TRANSNATIONAL THREATS, POLITICALLY INFORMED RESPONSES

We aim to help unlock the black box of political will for tackling organised crime, transnational corruption, kleptocracy and illicit finance through research that informs politically feasible, technically sound interventions and strategies.

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Mexico city, people walk on busy street under a grey sky

WELCOME TO SOC ACE

The Serious Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Evidence (SOC ACE) research programme’s overarching focus is on generating rigorous research that engages directly with policy and practice to uncover more feasible options to tackle serious organised crime (SOC), illicit finance, kleptocracy and corruption. By putting political analysis at the heart of our research approach, SOC ACE helps to demonstrate the role that research can play in making more politically feasible options more visible to reformers.

Our research aims to generate:

  • Practical approaches for strategy, operations and programming

  • New strategic and analytical frameworks

  • Innovations in methodology and analysis for improved decision-making

  • Learning products to support practitioners and policymakers

The programme is funded from June 2021 to September 2027 by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. It is led by the University of Birmingham in collaboration with a number of other leading research organisations.

The SOC ACE Brochure

We’ve gathered the complete list of all SOC ACE projects, papers, book chapters, and other publications in one place, providing easy access to our research and what’s coming up in 2025.

THE ACE APPROACH

SOC ACE is one of three component programmes of the broader UK Government funded, Anti-Corruption Evidence (ACE) Programme, which aims to deliver new, practical research about what works to tackle corruption, illicit financial flows and serious organised crime. ACE’s three programmes, Governance & Integrity ACE (GI ACE) led by the University of Sussex, SOAS ACE led by School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London, and our own SOC ACE - provide independent, rigorous, public good research to inform strategy, policy, operations and programming in FCDO, the UK government and beyond with impact around the world. 

SOC ACE uses a problem-led, politically informed approach, taking as its starting point – and adapting – the following framing principles underpinning the overall ACE research programme:

  • Thinking differently about prevention through better understanding the ways in which SOC and corruption provide solutions to the everyday problems people face that often have deep social, structural, economic, and political roots, particularly in resource-scarce environments

  • Innovative approaches to testing and measuring the effects of anti-SOC, illicit finance and transnational corruption interventions

  • Nose-to- tail’ engagement with policy makers and practitioners – from research design, implementation, delivery, communication and engagement

  • Anti-SOC and Anti-Corruption, not just admiring the problem

  • Problem-led, not starting with preconceived ideas about the ‘right’ solutions

  • Real-world priorities in sectors and geographies in which SOC, illicit finance and transnational corruption are part of, but rarely all of, the problem

  • Real-world priorities in sectors and geographies in which SOC, illicit finance and transnational corruption are part of, but rarely all of, the problem.

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New for 2025: The ACE Brochure

Want to understand more about each of the ACE programmes? The ACE Brochure provides all you need to know, offering more detail on the scopes, approaches, projects and publications under each programme and sign-posting to key reading. You’ll also find contacts for each programme if you want to get in touch.

ENHANCING KNOWLEDGE, SHAPING POLICY, SUPPORTING PRACTITIONERS 

GETTING STARTED

Not sure where to start? These three papers provide a good introduction to the overall SOC ACE approach.

POLITICAL
WILL

PEACEFUL, OPEN & INCLUSIVE POLITICS

The challenges of responding to IFFs where political will is absent, Tuesday Reitano (SOC ACE Research Paper RP14 and Briefing Note BN20)

ILLICIT FINANCE & “POLITICAL WON’T”

OUR TEAM

  • SOC ACE Director

    Professor Heather Marquette is the Director of the Serious Organised Crime & Anti-Corruption Evidence (SOC ACE) research programme and Professor of Development Politics in the International Development Department at the University of Birmingham. Heather is an Expert Member of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime’s expert network, a member of the RUSI State Threats Task Force, and a Lead Advisor and founding member of the global Thinking & Working Politically Community of Practice. Her research, which has been funded by the British Academy/Global Challenges Research Fund, DFID/FCDO, DFAT and the EU, focuses on transnational threats, particularly corruption and organised crime, as well as aid and foreign policy, governance and political analysis.

    LinkedIn | Substack

  • SOC ACE Deputy Director

    Lyndsey Hand is the Deputy Director of Operations and Programme Manager of the Serious Organised Crime & Anti-Corruption Evidence (SOC ACE) research programme.

    Lyndsey brings a wealth of experience in the development and humanitarian sectors, having led and managed large DFID/FCDO-funded governance and security sector reform programmes across Pakistan, Nepal, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. She has recently served as Head of Programmes for INGOs in Afghanistan during the recent transitional period and in Armenia during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

    Her expertise includes designing and delivering politically informed, adaptive programmes using TWP, PDIA, and issues-based programming approaches, as well as strategic business development. Lyndsey holds professional qualifications in project, programme, and change management, applying tailored methods to suit politically complex contexts and linking them with bespoke monitoring and evaluation frameworks that tackle the challenge of measuring wider systemic change.

    She holds a Master's in International Development from the University of Birmingham and a BSc in Politics and International Relations from Oxford Brookes University.

  • SOC ACE Senior Communications Officer

    Richard has more than 30 years’ experience in journalism, public relations, and political campaigning. He holds a PhD in public relations and political protest, and has served as university lecturer and researcher at a number of HE institutions. His own research interests include the impact of public relations on political discourse, and the role of public relations as an enabler of serious organised crime. At SOC ACE he supports researchers in gaining impact for their work, devising and implementing communications and engagement campaigns.

  • SOC ACE Programme and Finance Officer

    Sarah is an experienced management professional with a Masters in International Development from the University of Birmingham. She brings over a decade of diverse experience in the health and wider public sector, both in the UK and internationally. Sarah has managed and supported projects across Africa through her roles at the Royal College of Physicians, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Options Consultancy Services, including in clinical training, maternal and reproductive health and vaccine development. More recently Sarah has worked at Deloitte where she contributed to high-impact public sector programmes including on local government cost reduction, NHS organisational development, and Covid-19 programme management. This experience deepened her expertise in stakeholder engagement and financial management while further strengthening her skills in strategic planning, research and data analysis.

  • SOC ACE Project and Finance Officer

    Nik assists in the management of the programme, with particular focus on financial management. Nik liaises closely with partners and supports the Programme Manager in preparing reports for the funder.

    Prior to joining the SOC ACE team, Nik worked in the School of Social Policy at the University of Birmingham. She has held various positions in addition to volunteering for charities such as Citizens Advice and Teaching Adults GCSE and Level 2 Maths. She has a background in engineering and the medical and biomedical field with research experience in implants and replacements, fracture fixation, and restoration.

  • SOC ACE Administrative Assistant

    Hannah has extensive administrative and events experience having worked in the charity sector, at a students union and at The University of Sheffield in various administrative roles, supporting a variety of research programs and putting together grant applications. She has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Nineteenth century studies from the University of Sheffield. Her main area of interest in her studies and previous roles was centred around health care and the humanities. 

AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS

Logo: University of Birmingham
Logo: SOAS
Logo: University of York
Logo: Innovations for Poverty Action
Logo: LJPC
Logo: RUSI
Logo: Thinking and Working Politically Community of Practice
Logo: University of Birmingham, IGI
Logo: CORE
Logo: GSDRC
Logo: ODI
Logo: University of Chicago
Logo: University of Oxford, DPIR
Logo: University of Sussex, CSC
Logo: Universidad EAFIT
Logo: IDRA
Logo: University of Bristol

Logo: University of Exeter
Logo: King's College London
Logo: University of Roehampton
Logo: Swansea University

CONTACT US