The cross-divisional initiative focuses on uncovering and targeting illicit financial flows, strengthening the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute transnational IWT-related financial crimes, and improving coordination across public, private and non-governmental sector actors. 

The research and community engagement component aims to contribute towards the prevention and effective enforcement of IWT by developing a better understanding of the context-specific drivers of trafficking and the role of informal social networks and their associated corrupt practices in facilitating such illicit behaviours.

The research activities comprise: (i) analysing the manner in which social norms, community attitudes and the broader socio-political context influence the trafficking of wildlife; (ii) analysing the characteristics, structures, functions and operations of social networks engaged in trafficking; (iii); developing recommendations for context-sensitive community interventions to support the prevention and effective enforcement of IWT; and iv) discerning how social network analysis can be usefully applied in support of the investigation of crimes of IWT by local law enforcement agencies.