2025 TRACE Prize for Investigative Reporting

Recognizing Journalism That Exposes Corruption and Demands Accountability

Winners

ICIJ

"Caspian Cabals"

A deep examination of a multinational oil boondoggle stood out as a clear winner not only for its exceptional quality and meticulous reporting, but also for its global significance. This project underscores a crucial truth: corruption knows no borders, race, or culture - it is a universal issue that is best seen through the widest lens possible.

 

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The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists is honored and humbled to receive the 2025 TRACE Investigative Reporting Prize for our Caspian Cabals project, a painstaking collaborative investigation that revealed how western oil giants bet on Kazakhstan, turned a blind eye to corruption risks, prioritized profits over safety, enriched elites, endangered the environment and ended up at Vladimir Putin’s mercy. Reporters interviewed hundreds of sources, including multiple whistleblowers, and combed through thousands of documents over two years to uncover the true cost of the 939-mile Russia-Kazakhstan oil pipeline. The TRACE Foundation’s mission to increase corporate transparency has rarely seemed more urgent or vital as we witness the international erosion of democratic norms. The privilege of receiving the TRACE prize will assist ICIJ to sustain critical investigative reporting in the face of worldwide assaults on freedom of the press; to endure now when the truth matters more than ever before.”

International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)

Africa Uncensored-1
Cynthia Gichiri

Cynthia Gichiri

Elijah Kanyi

Elijah Kanyi

"Fertile Deception"

A remarkably complete dissection of a shocking act of corporate deceit in Kenya: the widespread sale and distribution of counterfeit fertilizer during a period of great stress for Kenyan agriculture. The investigative methods were impeccable. Whistleblower accounts were verified with film footage, the suspect product was analyzed in credible laboratories, the corporate paper trail was carefully documented, and - most importantly - the human impact was compellingly shown. 

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I am overjoyed and immensely appreciative of this recognition. That Fertile Deception, an investigation that exposed one of the biggest injustices of the Kenyan system against farmers and their crucial role in our economy, struck a chord with the judges, particularly humbles me. This honor confirms to me and the rest of the Africa Uncensored team that the stories we tell are important.  I hope we'll keep doing our hard work to use our stories to start important discussions that motivate action. Thank you, TRACE.

Cynthia Gichiri 

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On a continent where most politicians are eager to own their own media outlets to control the narrative, the only weapon journalists have to stand out and push back is the truth, backed by facts. That’s exactly what we did at Africa Uncensored with the Fertile Deception investigation. We told the truth, supported it with powerful visuals, and showed the world what was really happening. And when faced with the truth, they had no way to fight back. I’m humbled to be recognized by the best in the industry. The TRACE award means a lot to me. My passion for investigative journalism will keep on burning.

Elijah Kanyi 

Honorable Mentions

Gloria Pallares

Gloria Pallares

"False Claims of UN Backing See Indigenous Groups Cede Forest Rights for Sketchy Finance"

Exposes how a broad cast of characters - from local figures to international entities - can collude to deprive indigenous peoples of their land in precious ecosystems. The story deserves mention as a singular contribution to our understanding of how financial innovations that put a capital value on natural resources can abet the exploitation of vulnerable populations and give rise to "greenwashing" ventures that, while offered as solutions, lack both transparency and accountability.

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In the global race to net-zero emissions, unverified financial and market-based models are proliferating amid a lack of regulations and due diligence, including on the part of authorities, nonprofits, certification programs, and international entities. The investigation brought to light a scheme touching 9,5 million hectares of forests across Peru, Bolivia, and Panama, and empowered Indigenous communities to take action. The Honorable Mention will bring attention to the need for heightened scrutiny of regenerative, or sustainable, finance initiatives. Additionally, it encourages me in my pursuit to continue exposing false solutions to the world's environmental and development challenges.

Gloria Pallares

Philip Teye Agbove

Philip Teye Agbove

Justice Baidoo

Justice Baidoo

"Death and Brutality: The Battle for West Africa’s Largest Salt Deposit"

This documentary was produced under difficult and dangerous circumstances. The journalists faced not only the challenges of digging up corruption at the heart of leases to West African salt deposits, but repeatedly faced surveillance, death threats, disinformation, and legal threats. 

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Investigative journalism is not just about uncovering corruption—it is about giving a voice to those who have been silenced and holding power to account, no matter the risks. This recognition strengthens our resolve to continue telling stories that matter, despite the challenges. We are truly grateful to TRACE for this honor."

Philip Teye Agbove 

2025 Judging Panel

Diana B. Henriques
 
Financial writer and author, formerly with The New York Times
William Gumede
 
Associate Professor, School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg; Founder and Chairman of the Democracy Works Foundation
Rosebell Kagumire
 
Writer and digital communication strategist, public speaker and award-winning blogger, based in Kampala, Uganda
Peter Klein
 
Executive Director, Global Reporting Centre in Vancouver, BC
Jorge Luis Sierra
 
President of the Border Center for Journalists and Bloggers, journalist security consultant, formerly a Knight International Journalism Fellow with the International Center for Journalists, based in Texas
Amjad Tadros
 
Middle East Producer, CBS News
TRACE Foundation Logo (2025)

About the TRACE Foundation

The TRACE Foundation was established to promote, support and fund research, investigative journalism, publications, videos and related projects that encourage greater commercial transparency and advance anti-bribery education. The Foundation also awards scholarships, prizes and grants to individuals and entities working toward these goals and seeks generally to propagate understanding of the sources of corruption and the development of effective measures to reduce the scope and extent of the problem.

The TRACE Foundation receives funding from TRACE International, an entity that shares its mission. The Foundation has an independent board and exclusive decision making authority over the selection and execution of its projects and disbursement of its funds.

 

© 2025 TRACE International, Inc. All rights reserved.