TAI Weekly

TAI Weekly|Frontline Strategies against Corruption

By TAI (Role at TAI)
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TAI Weekly

WHAT'S NEW?

Explore the latest factsheets from the Global Freedom of Expression initiative, highlighting crucial developments in global freedom of speech protections and challenges.

A joint report by the National Democratic Institute and the Open Government Partnership outlines critical steps to safeguard global democracies against emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

The Good Council for Redistribution – a citizens’ assembly established by Austrian heiress and activist Marlene Engelhorn to redistribute €25 million of her inherited fortune - has made its first grant awards, including to those pushing for tax justice.

Researchers John Marshall, Horacio Larreguy, José Ramón Enríquez, and Alberto Simpser examine the impact of non-partisan social media campaigns on enhancing electoral transparency and accountability.

The Global Institute on Responsible AI evaluates country commitments and offers valuable insights into progress and challenges in ensuring AI respects human rights.

Following recent electoral outcomes, Enrique Krauze voices concerns about the state of democracy in Mexico, warning against the potential suffocation of democratic institutions.

The effectiveness of the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive in combatting corporate impunity is questioned by Daniel Uribe in this report on regulatory adequacy.

A timely new brief presents methods and metrics for assessing democratic erosion, providing crucial insights for scholars and policymakers focused on maintaining democratic integrity.

Investigative journalist Jelter Meers uncovers the hidden financiers behind large-scale environmental degradation. The expossé describes their roles in perpetuating ecological crises.

ESSENTIAL READING

Sefton Darby analyzes New Zealand's controversial "Fast-track Approvals Bill" for mining, predicting short-term ease will be countered by long-term instability and community opposition. Similar debates are or will soon play out in other countries with significant minerals. Read Joe Foti and Dieter Zinnbauer’s take on reforming permitting and enhancing participation to unblock the energy transition (and stay tuned for a more in depth TAI piece on this). 

FROM OUR MEMBERS 

LUMINATE: feature InternetLab’s Heloisa Massaro discussing the significant impact of social media and AI on Brazil’s electoral process as the country prepares for municipal elections in October.

MACARTHUR FOUNDATION: President John Palfrey reaffirmed their commitment to racial equity as he moderated a panel discussion recently at the Mission Investors Exchange, which brings together impact investment professionals from across the country. 

TAI:  Did you know that international funding for governance jumped from over $26 billion in 2021 to over $37 billion in 2022? What explains the jump? Now, you can find answers to this and more with our interactive funding data dashboard, authored by Jenny Lah and Yery Menendez Garcia.

ESSENTIAL LISTENING

Join philanthropy and social change experts Mandy van Deven and Chiara Cattaneo to discuss the importance of building and resourcing narrative power within civil society. This episode highlights work on empowering communities through strategic storytelling.

TOOLS AND TRENDS FOR FUNDERS 

Who is the next generation of philanthropy in the Middle East? New research highlights how younger philanthropists are reimagining giving, focusing on individualized approaches and strategic impact. 

Ever wondered what a healthy, well-resourced collaborative fund looks like? Borealis Philanthropy's recent assessment provides a comprehensive looks into the financial frameworks that sustain effective and impactful collaborative funds. 

Tackling deep-rooted power structures requires more than just good intentions. Systemic Justice's first case study on their organizational culture work sheds light on the hard work, intentionality, and commitment needed to push back against pervasive power dynamics. 

Where is the money for feminist organizing around the world? A new survey aims to find out. Choose your preferred language and provide your responses today to help build a comprehensive picture of the availability of funding for feminist organizing, the financial challenges faced by feminist movements, and potential avenues to enhance funding for gender justice initiatives.

ESSENTIAL WATCHING!

As showcased at the IACC last week, the "Mafia & Banks" movie series delves into the deep entanglement of organized crime and financial systems. Watch parts 1 to 3, available in French with English subtitles, to explore the alarming extent of financial system capture by criminal networks.

FOCUSED TOPIC OF THE WEEK

Battling Corruption: Fresh Insights and Innovative Strategies from the Frontlines

The quiet streets of Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, were clogged this past week with badge wearers from the anti-corruption community. Well over a thousand activists, journalists, researchers, government officials and donors gathered at the International Anti Corruption Conference to discuss the latest themes and examples from all over the globe. Integrity concerns in climate responses was a far more prominent theme than in past IACCs. As Blair Glencorse summarized in this X thread fears of corruption should not hinder the flow of climate finance, advocating for nuanced arguments and robust integrity tools.

 Building on last month’s Climate Integrity Symposium in London, TAI’s Michael Jarvis joined an expert panel talking about safeguards being taken to balance climate action with integrity measures from local to national to regional and global levels. As Michael emphasized, one significant challenge is the lack of funding for climate accountability, but he finds hope that the broader push to localize development funding should also have positive integrity effects. For inspiration on that front check out the first cohort winners of the green accountability technology accelerator.

There were a host of IACC panels highlighting powerful stories of journalists uncovering corruption (and the all too real risks that they face). One example, recounted by Ernesto Cabral, is the "Rolexgate" scandal in Peru involving President Dina Boluarte. The reporting led to widespread international coverage and public outrage, prompting investigations into Boluarte for alleged illicit enrichment and bribery. The scandal has not only dominated news headlines but has also permeated popular culture in Peru, sparking protests, theme parties, social media parodies, and political cartoons. 

Just in time for IACC, Tom Shipley's latest publication offers a critical assessment of anti-corruption interventions. As we continue to tackle deep-rooted power structures and systemic injustices, Tom argues that comprehensive evaluations and innovative strategies are essential for driving effective anti-corruption efforts globally.

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