International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award recognizes 8 winners in 2024

19th November 2024 - The Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award, an annual event organized under the patronage of His Highness the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, organized by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center, Qatar and in support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), announced today that eight individuals and organizations have been honored as winners across the award’s five categories.

 

This event represents the 8th edition of this prestigious award, with previous ceremonies having taken place in Vienna, Geneva, Kuala Lumpur, Kigali, Tunis, Doha, and Tashkent. 
Since its inception in 2016, the award has honored the achievements of 59 recipients from various countries.

 

The International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award ceremony took place this year in San José, Costa Rica. In honor of the occasion, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar; His Excellency Rodrigo Chaves Robles, President of the Republic of Costa Rica; Dr. Alexander Zuev, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and other distinguished guests revealed a 12-meter statue in La Sabana Park just before the ceremony commenced. During the unveiling, His Highness the Amir of Qatar presented a certificate of appreciation to H.E President Rodrigo Chaves Robles, acknowledging his dedication—and that of the Costa Rican people—to combating corruption.

 

At a ceremony graced by the presence of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, and His Excellency Mr. Stephan Brunner Neibig, First Vice President of the Republic of Costa Rica, representatives from the United Nations and esteemed ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, and other distinguished guests. Held at the Costa Rica Convention Center, the ceremony was attended by more than 500 participants.

 

Each category winner was honored with a certificate and trophy.

 

On the margins of the Award ceremony was a session of the International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award Winners Network from the Americas and another panel session of the winners of the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award.

 

This year’s event was delivered with the partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Costa Rica, the Procuraduría General of the Republic of Costa Rica and the Ministry of Sport of the Republic of Costa Rica. 

 

The International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award is given to recipients according to five distinct categories, which are: Lifetime or Outstanding Achievement, Academic Research and Education, Youth Creativity and Engagement, Innovation or Investigative Journalism, and Safeguarding Sports from Corruption. Recognized in the 2024 International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award ceremony were: 

 

•    Dr. Muna D. Buchahin (Mexico) - Lifetime or Outstanding Achievement 
•    Professor Robert Klitgaard (USA) - Academic Research and Education 
•    Professor Alberto Vannucci (Italy) - Academic Research and Education 
•    Ms Khadija Sharife (South Africa) - Innovation / Investigative Journalism
•    Dr. Rodrigo Arias Grillo (Spain) - Safeguarding Sports from Corruption
•    Professor Ilias Bantekas (Greece) - Safeguarding Sports from Corruption.
•    Mr. Gayo James Mpuya (Tanzania) - Youth Creativity and Engagement
•    Mejor Mexico (Mexico) - Youth Creativity and Engagement

 

Lifetime or Outstanding Achievement

Dr. Muna D. Buchahin has spent over 30 years combating corruption, making a significant impact through her leadership in forensic auditing. As Director of Forensic Audit at Mexico’s Superior Audit Office (2009-2018), she led major investigations, including the "Master Scam," which exposed a $600 million corruption network involving officials and institutions. Her investigations, along with the crimes and violations she uncovered, sparked widespread public outrage.

In 2008, Dr. Muna D. Buchahin founded the Mexico Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), promoting anti-fraud education. She has authored two influential books: Auditoría Forense (2014) and La Casa Sucia (2024), both addressing corruption in public administration.

 

Academic Research and Education

Professor Robert Klitgaard has been involved in anti-corruption work since the 1980s. He authored sixteen books, including “Controlling Corruption”, which played a key role in launching the global Anti-Corruption movement, and “Tropical Gangsters”, recognized by “The New York Times” as one of its "Books of the Century." 
Professor Klitgaard has consulted for prominent international organizations like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund as well as national and local governments. His work has had a global influence, providing practical tools for reform and shaping Anti-Corruption initiatives in countries like Colombia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and China.

 

Professor Alberto Vannucci has dedicated his career to combating corruption as a professor, researcher, and thought leader for 36 years. He has authored 185 scientific contributions, including the influential books Corrupt Exchanges and The Hidden Order of Corruption.
He has led key anti-corruption projects funded by the European Commission and the Italian Ministry for University and Research, and he also founded Italy’s first university master’s program on organized crime and corruption.
His work with NGO’s and international organizations has driven impactful anti-corruption policies, including Italy's first ethical code of conduct for politicians, which was recognized by the European Commission as a best practice  in this field.

Innovation / Investigative Journalism

Ms Khadija Sharife has worked as a researcher, writer, and activist, focusing on anti-corruption efforts over the last 20 years. She helped creating and leading The Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), a legal NGO that supports African whistleblowers.
As an investigative journalist, she has focused on exposing complex financial schemes in the developing world that affect the public interest. These schemes involve the use of intricate financial vehicles to steal billions of dollars, and she has also uncovered illicit kickbacks and bribery in countries such as Azerbaijan, Congo, and Zimbabwe.

 

Safeguarding Sports from Corruption

Dr. Rodrigo Arias Grillo, is a champion of integrity, has dedicated over 14 years to combating corruption in the sports sector, holding key roles in The Spanish Professional Football League (LaLiga), The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), and Sportia Law. He has collaborated with major organizations like the International Olympic Committee, UNODC, and Interpol. 
Among his significant accomplishments are the creation of a global network of Integrity Officers spanning all 211 FIFA member associations, spearheading integrity initiatives for over 40 football associations across the globe, leading more than 20 integrity investigations, and launching a vibrant community platform designed for Integrity Officers to exchange best practices. Moreover, he led regional workshops during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and drove national integrity initiatives in Latin American countries.

 

Professor Ilias Bantekas’ extensive career as an academic and authority in sports law, international criminal law, and anti-corruption, with a focus on integrity and ethics over 25 years.
His academic work includes numerous publications, including 250 peer-reviewed articles and 21 books on anti-corruption, human rights, and sports integrity, which have contributed to reforms in sports governance.
Additionally, he has worked as a senior policy advisor for the governments of Greece and Montenegro, where he contributed to co-design Greece's National Sports Integrity System and served as a senior consultant on sports ethics in Montenegro. He has also supported civil society initiatives in Greece to raise awareness of anti-corruption among youth through community projects.

 

Youth Creativity and Engagement

Mr. Gayo James Mpuya is a cartoonist best known for founding the "Kingo" cartoon strip and comic magazine in 1982. His work skillfully combines humor with serious commentary on contemporary issues, particularly anti-corruption, to raise awareness.
Mr. Mpuya has collaborated on several impactful campaigns, including “Kingo/Twaweza” which expanded outreach by focusing on governance and accountability, and “Taswira Yetu” which produced Tanzania's first investigative TV series on public service accountability. Additionally, he launched the “Say No to Corruption” campaign and developed the “Fight Corruption Through Art” initiative, creating comic stories and radio plays in collaboration with the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) in Tanzania.

 

Mejor Mexico (Mexico) founded in 2016, Mejor México is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a better future free from corruption in Mexico, with a focus on young adults (ages 18-29) as key agents of change. Through its 'ConversAcciones' workshops, it has engaged over 4,000 participants across 24 states, to discuss corruption and develop community solutions.

Key projects include a comic strip on police bribery, an awareness campaign targeting parents, and various initiatives such as board games and social media campaigns. Notably, the 'Soborno Inconsciente' project, created by students from Universidad Insurgentes, won second place in the International Finance Corporation’s Innovation in Education and Employability Competition for addressing parental influence on children's attitudes toward corruption.

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