Engaging civil society in the UNCAC review process is vital for ensuring transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in anti-corruption efforts, which are important priorities for the donor community.

Civil society participation not only strengthens the legitimacy and credibility of the review mechanism but also enhances the quality of information gathered by bringing in grassroots perspectives, independent monitoring, and evidence-based advocacy.

For donors, supporting such engagement helps to ensure that anti-corruption commitments translate into meaningful reforms locally, improves aid effectiveness by fostering government accountability, and contributes to sustainable governance outcomes that align with broader development and integrity objectives.

This discussion is particularly timely and relevant as the Conference of the States Parties (COSP) to the UNCAC convenes this year – providing a crucial opportunity to reaffirm the role of civil society as a partner in advancing the global anti-corruption agenda.

Thursday 23 October 2025
Online – Microsoft Teams

14.00–15.00 CEST (Berlin / Oslo / Stockholm)
13.00–14.00 BST (London)
08.00–09.00 EDT (Ottawa)

This webinar is by invitation only for

• Staff of U4 partner agencies and governments leading on UNCAC CoSP 2025 negotiations / anti-corruption / civil society support

(This webinar is for staff of U4 partner agencies only. To request participation, please contact Saul Mullard directly.)

Agenda & Speakers

• Welcome/Introduction
  Hilde Selbervik – U4 Director, CMI
  Saul Mullard – Senior Adviser, CMI–U4
  
• UNODC's role in supporting civil society
  Mirella Dummar Frahi – Chief, Civil Society Unit, UNODC.
  
• Lessons from U4's research on strengthening CSO participation in UNCAC reviews
  Coralie Pring – Senior International Research and Evaluation Lead
  
• Reflections
  Danella Newman – Project Manager, UNCAC Coalition

Recommended reading

Including civil society perspectives in UNCAC: Lessons from other international treaties

How to make the UN Convention against Corruption’s Implementation Review Mechanism more effective