Asset Recovery Handbook

Developing countries lose billions each year through bribery, misappropriation of funds, and other corrupt practices. Much of the proceeds of this corruption find 'safe haven' in the world's financial centers. These criminal flows are a drain on social services and economic development programs, contributing to the impoverishment of the world's poorest countries. Many developing countries have already sought to recover stolen assets. A number of successful high-profile cases with creative international cooperation has demonstrated that asset recovery is possible. However, it is highly complex, involving coordination and collaboration with domestic agencies and ministries in multiple jurisdictions, as well as the capacity to trace and secure assets and pursue various legal options—whether criminal confiscation, non-conviction based confiscation, civil actions, or other alternatives. This process can be overwhelming for even the most experienced practitioners. It is exceptionally difficult for those working in the context of failed states, widespread corruption, or limited resources. With this in mind, the Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative has developed and updated this Asset Recovery Handbook: A Guide for Practitioners to assist those grappling with the strategic, organizational, investigative, and legal challenges of recovering stolen assets. A practitioner-led project, the Handbook provides common approaches to recovering stolen assets located in foreign jurisdictions, identifies the challenges that practitioners are likely to encounter, and introduces good practices. It includes examples of tools that can be used by practitioners, such as sample intelligence reports, applications for court orders, and mutual legal assistance requests. StAR—the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative—is a partnership between the World Bank Group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime that supports international efforts to end safe havens for corrupt funds. StAR works with developing countries and financial centers to prevent the laundering of the proceeds of corruption and to facilitate more systematic and timely return of stolen assets.

This handbook is designed as a 'how-to' manual that guides practitioners as they grapple with the strategic, organizational, investigative, and legal challenges of recovering assets that have been stolen by corrupt leaders and hidden abroad.

The Asset Recovery Handbook is a practical tool to help policymakers, public officials, and those who have been entrusted with recovering stolen assets by informing them on how to pursue proceeds of corruption and navigate the challenges of international asset recovery.

This book is a first-of-its-kind, practice-based guide of 36 key concepts?legal, operational, and practical--that countries can use to develop non-conviction based (NCB) forfeiture legislation that will be effective in combating the development problem of corruption and recovering stolen assets.

It is estimated that the proceeds of crime, corruption and tax evasion represent between $1 trillion and $1.6 trillion per year, with half coming from developing countries. Proceeds are typically transferred abroad and hidden in foreign jurisdictions, thus requiring international cooperation. Various international conventions and agreements require international cooperation on this issue, in particular the United Nations Convention against Corruption; however, only $5 billion in stolen assets have been repatriated over the last 15 years. This enormous gap reveals that significant barriers continue to impede asset recovery despite the commitments taken by governments, civil society and the private sector. Drawing on the experience of practitioners with hands-on experience, the Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative launched this study to identify the barriers to stolen asset recovery internationally, provide brief analysis of the impact of these barriers, and propose recommendations for overcoming these obstacles. This volume is intended to guide policy makers in their efforts to ensure necessary resources and the development of a plan, policy or strategy aimed at eradicating the barriers to asset recovery. In addition, this study proposes actions to be taken by the G20, international organizations, financial institutions, developmental agencies and civil society.

The twenty-first century is an unpredictable place. While you cannot predict or prevent disasters, you can prepare for them with effort and planning. A quick survey of the headlines for any given day in the twenty-first century will highlight global market-affecting disasters such as superstorms, data breaches, pandemics, system failures, and strikes. With the detailed guidance found in the thoroughly updated version of this handbook, your company’s survival and the speedy resumption of business is all but assured. In The Disaster Recovery Handbook, you will learn how to proactively: Assess risk Create and document recovery procedures Assemble a disaster team Test and debug thoroughly Safeguard vital records, and more! With The Disaster Recovery Handbook by your side--including the third edition’s updates of emerging risks, developments in IT networking, and information security--you can learn how to avoid a great deal of potential trouble for your organization. When unavoidable, unpredictable disasters occur, you will know that you have planned for every contingency and have ensured that your company is responsible, ready, and resilient.

"This book unlocks the secrets of the supply chain's missing link...professional surplus asset management."-Kristina Waters, Cox Communications"An essential desktop reference to help identify and dispose of surplus assets in the most efficient and profitable manner." -Kris Eigenbrood, Campbell Soup CompanyEvery corporate entity has surplus assets. This book provides a clear means for those responsible for disposing of those assets to appropriately value and market those no-longer-needed items in the most cost-effective and profitable manner. From computers and mobile phones to processing equipment and entire manufacturing facilities, learn the best practices for professional (and profitable!) surplus asset management.Investment Recovery has been the missing link in the Supply Chain, so this handbook answers the many questions that supply chain purchasing management must solve."An essential review of the challenges-and solutions-to surplus asset management." -Todd Thompson, Colorado Springs Utilities"In the complexity of our increasingly 'green' society, we must try to ensure that we are not only returning value to our bottom line, but also the world we live in." -Marty Owens, Dow Chemical Company"An informative and helpful desk reference for all that is Investment Recovery and improved supply chain management."-Ronald Sizemore, BASF