Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative

Regional Conference: Private Sector Integrity in the Western Balkans
2024-09-30 - 2024-10-01 | Hotel Vucko, Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Jahorina, October 1st) – The first event within the Southeast Europe – Together Against Corruption II (SEE-TAC II) programme, a regional conference on “Private Sector Integrity in the Western Balkans” took place from September 30 to October 1 on Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The conference gathered over 50 participants from relevant national anti-corruption agencies and bodies, ministries, civil society, and the private sector in the Western Balkans.
The event was opened by H.E. Mr. Georg Diwald, the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Drazen Jelenic (Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative Chairperson), Mr. Constantine Palicarsky (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Adviser), and Ms. Damirka Mioc from the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight against Corruption of BiH.
H.E. Mr. Diwald stressed the importance of the regional conference and presented the work of the Austrian Embassy in BiH and its dedication to anti-corruption mechanisms while highlighting the role of the Austrian Development Agency, the SEE-TAC II donor, and the issues the private sector faces.
Mr. Palicarsky referred to UNCAC and private sector links while Mr. Jelenic emphasised that integrity within the private sector significantly contributes to long-term profitability and the need to empower the private sector to address pressing societal challenges. He highlighted the SEE-TAC II program, which is dedicated to combating corruption in the Western Balkans and aims to enhance the capacities of governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector. Ms. Mioc talked about the challenges in the public sector and various initiatives the governments in the region can take to ensure proper anti-corruption measures, as well as the recently adopted Anti-Corruption Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The sessions focused on anti-corruption strategies in the region, the private sector integrity, implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) with regard to the private sector, the basics of business integrity, ISO standards related to business integrity, and how to lead in a way that leads to positive change. Expert discussions were led by Sandra Damijan, Lecturer at the School of Economics and Business at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The two-day event concluded with a group discussion on cross-cutting themes related to building integrity.
The SEE-TAC II project is implemented by RAI in partnership with UNODC and funded by the Austrian Development Agency.
Agenda

Presentation of the new developments and planned activities in SEE-TAC II
2024-12-04 | Tirana, Albania
Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat, in collaboration with HIDAACI Albania, will be organizing a meeting to discuss recent developments in the International Treaty on Exchange of Data for the Verification of Asset Declarations and the new SEE-TAC II project, funded by ADA. This meeting will take place on December 4th, 2024, at the HIDAACI premises in Tirana.

44th RAI Steering Group Meeting
2024-12-05 - 2024-12-06 | Tirana, Albania
Representatives of Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative member countries gathered in Tirana for the 44th RAI Steering Group Meeting, hosted by the Ministry of Public Administration and Anti-Corruption of Albania as part of the Week of Integrity. This important event brought together representatives of anti-corruption bodies, ministries, and agencies from across the SEE region to review the progress and implementation of ongoing projects, evaluate the Work Plan 2023-2025, and align RAI’s strategic objectives.
In the opening remarks, Ms. Adea Pirdeni, Minister of Public Administration and Anti-Corruption expressed support for the work of RAI and praised the organization for bringing the region together to discuss the challenges and look for solutions together.
RAI Chairperson, Mr. Dražen Jelenić, expressed in his opening remarks optimism for fruitful and important discussions with a focus on strengthening regional cooperation through enhanced anti-corruption mechanisms and planning activities for the upcoming year. Mr. Jelenić also underlined that the anti-corruption efforts and initiatives taken by Albania can serve as an inspiration to the entire region.
Additional Information:
Summary and Decisions

Western Balkans Next Gen: Leading the Fight Against Corruption
2025-02-26 | Skopje, North Macedonia, Skopje, North Macedonia

Multi-Stakeholder Consultation on the Implementation of the Strategy for Prevention of Corruption and Conflict of Interest (2021-2025) and the Roadmap for Developing New Anti-Corruption Strategy
2025-02-27 | Skopje, North Macedonia, Skopje, North Macedonia
The significant loss of assets due to corruption severely undermines the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals threatens global economies, weakens democracies, and erodes the rule of law. A collaborative, multisectoral approach, as outlined by the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), is essential for driving meaningful change and achieving lasting results over time.
The key to UNCAC implementation is the development and enforcement of national anti-corruption policies. North Macedonia is set to begin developing a new anti-corruption National Strategy in 2025. The previous strategy, formally known as the National Strategy for Prevention of Corruption and Conflict of Interests, with the Action Plan for its implementation, selected priority issues and identified measures to overcome them for the period 2021 to 2025. This strategy was adopted by the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia and provided specific commitments to be carried out by relevant institutions, alongside guidelines and themes pertinent to the fight against corruption.
To that end, a comprehensive and transparent consultation process was conducted, involving representatives from the public and private sectors, the media, NGOs, experts, and relevant international organizations. This inclusive approach should continue to guide the development of the new strategy.
Building on this, UNODC aims to convene the first national multi-stakeholder consultation to support the development of the new strategy and assess the implementation level of the current strategy, along with the identified challenges and success stories. The consultation will bring together anti-corruption experts from governmental institutions, NGOs, academia, and the private sector, with a particular focus on gathering input from non-state actors.

The event will be organized in partnership with the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption of North Macedonia and held under the framework of the Southeast Europe – Together Against Corruption II (SEE-TAC II) Regional Programme. This Programme is implemented in collaboration with the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat and funded by the Austrian Development Agency.

Sarajevo: Regional Policy Dialogue on Good Governance and Women Leadership in SEE
2025-04-01 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Regional Policy Dialogue on Good Governance and Women’s Leadership in Southeast Europe successfully gathered over 70 high-level participants from across the region and the EU in Sarajevo today. The event was organized by the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) in partnership with the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) and Women on Boards Adria (WOBA) and co-funded by the Central European Initiative (CEI), the America for Bulgaria Foundation, and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
This high-level forum provided a platform for meaningful discussions on the intersection of gender equality, good governance, and institutional resilience. Distinguished leaders, policymakers, and experts exchanged insights on how to advance gender-responsive governance and strengthen institutional integrity across Southeast Europe.
Ms. Desislava Gotskova, in her opening address, emphasized that this event is about changing the narrative — together. “It is not just a conference but a dialogue, intentionally designed to foster collective strategy rather than isolated statements and to build sustained momentum for systemic change rather than merely showcasing success stories.”
Mr. Amer Kapetanović, Secretary General of RCC, underlined that empowering women is not just about fairness – it’s a strategic investment that benefits entire societies. “It drives economic growth, strengthens governance, and builds more resilient communities. Through regional cooperation, we can create more opportunities for women to lead, innovate, and shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for our region.”
In his welcoming message, Mr. Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General of CEI highlighted that regional sustainable development requires gender equality through women empowerment and meaningful participation at all levels of society and the policy-making process.
Marija Pejčinović Burić, former Secretary General of the Council of Europe and former Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, set the tone of the event by emphasizing the critical role of women in shaping democratic and transparent institutions.
The engaging and interactive discussions that followed focused on the commitments needed for sustained progress in gender-responsive governance, policy reforms, and strategies for increasing the representation of women in leadership positions.
Beyond formal discussions, the event fostered meaningful networking opportunities. The social gathering following the sessions provided an informal setting for participants to continue the dialogue, experience local hospitality, and build new partnerships.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, welcomed the participants to the social networking event, emphasizing the importance of fostering strong regional connections and partnerships in an informal setting.
This dialogue reaffirmed that gender-responsive governance is not just a policy goal but a fundamental principle for achieving sustainable development and institutional resilience in the region. The discussions and commitments made here will serve as a foundation for continued collaboration and concrete action toward inclusive leadership and good governance.

Multi-stakeholder Workshop on Implementing the UNCAC in Southeast Europe
2025-04-08 - 2025-04-10 | Vrdnik, Serbia
This workshop aims to strengthen participants’ understanding of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), its Implementation Review Mechanism, and the broader links between corruption and organized crime, including the relevance of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). It will provide a platform for constructive dialogue among civil society, the private sector, and government representatives, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing on challenges, needs, and successes in crime prevention across the region.
This event is organized under auspices of the Regional Programme Southeast Europe-Together against Corruption (SEE-TAC II), implemented in partnership with the UNODC and with the financial support of the Austrian Development Cooperation.

Multi-stakeholder Consultation on the Implementation of the National Strategy for Fight Against Corruption
2025-07-01 | Podgorica, Montenegro
The Government of Montenegro adopted the Strategy for the Fight against Corruption for 2024–2028 on 4 June 2025. This strategic document sets out Montenegro’s national priorities in combating corruption and aligns with the principles and obligations of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Its implementation requires strong coordination across government institutions and active engagement with non-state actors including civil society, the private sector, the media, and academia. A multi-stakeholder, participatory approach is essential to ensuring relevance, transparency, and accountability.
In this context, the national multi-stakeholder consultation will be organized in support of the new Strategy’s implementation. The consultation will serve as a platform to:

Facilitate dialogue among government entities, civil society organizations, the private sector, and international partners;
Review the current status of anti-corruption measures and institutional commitments under the new Strategy;
Identify implementation challenges and emerging priorities;
Gather recommendations for effective monitoring and coordination mechanisms.

The consultation will place particular emphasis on the inclusion of non-state actors to foster public ownership and enhance oversight and transparency.
The event will be organized in partnership with the Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Judiciary, and Anti-Corruption and the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and held under the framework of the “Southeast Europe-Together Against Corruption II (SEE-TAC II)” Regional Programme. The Programme is implemented by RAI in in collaboration with UNODC and funded by the Austrian Development Agency.

20th Edition of RAI Summer School - Introduction to UNCAC and UNTOC Review Mechanisms
2025-07-02 - 2025-07-04 | Podgorica, Montenegro
The 20th Edition of the Summer School aims to equip junior representatives of respective ministries, prosecutors and anti-corruption authorities from Southeast Europe (SEE) with the necessary knowledge and expertise in anti-corruption and organized crime topics. The main objectives of the 20th edition of Summer School is to provide the junior practitioners with an overview of the UNCAC and UNTOC Conventions, taking into account different obligations and activities that countries have in the implementation, including a review mechanism for both Conventions. This edition will also provide the participants with essential insights into content of the Conventions, enabling them to familiarize with the responsibility of each country in prescribing criminal offences, which preventive and repressive measures are at authorities disposal, about MLA and JITs, proactive investigations, controlled delivery, also providing insight how countries prepare for the implementation review mechanism, how they establish coordination on the national level, and prepare the meetings with evaluation countries. The program is envisioned to be delivered in an engaging and interactive format, where participants will delve into the various domains, gaining practical skills for self-improvement and interpersonal relations.

Whistleblower Protection in Southeast Europe: As Good as It Gets? Launch of the Regional Report
2025-10-24 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

National event: Albania’s multi-stakeholder approach to corruption prevention
2025-10-31 | Tirana, Albania

Training on CRA in the Nature/Biodiversity Protection Sector
2025-11-17 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Target groups:

Representatives from the Ministry responsible for environmental protection; the Ministry of Justice; the anti-corruption body; other independent oversight institutions; services of parliamentary committees in charge of environmental protection and anti-corruption; public enterprises, and other state entities responsible for nature protection and management of protected areas.
Representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) involved in environmental protection and anti-corruption efforts.

The Overall Goal of the Training:
To introduce participants to the content and purpose of the CRA Guidance with Checklists in the Nature/Biodiversity Protection Sector and to build their capacity to apply the Checklists in their work when analysing areas and processes particularly vulnerable to corruption, and in identifying measures for improvement.

Training on CPL in the Nature/Biodiversity Protection Sector
2025-11-18 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Target groups:

Representatives of the ministry responsible for environmental protection; specialised Government agencies responsible for environmental issues; the anti-corruption body; other independent oversight bodies; Ministry of Justice, the services of parliamentary committees in charge of environmental protection and anti-corruption; public enterprises, and other state entities responsible for nature protection and management of protected areas.
Representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) involved in environmental protection and anti-corruption efforts.

The Overall Goal of the Training:
The overall goal of the training is to introduce participants to the content and purpose of the CPL Guidance with Checklists in the Nature/Biodiversity Protection Sector, and to empower them to identify and assess regulatory corruption risk factors in legislation using the CPL Methodology and Checklists, thereby contributing to the adoption of appropriate legislation.

Training on CRA in the Police Sector
2025-11-19 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Target groups:

Representatives from the Ministry of Interior and the Police (preferably employees from internal control units, internal (financial) audit units, designated persons for integrity plans/integrity managers, and members of disciplinary and ethics commissions); anti-corruption body; Ombudsperson; other independent oversight bodies; Ministry of Justice, and the services of parliamentary committees responsible for security and defense and anti-corruption.
Representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) engaged in institutional oversight, human rights, and the fight against corruption.

The Overall Goal of the Training:
To introduce participants to the content and purpose of the CRA Guidance with Checklists in the Police/MoI Sector and to build their capacity to apply the Checklists in their work when analysing areas and processes particularly vulnerable to corruption, and in identifying measures for improvement.

Training on CPL in the Police Sector
2025-11-20 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Target groups:

Representatives from the Ministry of Interior and the Police; anti-corruption body; Ombudsperson; other independent oversight bodies; Ministry of Justice, and the services of parliamentary committees responsible for security and defense and anti-corruption.
Representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) engaged in institutional oversight, human rights, and the fight against corruption.

The Overall Goal of the Training:
The overall goal of the training is to introduce participants to the content and purpose of the CPL Guidance with Checklists in the Police/Ministry of Interior Sector, and to empower them to identify and assess regulatory corruption risk factors in legislation using the CPL Methodology and Checklists, thereby contributing to the adoption of appropriate legislation.
