The Multidimensional Security School (ESEM) at the University of São Paulo’s Institute of International Relations and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) have formalized a new agenda of research, technical and scientific activities, and academic events. The cooperation agreement marks an important milestone in the pursuit of innovative, evidence-based strategies and responses to organized crime.

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, GI-TOC is an independent civil society organization. It brings together researchers, public security practitioners and policymakers dedicated to studying illicit markets and organized crime. Its global network of experts has grown tenfold over the past decade.

 Its flagship project is the Global Organized Crime Index, which assesses all 193 UN member states across two dimensions: levels of criminality, based on criminal markets and actors, and resilience to organized crime. The organization maintains regional observatories of illicit economies in West Africa, Europe, Central Africa, Asia-Pacific, Haiti, Eurasia, South Eastern Europe, Central America and the Andean region, among others. Through its Resilience Fund, it supports civil society actors confronting organized crime. It also monitors the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and actively participates in international initiatives on security, organized crime and money laundering.

For Mark Shaw, GI-TOC’s executive director, the agreement brings Brazilian research into the international debate. “We are excited to establish this partnership with ESEM-USP, one of Brazil’s leading centres for research and public policy innovation in public security. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to producing rigorous knowledge, promoting informed public debate and developing effective responses to transnational organized crime. Together, we hope to create new platforms for dialogue, produce high-impact research and connect Brazilian expertise with global discussions on security and governance.”

The event aimed to discuss ways to combat organized crime and support industry and the economy in the state. It resulted in a set of recommendations to improve public policies and regulatory frameworks.

The agreement covers seminars and academic events, research projects, technical and scientific activities, and joint scholarly output. Planned activities include:

• An international seminar on the PCC’s global presence, bringing together researchers and public security practitioners who monitor the group’s activities in Brazil, the Amazon basin, the Southern Cone, West Africa and Europe.
• A seminar on how middle-income countries, such as Brazil, South Africa, the Philippines and Indonesia, are developing responses to transnational organized crime, focusing on emerging challenges, institutional innovations and multilateral cooperation.
• Joint publications presenting the findings and public policy recommendations from these meetings.
• Research, stakeholder dialogues and initiatives aimed at strengthening private sector resilience to organized crime in the Amazon.

Fábio Ramazzini Bechara, chair of ESEM’s Council, emphasizes that the agreement reinforces the School’s strategy. “The partnership with GI-TOC strengthens the Multidimensional Security School’s mission to produce knowledge and contribute to more effective responses to organized crime and illicit markets. It marks another chapter in ESEM’s internationalization, expanding the exchange of experiences and connecting research conducted in Brazil with international debates and cooperation initiatives.”

By Daniela Echeverri Fierro
ESEM Communications Coordinator

Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated English translation. The original Portuguese article is published here.