Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Other Group

Transparency International (TI)

Website:

www.transparency.org
Status:

Non-Governmental Non-Profit
Type:

Anti-corruption advocacy coalition
Location:

Berlin, Germany
Formation:

1993
CEO:

Daniel Eriksson
Budget (2021):

Revenue: $19,297,554 (converted from Euros)

Expenses: $19,233,257 (converted from Euros)

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Transparency International (TI) is an international anti-corruption coalition of over 100 chapters worldwide that practices research, advocacy, and campaigning to expose corruption, push for greater government transparency, and lobby for anti-corruption legislation and processes. 1 It is operated through the Transparency International Secretariat in Berlin, Germany. 2

Transparency International’s main research product is the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) that ranks countries on their perceived levels of government corruption. 3 In addition to the CPI, Transparency International publishes the Global Corruption Report and the Global Corruption Barometer annually. 4

History

The Transparency International Secretariat was founded in 1993 by retired World Bank official Peter Eigen and nine others to expose corruption at the national and international level. It is a non-governmental nonprofit registered in Berlin, Germany. 5

In 1995, Transparency International developed the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and ranked 45 countries on their perceived levels of corruption in the public sector. The CPI helped to raise public awareness of corruption and helped create competition among these countries to improve their scores. 6

In 1997, Transparency International Secretariat became the official Secretariat for the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC), a major event that brings over 1,500 anti-corruption activists and experts together every two years. 7

In 2003, TI was instrumental in the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), a global agreement against corruption, by the United Nations General Assembly. It has been ratified by 187 state parties. 8

In 2011, TI published “Global Corruption Report: Climate Change” to expand its focus to the impacts of corruption on climate change, indicating that corruption can limit the impact of billions of dollars of investments into climate change. 9

In 2017, TI rolled out the Anti-Corruption Knowledge Hub, an online repository for research results and activist tools. TI also established the Global Anti-Corruption Consortium, a partnership with investigative journalists to expose corruption. 10 It is supported by the governments of Denmark, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States as well as the Open Society Foundations. 11

In a 2021 report TI endeavored to show that corruption affected the COVID-19 response globally, from bribery for tests and treatments to the diversion of funds meant for healthcare investments and the procurement of medical supplies. 12

By 2021, 180 countries were included in the CPI ranking with an average score of 43 out of 100. 13 As a result, Transparency International recommended that governments promote accountability and increase oversight and transparency into contracting, spending and distribution processes. 14

Organization

Transparency International is a network of more than 100 chapters in countries throughout the world, individual members from the original founding charter, the board of directors, the international council, and the chief executive officer. 15

The CEO leads the organizational operations through the Secretariat in Berlin, Germany. The secretariat and the chapters produce numerous research products, toolkits, and policy positions. 16

There is also a Transparency International Liaison Office to the European Union based in Brussels and Friends of Transparency International based in Washington DC. 17

Memberships

Transparency International is a member of the left-leaning  “anti-oppression” coalition Declaration for American Democracy (DFAD). 18 The committee that directs the DFAD includes leaders from the left-wing organizations William J. Brennan Center for Justice, Black Voters Matter Fund, Center for American Progress, Common Cause, Democracy 21, People for the American Way, and Service Employees International Union (SEIU). 19

Funding

The 2021 financial statements for Transparency International report revenues of $19,297,554 and expenses of $19,233,257 (converted from euros). 20

Transparency International’s donors include government agencies, foundations and trusts, corporations, and individuals. The U.S. Department of State contributed to TI in 2021. Foundations and trusts that donated to TI in 2021 included the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, King Baudouin Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and Open Society Foundations. 21

Open Society Foundations was founded by billionaire liberal philanthropist George Soros. It has granted over $4 million to the Transparency International Secretariat, and another $5,480,360 to TI Chapters globally since 2016. 22

Leadership

The only Transparency International board member from the United States is Duncan Wood. 23 Wood is also the vice president for strategy and new initiatives of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Transparency and Ant-Corruption. He is a former fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Wood is a specialist on North American politics, Mexico, and U.S.-Mexican ties. 24

Daniel Eriksson has been TI’s chief executive officer since March 2021. Eriksson started at TI as the head of technology in 2019. Prior to TI, he held several senior technology positions in organizations in Switzerland, India, United Kingdom, and Sweden since 2008. He lives in Berlin, Germany. 25

References

  1. “About.” Transparency International. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/about
  2. “The Secretariate.” Transparency International – About – Our Organization. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/the-organisation/the-secretariat
  3. “Corruption Perceptions Index.” Transparency International. Accessed February 14, 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/
  4. “Transparency International.” Britannica. Accessed February 14, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/topic/nonprofit-organization
  5. “Our Charter.” Transparency International – About – Our Organization. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/the-organisation/our-charter
  6. “Our Story.” Transparency International – About. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/our-story
  7. “Our Story.” Transparency International – About. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/our-story
  8. “Our Impact.” Transparency International – About. Accessed February 14, 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/our-impact
  9. “Our Story.” Transparency International – About. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/our-story
  10. “Our Story.” Transparency International – About. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/our-story
  11. “Global Anti-Corruption Consortium.” Transparency International – What We Do. Accessed February 13, 2023. Global Anti-Corruption Consortium – Projects – Transparency.org
  12. Hardy Graupner. “2020 has shown corruption can kill people.” Deutsche Welle (DW). January 28, 2021. Accessed February 14, 2023. https://www.dw.com/en/transparency-international-2020-has-shown-corruption-can-kill-people/a-56365070
  13. “Transparency International: 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).” Israeli Anti Money Laundering website. January 28, 2021. https://i-aml.com/news/transparency-international-2021-corruption-perceptions-index-cpi/
  14. Will Kenton. “Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI): Definition, Country Rankings.” Investopedia. July 30, 2021. Accessed February 14, 2023. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corruption-perception-index.asp
  15. “Our Governance.” Transparency International – About – Our Organization. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/the-organisation/our-governance
  16. “The Secretariate.” Transparency International – About – Our Organization. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/the-organisation/the-secretariat
  17. “Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2021 Transparency Internatioal e.V.” Transparency International – How We’re Funded – Audited Financial Reports. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://files.transparencycdn.org/images/2021-Financial-statements.pdf
  18. “Our Members.” Declaration for American Democracy. Accessed January 25, 2023. https://dfadcoalition.org/
  19. “Our Team.” Declaration for American Democracy. Accessed January 25, 2023. https://dfadcoalition.org/team/
  20. Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2021 Transparency Internatioal e.V.” Transparency International – How We’re Funded – Audited Financial Reports. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://files.transparencycdn.org/images/2021-Financial-statements.pdf
  21. “Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2021 Transparency Internatioal e.V (Annex 1: Donor Funding Schedule).” Transparency International – How We’re Funded – Audited Financial Reports. Accessed February 14, 2023. https://files.transparencycdn.org/images/2021-Financial-statements.pdf
  22. “Awarded Grants – Transparency International.” Open Society Foundations. Accessed February 14, 2023. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/past?filter_keyword=transparency+international
  23. “Board of Directors.” Transparency International – About – Who We Are. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.transparency.org/en/the-organisation/board-of-directors
  24. “Duncan Wood.” Wilson Center – Leadership. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/person/duncan-wood
  25. LinkedIn – Daniel P. Eriksson. Accessed February 14, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikssond/
  See an error? Let us know!