Public Purpose: Civil Service Insights on Beneficial Ownership Data

Illicit financial flows—including money laundering, taxPlacing transparency, accountability, and participation at the center of tax policy can ensure that burdens are distributed equitably across society. Technical specifications: Commitments related to c... evasion, corruption, and undue political influence—continue to undermine governance, development, and trust in institutions worldwide. A key barrier to addressing these challenges is the limited access to beneficial ownershipDisclosing beneficial owners — those who ultimately control or profit from a business — is essential for combating corruption, stemming illicit financial flows, and fighting tax evasion. Technical... More (BO) information. As reformers push for greater access to maximize the benefits of BO data, they must explore new ways to leverage this information beyond its traditional use as an anti-money laundering compliance tool.

To explore these new applications of BO data, OGP conducted multi-country research on how government officials can use beneficial ownership data to advance open government in four key policy areas: tax collection, natural resources management, public procurementTransparency in the procurement process can help combat corruption and waste that plagues a significant portion of public procurement budgets globally. Technical specifications: Commitments that aim t... More, and electoral finance.

This report captures the experience of public officials in Colombia, Honduras, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and the Philippines. The countries studied represent a wide spectrum of institutional capacity, economic development, and governance conditions. This diversity allows for an in-depth look at how public officials and civil society actors are using BO data in real-world contexts.

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union.

The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of Open Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving government transparency, ensuring opportunities for citizen participation in public matters, and strengthen... More and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.