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Open Ownership drives the global shift towards transparency and accountability in corporate ownership and control

⟴ We enable accurate and complete beneficial ownership disclosures

⟴ We support governments to make high-quality data shareable, and educate others on how to use it

⟴ This reduces corruption and tax evasion, gives fair development opportunities and builds societal trust

  • Ownership_complexity_Credit Photo by Omar Flores on Unsplash

    What is beneficial ownership transparency?

    Beneficial ownership transparency reveals how companies and other legal entities or arrangements are owned and controlled by their beneficial owners

    Published: 03 March 2022

  • Open Ownership Map - screengrab taken on 17 October 2024

    Open Ownership map: Worldwide action on beneficial ownership transparency

    Discover which countries have planned or are implementing beneficial ownership transparency reforms, which countries have launched live central registers, and visit country or regional profile pages

  • Guide to drafting effective legislation for beneficial ownership transparency cover image
    Guidance

    Guide to drafting effective legislation for beneficial ownership transparency

    This guide supports those involved in drafting and reviewing laws to understand the elements that constitute effective legislation for implementing beneficial ownership transparency reforms, laying the groundwork for establishing a beneficial ownership register

    Written by Favour Ime , Tymon Kiepe

    Published: 28 August 2024

Latest content

  • 2026 symposium header photo
    Blog post

    From reform to results: Introducing BEAM, a new programme to measure impact in beneficial ownership transparency

    Open Ownership has launched the Beneficial Ownership Transparency Evidence and Measurement (BEAM) Programme: an initiative to expand the evidence base for the impact of beneficial ownership transparency through collaboration, resources, and country programming. This blog post introduces the programme’s background, approach, and objectives.

    Written by Alanna Markle

    Published: 29 April 2026

  • DOD 49
    News article

    Beneficial ownership and business register reform in Zambia: Announcing our new partnership with PACRA

    In this blog post, Miranda Evans introduces our recent partnership with Zambia's Patents and Companies Registration Agency and the German Agency for International Cooperation in Zambia to overhaul how PACRA collects data on the real owners of corporate entities

    Written by Miranda Evans

    Published: 06 March 2026

  • Photo Cred iStock Cover Image Senegal
    Blog post Opening Extractives

    Senegal: Scaling up beneficial ownership transparency through legal reform

    This impact story examines how Senegal, with support from Opening Extractives, has expanded beneficial ownership declarations and advanced legal reforms for public access

    Written by Nyasha Vera

    Published: 20 February 2026

Latest publications

  • abdulsamad-rabo-Azlaa87wMi0-unsplash
    Publication

    Enhancing beneficial ownership data collection and use in Nigeria

    This report provides a comprehensive assessment of Nigeria’s beneficial ownership transparency implementation. It identifies strategic opportunities for enhancement, and offers actionable recommendations to institutionalise current gains, strengthen data integrity, and maximise the register’s impact on anti-corruption and governance efforts.

    Written by Stanley Achonu, Favour Ime

    Published: 30 April 2026

  • 2026 symposium group
    Publication

    Research Symposium Synthesis Report: Evidence and impact of beneficial ownership transparency

    In February 2026, Open Ownership, the World Bank Group’s Beneficial Ownership Transparency Working Group, and the Centre for the Study of Corruption at the University of Sussex hosted a Research Symposium entitled “Evidence and Impact of Beneficial Ownership Transparency” in the UK and online. This synthesis report summarises the key points from this Symposium.

    Written by Peter Low , Alanna Markle

    Published: 29 April 2026

  • nicholas-cappello-Wb63zqJ5gnE-unsplash
    Publication

    Leveraging shareholder data for beneficial ownership transparency

    This working paper examines how shareholder information can be leveraged to strengthen beneficial ownership transparency and improve understanding corporate structures or networks.

    Written by Maria Jofre , Tymon Kiepe

    Published: 28 April 2026

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This work by Open Ownership, unless otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License