Context in which this group operates
Grand corruption and state capture undermine the core purpose of the UNCAC by allowing those in positions of power to systematically divert public resources and manipulate state institutions for private gain. These forms of corruption are often complex, cross-border, and shielded by political or institutional influence, making them especially difficult to prevent, detect, and remedy through conventional anti-corruption tools.
Civil society plays a critical role in exposing grand corruption and state capture, holding perpetrators accountable, and pushing for stronger national and international frameworks to prevent and remediate the harm caused. Yet this work is often fragmented, with experts and organizations operating in isolation rather than through coordinated exchange and joint advocacy.
Objectives
The objectives of the Grand Corruption and State Capture Working Group are to:
- Facilitate discussion and exchange of information among civil society experts working on grand corruption and state capture
- Advance improved national and international frameworks, mechanisms, and action for the prevention, enforcement, and remediation of grand corruption and state capture
- Increase hurdles to grand corruption and state capture through coordinated civil society advocacy
- Promote greater accountability of perpetrators and remediation of the harm caused
Working Group and UNCAC-related outputs
- State Capture and the Threat to the Convention, Statement of UNCAC Coalition Working Group on Grand Corruption and State Capture (June 2025)
- Call for States to Regulate Management Consulting Companies Providing Public Sector Consulting Services, UNCAC Coalition Working Group on Grand Corruption and State Capture Submission to the UNCAC IRG (June 2025)
- State Capture and UNCAC: the Elephant in the Room, blog by Thomas Shipley (co-author of the UNCAC Coalition Working Group’s June written submission to the IRG on state capture)
- Blog: How can we tackle Grand Corruption? A summary of IRG side event (20 September 2021)
- Blog: Addressing impunity for grand corruption: what are the options – Voices for Transparency (2 March 2020)
- Grand Corruption as a Major Obstacle to Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, Transparency International, written submission to the CoSP (5 December 2019)
- Making grand corruption a priority, Transparency International, written submission to the CoSP (20 October 2017)
- Blog: Grand Corruption in Malaysia: How money is laundered and who is facilitating it (19 May 2017)
Recent publications on grand corruption by WG members and others
- Fighting Grand Corruption: Transnational and Human Rights Approaches in Latin America and Beyond book by Naomi Roht-Arriaza (2025)
- Grand Corruption in the New Global Context by Vivian Newman Pont (May 2025)
- Tackling Grand Corruption Impunity: Proposals for a Definition and Special Measures by Gillian Dell (6 September 2023)
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Addressing impunity for grand corruption: what are the options? by Gillian Dell (2 March 2020)
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UN and grand corruption: Time to break out of silos by Gillian Dell (12 May 2022)
Resources and publications on related topics discussed in WG sessions
- IBE Legal Profession Taskforce Report – Institute of Business Ethics (July 2024)
- Gatekeepers, Enablers or Technicians? – Spotlight on Corruption (April 2024)
- Quick Guide 32: Corruption and Human Rights by Anne Peters, Basel Institute on Governance (2024)
- Human Rights and Corruption: Problems and Potential of Individualizing a Systemic Problem by Anne Peters, International Journal of Constitutional Law, Vol. 22(2) (2024)
- Blog: The Fight Against Corruption is at Stake in Milan – Global Anti-Corruption Blog (30 November 2024)
- Corporations and Economic Crime Report: The Consultants by Hennie van Vuuren, Open Secrets (August 2023)
- Analysis: Why and How to Regulate the Use of Consulting Firms in Public Policy Development? – Sherpa (October 2022)
- OCCVI (Vortex‘s Observatory of Crime, Corruption, and Victimization)
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