📋 Tender Overview
Switzerland supports strategic partners in asset recovery who provide technical assistance to countries, advocate for international standards, and facilitate knowledge and exchange on international efforts and ongoing cases. The partnerships leverage Switzerland’s potential to influence the agenda more effectively, facilitate the integration of international best practices in ongoing restitution negotiations, and help ensure that returned assets benefit the populations of states of origin.
Country/region Topic Period Budget
Global
Governance
Anti-corruption organisations
Democratic participation and civil society
Legal and judicial development
Domestic revenue mobilisation
01.01.2025 - 31.12.2029
CHF 5’100’000
The project in brief
Background The proceeds of public corruption often end up in financial centres outside the countries of origin. Recovering these stolen assets entails cumbersome investigations, lengthy judicial proceedings, mutual legal assistance and agreeing on the mechanics of restitution. Asset recovery is not only a key component in the global fight against corruption, but also an important source of development financing (SDG target 16.4). Switzerland has returned more stolen assets than any other state, accompanied the implementation of those funds, and promotes international standards and best practices at global level. Switzerland’s leadership is complemented by collaboration with strategic partners, which facilitates efficient cooperation and ultimately contributes to assets being returned to the benefit of the population of the state of origin.
Objectives To promote the systematic and timely recovery and return of stolen assets for the benefit of the populations of the countries of origin, and to influence normative frameworks.
Target groups
Countries requesting technical support, in particular financial investigation units, anticorruption authorities, and prosecutor’s offices
Multilateral agencies and fora (e.g. Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption)
Governmental and nongovernmental asset recovery networks of practitioners
Populations in partner countries, particularly the poorest, who suffer most from corruption, inappropriate governance and the lack of a functioning and independent judiciary
Medium-term outcomes
Capacity and expertise on asset recovery processes in countries of origin are strengthened
Swiss priorities and experiences are embedded in global policy dialogue, international discourse, and norm setting on asset recovery
A growing international consensus on best practices in asset return is realised
Civil society plays an increased accountability role in asset recovery
Results Expected results:
Strengthen tools, procedures, instruments, policies or institutions to recover stolen assets at country level
Country level experiences fed into international policy discussions for improved responses, approaches or innovations to address asset recovery
