OVERVIEW AND AIMS
Research for Feasible, Impactful Anti-Corruption
The SOAS Anti-Corruption Evidence (SOAS-ACE) research consortium takes an innovative approach to anti-corruption policy and practice. The programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is responding to the serious challenges facing people and economies affected by corruption.
We generate evidence that unpacks the causes and drivers of corrupt activities. Our aim is that these findings help policymakers, businesses and civil society adopt new, feasible, high-impact strategies to tackle corruption and contribute to positive development outcomes.
The current phase of SOAS-ACE, running until 2027, is building on the insights and learning from our first phase, which started in 2017 and identified evidence-based strategies to reduce corruption in different sectors and countries.
In this phase, we are deepening our research, including in health, education, green investments, climate change, digital ID, and government procurement. We are also supporting and monitoring the implementation of some of our recommendations. The bulk of our work now focuses on Nigeria and Bangladesh.
Part of a Wider Anti-Corruption Programme
The wider FCDO Research and Evidence Directorate (RED)-funded Anti-Corruption Evidence (ACE) research programme was launched in 2015. ACE provides external, independent, rigorous research, producing a large body of evidence as a global public good. ACE directly informs UK government strategy, policy, operations and programming.
The wider ACE programme has three components, each of which specialises in specific areas:
- Governance and Integrity ACE (GI ACE) – led by Professor Paul Heywood, University of Sussex/Nottingham.
- Serious Organised Crime ACE (SOC ACE) – led by Professor Heather Marquette, University of Birmingham.
- SOAS-ACE – led by Professor Mushtaq Khan, SOAS University of London.
