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Networks of anti-corruption authorities

Living up to their aspirations?

Networks of anti-corruption authorities pursue cross-border collaboration and joint capacity building, and sometimes even joint principles, joint policy making, and harmonization of national laws. Information about these activities and their outcomes is scarce, but it is clear that most of the networks are not yet reaching their political and technical potential. Networks of accountability organisations in other fields provide examples of what the anti-corruption networks, with appropriate support, might yet achieve.

3 February 2020
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Networks of anti-corruption authorities

Main points

  • During the last twenty years, about a dozen regional networks of anti-corruption authorities have been set up and continue to be more or less active.
  • Capacity building, cross-border cooperation in investigations and asset recovery, and legal harmonisation are the most common goals of the regional networks.
  • The question of the networks’ usefulness is difficult to answer, as it has been very challenging to obtain information about them online and through a survey.
  • Networks that have a permanent secretariat, with support from a main donor or membership fees, seem to be more sustainable. The most stable networks appear to be those that are closely linked to and/or funded by a larger regional or international organisation.
  • Anti-corruption authorities and their networks should be inspired by the examples set by other accountability institutions, whose global organisation, standardisation, accreditation, and peer review have helped strengthen their independence and performance.

Cite this publication


Schütte, S. (2020) Networks of anti-corruption authorities. Bergen: U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre, Chr. Michelsen Institute (U4 Brief 2020:2)

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About the author

Dr. Sofie Arjon Schütte leads U4’s thematic work on the justice sector, including specialised institutions like anti-corruption agencies and courts. Previously, she worked for the Partnership for Governance Reform in Indonesia and the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission and has conducted workshops and short-term assignments on corruption in more than 15 countries. She is editor of the series of U4 publications on anti-corruption courts around the world.

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All views in this text are the author(s)’, and may differ from the U4 partner agencies’ policies.

This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

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Photo: Levi Westerveld CC BY-NC-SA