Political scientist focused on aid effectiveness, corruption, and natural resources, using political economy and political ecology approaches. Williams' PhD is from the 

Department of Development Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London

. The thesis combined ethnographic fieldwork in Central Sulawesi and Jakarta with satellite and survey data, to produce a political ecology of REDD+ in Indonesia since 2010.

He has published in the peer-reviewed outlets: 

Annual Review of Environment and Resources

. He has co-edited two books, both with Edward Elgar Publishing, titled 

Corruption, Natural Resources and Development: From Resource Curse to Political Ecology

Corruption, Grabbing and Development: Real-World Challenges

Williams' research interests revolve around the uneven politics of natural resource-driven economic development, particularly corruption, neoliberal environmentalism, hypercapitalist growth, indigenous peoples rights, green energy transitions and inequality. Geographically, his focus is on Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Williams has served as project lead at CMI for longer-term commissioned research projects from 

, as well as shorter reviews and evaluations. He is also co-coordinator of U4's thematic portfolio on 

Corruption and Anti-Corruption Efforts in Natural Resources and Energy Sectors

Williams was previously Senior Research Coordinator at 

 in Berlin and holds an MA in International Relations from the 

Sophie Lemaître is a lawyer by training with extensive experience in governance, anti-corruption issues, natural resources sector, and illicit financial flows. She worked for various organisations and NGOs at the national and international level, including 

Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations

. Between 2019 and 2023, she was a Senior Adviser at U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre.

She hold a PhD degree in law from the University of Rennes 1 in France, on corruption, tax evasion/avoidance, and money laundering within the extractive industries, Master degree in international business law from the University of Toulouse, France, as well as a LL.M. on international and European environmental law from University College London.

Provide a safe space (under Chatham House rules) to share information on corruption, anti-corruption and environmental crimes among U4 Partners and their partners present in Peru; 

Share evidence, research insights and international experiences on coordination and policy effectiveness at the intersection of corruption, anti-corruption and environmental crimes, with a particular emphasis on Latin America/Peru; 

Share practice methods for improving coordination and effectiveness for relevant projects supported by bilateral and multilateral donors in Peru.

Participation in U4's workshops is by invitation only, and is organised through the hosting U4 partner agency.

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Corruption, anti-corruption and environmental crimes in Peru: A focus on coordination and effectiveness

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Aled Williams

Sophie Lemaître