for the second day of the GI-ACE research conference.
Research Findings and their Impact
Speakers: Paul Heywood
Research Director of the GI-ACE Programme, Paul Heywood, shares some of the core GI-ACE research programme objectives and approaches. He explores why historical corruption mitigation strategies and research initiatives have failed to capture the scale and focus of what corruption means in practice and why they have failed to deliver reforms that result in a measurable reduction in corruption. The GI-ACE research framework has sought to provide a more refined, right-sized, and practical approach to anti-corruption.
Building Integrity and the Role of Social Norms: What are the Lessons for Practitioners?
Speaker: Claudia Baez Camargo
Why is building integrity so difficult and what can we do about it? The research has found that it is difficult to promote integrity by decree as formal mechanisms of control and monitoring often have adverse results. Policymakers need to take into account the specific challenges being faced by people in different country and sectoral contexts, as well as considering social norms, behaviors, and identities.
Recognizing Leaders as an Anti-Corruption Strategy
Speakers: Mark Buntaine
This project works from the theory that fostering collective pride in good governance and providing a positive recognition for local leaders who forego corruption will decrease corruption in a national park revenue-sharing programme in western Uganda. For more information on this project, see here.
Compliance with Beneficial Ownership/Sources of Wealth Checks in the AML System
Speakers: John Heathershaw
John Heathershaw shares research methodology and findings from his project on how Western finance institutions enable transnational kleptocratic illicit financial flows.
Does Transparency Bring Cleanliness? Offshore Financial Secrecy Reform
Speaker: Daniel Haberly
This project makes use of leaked and newly constructed datasets to understand the impact that offshore financial secrecy reforms are having on the use of shell companies for the hiding of developing country corruption proceeds. For more information on this project, see here.
Reflections on the State of the Anti-Corruption Field
Speaker: Sarah Chayes
Keynote speech from author, reporter, and scholar Sarah Chayes.
Catalyzing Impact through Research, Collaboration and Trust-building
Speakers: Johannes Tonn
A brief conversation on the GI-ACE Theory of Change and the role that the GI-ACE programmatic team has played throughout the course of this project.
From Research to Policy Recommendations
Speakers: Liz Dávid-Barrett, Mihály Fazekas, Maurice Barrett, Gilbert Sendugwa
The project shares how they were able to develop a procurement portal that has been utilized and tested in practice by civil society actors in Uganda as well as government agencies in Jamaica. Actvisit Gilbert Sendugwa and Procurement Officer Maurice Barrett share their experience working alongside GI-ACE to meet anti-corruption goals in their own country contexts.