On 23 November 2023, the first expert regional consultation on ‘exposing elite protection and corruption in environmental crime’ was organized as part of the global GIFP action ECO-SOLVE. The event was held in person at the Radisson Blu Upperhill in Nairobi, Kenya with additional participants from the EU and the GI-TOC ECO-SOLVE project team joining online.
Following opening remarks provided by Ignacio Burrull on behalf of the European Union Delegation and Kristina Amerhauser on behalf of the GI-TOC, John Githongo provided valuable insights from his experience as an anti-corruption activist in Kenya focusing specifically on the role of state-embedded actors in driving environmental crime and the impact exposure reporting can have in international, national and local newspapers.
Speakers then shared and discussed case studies, experiences and insights around (1) what opportunities, techniques and approaches had previously been used for uncovering elite protection? (2) what happened in the wake of major exposés of corruption? (3) what systematic weaknesses at local, national and global level exist that allow elite protection of environmental crime to flourish in Africa?
In total, 27 participants, including journalists, anti-corruption activists and environmental defenders participated in the event and shared their experiences in exposing corruption in environmental crime, current gaps in the regulatory system, geopolitical shifts and how to overcome exposure fatigue. Participants also discussed the declining space for media to operate, the need to improve the understanding the political economy of corruption and the fact that there is no incentive from the state to fight corruption where the two are intertwined.
Throughout the consultation, the significance of the role of local networks – including of youth – in raising awareness on the impact of environmental crime and well as in provoking change was raised. This also included a discussion around the need of linking up local media and (international) civil society organizations, creating safe spaces for reporting and how to improve cooperation and collaboration among them.
