There are an estimated 40,000 international Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), working in a global aid industry to which the top ten donor countries gave 63bn last year. This is supplemented by huge voluntary giving the UK public alone give nearly 1bn a year.

These organisations face a unique challenge from fraud and corruption. Operating in the world's most under-developed and fragile environments, with minimal infrastructure and trust-based cultures, the risk is high. And, being wholly reliant on donors and supporters for income, so are the stakes.

Researchers make different...