As post-training activity or at the separate request of a partner country, the ICAR will provide mentoring and consulting services in the investigation and prosecution of concrete international asset recovery cases, or may provide special request research services, undertake field studies and country assessments, and provide advice with regard to the enhancement of a country’s institutional and legal framework for asset recovery.

Case consulting may consist of providing a legal opinion on a concrete case; coaching of law enforcement authorities throughout the process of requesting, or executing a request for international legal assistance in the recovery of stolen assets; or assisting in the design of effective investigative and recovery strategies for ongoing cases. The ICAR may further serve as mediator between concerned parties in an asset recovery case, or facilitate direct contacts between concerned law enforcement agencies. The ICAR will seek to establish, in the course of the first half of 2008, a policy on case consulting, including on practices with regards the exact scope of the ICAR’s involvement in on-going cases, the conditions for accepting to assist a country in the prosecution of concrete cases, etc. Given the high degree of political sensitivity of this activity, ICAR will seek to consult closely with its main donors in defining this policy.

Field studies, country assessments and technical advice in the establishment of legal and institutional structures for the efficient handling of international asset recovery cases may be offered as a follow-up to country-level training or at the separate request of a concerned country. The ICAR will be able to make use of the experience of and work with the Basel Institute on Governance’s Public and Global Governance team both in terms of analysis and methodology as well as project management. Close collaboration and coordination with relevant stakeholders in the concerned country, including non-governmental actors and the local donor community, will be crucial in order to ensure that such programs are complementary to existing technical assistance and other local initiatives.