Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative

Chisinau: Break the Silence - Lead By Example To Reduce Corruption (local youth event in Moldova)
2022-11-25 | Chișinău, Europe Square, Central Park, Chișinău, Moldova, Republic of

Tirana: Contribution to the Week of Integrity Conference ‘Promoting Integrity: The Individual, the Organization and Beyond’
2022-12-07 | Tirana, Albania
Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat will contribute to the delivery of the Week of Integrity Conference titled ‘Promoting Integrity: The Individual, the Organization and Beyond’, to be organized in partnership with ICC Albania and HIDAACI. RAI Secretariat contribution will include participation in the plenary panel discussion “Integrity: a valuable proposition” and facilitation of the group breakout Session 1. on Whistleblowing and Whistleblower Protection. This event is organized in the framework of the Week of Integrity, to be held during 1 and 10 December 2022, organized by the International Chamber of Commerce in Albania, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Budapest: International Conference 'Theoretical and practical aspects of corruption prevention' - RAI contribution to the topic of whistleblowing
2022-12-07 | Budapest, Hungary
The Hungarian Protective Service Department for Prevention of Corruption is organizing the international conference “Theoretical and practical aspects of corruption prevention”, as part of a European Union project “Anti-corruption training with special focus on international bribery”. The conference is planned to be held on 07 December 2022, in view of the World Anti-Corruption Day. The conference will gather police officers, prosecutors and public administration servants, working in the field of prevention of corruption.

Skopje, North Macedonia: High Level Regional Anti-Corruption Conference
2022-12-14 | Skopje, North Macedonia, Skopje, North Macedonia
On December 14th, 2022, the Government of North Macedonia, in cooperation with the Regional Anti-corruption initiative and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, will organize a Regional Anti-Corruption Conference in Skopje, North Macedonia.

The Conference will bring together the highest level government members from the Western Balkan jurisdictions, senior government officials, anti-corruption technical experts, practitioners and representatives of civil society organizations to reflect upon the progress made in implementing the regional anti-corruption commitments and discuss potential future actions. It will strengthen regional cooperation in overcoming the common challenges in the anti-corruption area by creating synergies between the Western Balkan jurisdictions on the anti-corruption priorities of the Regional Anti-Corruption and Illicit Finance Roadmap and their London Summit pledges.
For more information about Regional Anti-Corruption and Illicit Finance Roadmap please go here.

Online Meeting on Achieving Accurate, Comprehensive and Standard Recording of Asset Recovery Statistics
2022-12-15 11:00 - 13:00 (Europe/Sarajevo) | Online
The objective of this meeting will be to present the unified regional model of statistical sheets developed within the project “Combating corruption and organized crime in the Western Balkans through strengthening regional cooperation in asset recovery” implemented by the Advice on Individual Rights in Europe (AIRE Centre) in cooperation with the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat.

Regional Meeting on the International Treaty on Exchange of Data for the Verification of Asset Declarations: Our tool for strengthening regional cooperation in asset disclosure
2022-12-20 09:00 - 17:00 UTC | Podgorica, Montenegro
Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative in cooperation with the Agency for Prevention of Corruption in Montenegro organized Regional Meeting on International Treaty on Exchange of Data for the Verification of Asset Declarations.
Regional Meeting that took place on December 20, 2022, brought together participants competent for the verification of asset declarations from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Moldova, North Macedonia and a host country Montenegro.
Full story is available at the LINK:

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence

Regional Online Cryptoasset/Virtual Asset Awareness Training
2022-12-21 13:30 - 16:30 (Europe/Sarajevo) | Online
This training is intended for judges, prosecutors, and trainees of the Judicial Training Institutes in the Western Balkans. It will familiarise the participants with the essential elements of cryptoassets and the approach of regulators and lawmakers in different jurisdictions. This training is organized by the AIRE Centre and the RAI Secretariat.

Regional Online Digital Evidence Awareness Training
2023-01-30 13:30 - 16:30 (Europe/Sarajevo) | Online
This training is intended for judges, prosecutors, and trainees of the Judicial Training Institutes in South East Europe. The three-hour training will familiarise the attendees with the essential elements of digital evidence, digital forensics and digital material identification, acquisition, and analysis. It will also give an overview of established best practices in handling and presenting digital material as evidence in trials and tribunals.
The workshop will be delivered by the international expert Jon Blake from Cognitas Global, a leading practical learning institution.
The training is organized under the regional project “Combating corruption and organized crime in the Western Balkans through strengthening regional cooperation in asset recovery,” implemented by the AIRE Centre in partnership with the RAI Secretariat, and funded by the UK Government.

Sarajevo: Peer-to-Peer Regional Meeting of Public Institutions
2023-01-31 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Peer-to-Peer Regional Meeting of Public Institutions: Ensuring Strong Protections for Employees who Report Wrongdoing will be held in Sarajevo, on January 31, 2023.

Sarajevo: Third Annual Regional Multi-Beneficiary Training on Whistleblower Protection
2023-02-01 - 2023-02-02 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Third Annual Regional Multi-Beneficiary Training on Whistleblower Protection: Ensuring Strong Protections for Employees who Report Wrongdoing will be held on February 1-2, 2023 in Sarajevo.

Sarajevo: Annual Meeting of the Southeast Europe Coalition on Whistleblower Protection
2023-02-03 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Annual Meeting of the Southeast Europe Coalition on Whistleblower Protection will be held on February 3, 2023 in Sarajevo.

39th RAI Steering Group Meeting taking place on 9-10 March, online
2023-03-07 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
39th Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Steering Group (SG) Meeting will take place online on March 9-10.
The meeting will be solely dedicated to selection of the Senior Anti-Corruption Advisor.

More information coming soon.

Have we broken the silence? (Project closeout event followed by a networking reception)
2023-03-14 12:00 - 14:00 UTC | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Closeout Event for the EU funded regional Project ‘Breaking the Silence: Enhancing Whistleblowing Policies and Culture in the Western Balkans and Moldova’ will be held on 14 March, 2023 in hotel Courtyard Marriott, Sarajevo. This will be a mid-afternoon, one-and-a-half-hour event, followed by a networking reception.
The closeout event will be hosted by RAI Secretariat, with its headquarters in Sarajevo, and organized in collaboration with the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The main purpose of the closeout event is to provide visibility and recognition to EU as donor and RAI as implementing partner, through the presentation of key Project results in the context of the overall mission, goals and activities of RAI and EU in SEE.

Regional Conference "Effective Asset Recovery in the Western Balkans"
2023-03-15 10:00 - 2023-03-16 17:00 (Europe/Paris) | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
On 15 and 16 March 2023, the RAI Secretariat (Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative – RAI), in cooperation with the AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe) is organising the Annual Alumni Conference “Effective Asset Recovery in the Western Balkans”.
The conference is organised within the project “Combating corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans through strengthening regional cooperation in asset recovery”. Since 2019, supported by the UK Government, the project is being implemented in all six Western Balkans jurisdictions, with participation of Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova and Romania.

22-23 March 2023, Skopje NMK: SEE Anti-corruption Women Leaders Forum Initiative, Skopje
2023-03-22 08:00 - 2023-03-23 17:00 UTC

Regional Event on CRA and CPL for Higher Education and Public Enterprises Sectors
2023-04-04 09:00 - 2023-04-05 17:00 UTC | Belgrade, Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
RAI Secretariat organized Regional Event for Higher Education and Public Enterprises Sectors on Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) and Corruption Proofing of Legislation (CPL) in Belgrade, Serbia on April 4th and 5th.
Regional Workshop gathered peers from respective ministries for Higher Education and Public Enterprises Sectors and anti-corruption agencies/commissions, from all the capitals where trainings took place in the course of 2022. Representatives from the Agency for Prevention of Corruption of Serbia and Ministry of Economy participated in the event.
Read more at the LINK

Workshop on Conflict of Interest in the Security Sector, Podgorica, Montenegro
2023-05-15 08:00 - 2023-05-19 17:00 UTC | Podgorica, Montenegro

AFA/OECD event on regulatory frameworks for promoting business integrity, Paris, France
2023-05-22 08:00 - 2023-05-23 17:00 UTC | Paris, Paris, France

“Conference on Combating Corruption: The Challenges of Regional Cooperation in the Implementation of the UNCAC”, Luanda, Angola
2023-05-29 - 2023-06-02 | Luanda, Angola, Luanda, Angola
The Conference on Combating Corruption took place from 29 May – 2 June 2023 in Luanda, Angola with the opening of the „High Level Segment”, where direction was provided by the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Marcy Cláudio Lopes. The High Level Segment is focused on the challenges of cooperation between SADC Member States. It brings together leaders of the Member States of the Community of Southern African Countries (SADC), top specialists from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), from partner organizations and countries. Mr. Nikola Naumovski, Senior Anti-Corruption Adviser of the RAI Secretariat, presented the work of the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative and participated in the panel: „Collective action in ensuring good governance: how the regional platform approach helps strengthening the prevention and fight against corruption”, with the representatives of UNODC, IACA, SADC, ASCE-LC Burkina Faso and CGU Brazil. RAI was recognized as a case of success of anti-corruption regional initiatives and has impacted the good governance within its Member States.
The first two days were dedicated to the Technical Segment. The event seeks to strengthen the fight against corruption, promote transparency, good governance and reinforce compliance with the established goals, within the scope of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). On the other hand, stems from the recognition of the urgent need to develop coordinated and cooperative actions within the scope of SADC to prevent and combat corruption, as a global challenge that negatively affects economic development, social justice and political stability. In the five day Conference, participants will discuss ways to share successful experiences and seek solutions to jointly face the fight against corruption. Among the main topics addressed, the following stand out:

The challenges of regional cooperation in the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption;
Current legal framework in SADC countries;
Adoption of a SADC roadmap on priority areas for preventing and combating Corruption in the region.

R2G4P Specialised Regional Training and Summer School, Belgrade, Serbia
2023-05-29 08:00 - 2023-05-31 17:00 UTC | Belgrade, Serbia

Prespa Forum Dialogue 2023, Struga, North Macedonia
2023-06-15 - 2023-06-16 | Struga, North Macedonia, Struga, North Macedonia

Online: 40th RAI Steering Group Meeting
2023-06-19
40th Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Steering Group (SG) Meeting took place on June 19, 2023 in the teleconference format.
The meeting was chaired by RAI Chairperson, Ms. Laura Stefan. It was attended by eight member countries’ representatives.
A particular focus was given to the RAI’s application for the UNCAC CoSP Observer status.
Steering Group Members approved the Observer status for NTA Greece and SBI Ukraine.
Agenda
Summary and Conclusions

Regional Training on CRA and CPL Monitoring and Evaluation
2023-06-22 09:00 - 2023-06-23 17:00 UTC | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
RAI Secretariat organized Regional Training on Monitoring and Evaluation of Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) and Corruption Proofing of Legislation (CPL) mechanisms in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 22nd and 23rd.
Regional Training gathered peers from respective ministries and anti-corruption agencies/commissions from all the capitals directly involved in the process of monitoring and evaluating the aforementioned mechanisms.
Mr. Nikola Naumovski, Senior Anti-Corruption Advisor in RAI Secretariat delivered opening remarks.
After the introductory speech, RAI expert, Mr. Radu Nicolae delivered the first session dedicated to the importance of CRA and CPL mechanisms in the process of combating corruption and the importance of monitoring and evaluating these mechanisms in practice. During this session, Mr. Nicolae introduced newly developed Monitoring and Evaluation Methodologies for CRA and CPL Mechanisms.
During the second part of the Regional Training participants had the opportunity to observe practical examples from different jurisdictions and to participate in brainstorming and constructive discussions. This session was focused on applying newly developed Methodologies to concrete situations from everyday work.
The regional capacity building training was aimed to increase the knowledge of participants in the area of monitoring and impact assessment (evaluation) of implementation of the CRA and CPL mechanisms and to support them to apply CRA/CPL monitoring and evaluation methodology (tools and indicators) in their jurisdictions. Besides these goals, the event was focused on gathering opinions and identifying the needs of project beneficiaries for drafting a roadmap of a new phase of the project.
The training in Sarajevo was organized in the framework of the project South East Europe – Together Against Corruption (SEE-TAC), jointly implemented by RAI and UNODC – United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – Civil Society Unit and funded by Austrian Development Cooperation.

Webinar: Promoting Public Administration Integrity via Regional Cooperation in Southeast Europe
2023-06-30 10:00 - 12:30 (Europe/Sarajevo)
The webinar aims at engaging policymakers, CSOs, anti-corruption agencies, and regional organizations and discusses good practices for building risk assessment at the specific sectors vulnerable to corruption (e.g. recruitment and public procurement in public-owned enterprises, higher education, etc.), accompanied by effective impact assessment methodology. Good examples of tailored integrity trainings at the national and local levels will be presented. A focus will be placed on the role of the CSOs and the academia in developing comprehensive studies and research in order to gain broader insight into the corruption trends and integrity risks, leading to the creation of responsive strategies. The corruption preventive mechanisms and monitoring tools developed by the RAI, SELDI/MACPI, the SIGMA/OECD, and the efforts made by the ReSPA towards strengthening capacities, competencies, and the zero tolerance to corruption mindsets of public servants will be further underlined.

Sarajevo: RAI Summer School for Junior Practitioners
2023-07-03 - 2023-07-07 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative organized the 18th Summer School on Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) and Corruption Proofing of Legislation (CPL) for Junior Anti-Corruption Practitioners from South-East Europe. It took place on 3-7 July in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In her opening remarks, the Head of RAI Secretariat pointed out that Summer School was originally initiated in 2005 to build and strengthen the capacities of anti-corruption bodies in the region and to provide a platform for junior practitioners to learn new practices and share knowledge and experience.
This year’s focus is on corruption risk assessment and corruption proofing of legislation as strong corruption prevention mechanisms with an aim to enable the participants, junior representatives of anti-corruption agencies and ministries of justice to obtain advanced knowledge on the latest developments and practice in these fields and prepare them to use this knowledge in their daily work said Ms. Gotskova.
Starting with 18th Summer School, RAI Secretariat is launching the Anti-Corruption Summer School Alumni, an exclusive platform designed to foster continued collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development among past participants of the program.
Full story on the event is available at the LINK

Webinar on Monitoring and Evaluation of Corruption Risk Assessment and Corruption Proofing of Legislation
2023-09-14 | Online
Following the success of the regional event in Sarajevo, RAI Secretariat hosted a follow-up webinar focusing on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of Corruption Risk Assessment (CRA) and Corruption Proofing of Legislation (CPL) mechanisms.
The follow-up webinar was aimed to enhance participants’ capacity in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the CRA and CPL mechanisms.
In this interactive and practice-oriented webinar, participants delved into critical topics, including SWOT analysis of corruption risk assessment and corruption proofing of legislation M&E implementation. The session also guided participants in designing M&E plans, establishing monitoring indicators, and effectively communicating results.
This event was tailored for representatives from public institutions in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. We encouraged the inclusion of diverse perspectives and worked on identifying the challenges and solutions in the implementation of monitoring and evaluation methodologies.
The webinar was organized in the framework of the project South East Europe – Together Against Corruption (SEE-TAC), jointly implemented by RAI and UNODC – United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – Civil Society Unit and funded by Austrian Development Cooperation.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and its Review Mechanism
2023-09-18 - 2023-09-21 | Montenegro, Montenegro
From 19 – 21 September 2023, in Becici, Montenegro, a three-day workshop was organized by the UNODC Civil Society Unit in collaboration with the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI) and with the support of the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). This event brought together more than 50 stakeholders, including representatives from public authorities, civil society, the private sector, as well as partner organizations like the UNCAC Coalition and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime. The primary objective of the workshop was to deeply explore the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), with a specific emphasis on Chapter II, which pertains to preventive measures, and Chapter V, which deals with asset recovery. Additionally, it served as a platform for the exchange of information and the sharing of best practices in these domains.
Mr. Nikola Naumovski, the Senior Anti-Corruption Advisor explained that RAI, primarily an intergovernmental organization, has increasingly embraced civil society organizations in its efforts to support governments in anti-corruption initiatives and international obligations. He stressed, “We find that such inclusive implementation brings stronger and more sustained impact for the Southeast European region.”
During the opening session, H.E. Michael Müller, the Ambassador of Austria in Montenegro, emphasized that workshops of this nature significantly contribute to empowering civil society and the private sector to meaningfully engage in the implementation of the Convention. He emphasized, “Efforts against corruption concern us all, hence, intensifying regional cooperation and sharing experiences is crucial.” Müller highlighted trust in governments and public administration as the “fragile link that binds society together.”
Representing the Agency for Prevention of Corruption in Montenegro, Nina Sekulovic mentioned that the country is committed to “continuous and comprehensive efforts for the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption”. Montenegro underwent a country visit during the second cycle of the UNCAC review in March 2022. Notably, civil society organizations previously trained by UNODC through similar workshops were invited by the government to partake in the process. In 2022, Montenegro also pledged its commitment to transparency by signing the UNCAC Coalition’s Transparency Pledge, voluntarily committing to a high level of transparency during the second cycle of the UNCAC implementation review.
The workshop was conducted within the framework of the Regional Programme, “Southeast Europe – Together Against Corruption (SEE-TAC)”, which primarily focuses on strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration and responses to the challenges presented by corruption in the SEE region.

Asset Sharing Agreement Meeting (Sastanak povodom modela regionalnog sporazuma o podjeli oduzete imovine proistekle iz krivičnog djela)
2023-09-28 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mainstreaming the systematic corruption risk assessments in SEE
2023-09-28 | Online
On September 28, 2023, the RAI Secretariat and R2G4P members came together to host an online webinar titled “Mainstreaming Systematic Corruption Risk Assessments in Southeastern Europe (SEE).” This virtual event, which drew around 50 participants from both the region and around the world, served as a platform for lively discussions and the exchange of valuable insights regarding Corruption Risk Assessments (CRA) diagnostic tools established at various levels.
Corruption risk assessment stands as a crucial diagnostic instrument employed by public bodies. Its purpose is to identify and mitigate the pervasive and detrimental forms of corruption and conflicts of interest within institutional, sectoral, and local contexts. The webinar provided a unique opportunity for over 50 participants to delve into the key issues and challenges linked to the adoption of risk-based approaches. Moreover, it explored the importance of cultivating open, transparent, and dependable data sources to combat emerging systematic corruption threats.
Throughout the event, the esteemed panelists presented their perspectives on the roles played by regional, international, and civil society organizations. These entities are integral in crafting methodologies and diagnostic tools designed for monitoring and evaluating governments’ anti-corruption endeavors, all while adhering to international anti-corruption standards. Their collaborative efforts underscore the significance of cohesive networks in the ongoing fight against corruption.
In summary, the RAI Secretariat and R2G4P members orchestrated a truly engaging and informative webinar. By fostering dialogue among diverse stakeholders, it contributed to the advancement of anti-corruption initiatives and highlighted the importance of a unified front in the global battle against corruption.
The event was organized under the auspices of R2G4P project. The project, coordinated by the Center for the Study of Democracy, Bulgaria benefits from a €1.5 million grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation. The aim of the project is to implement shared anti-corruption and good governance solutions in SEE through innovative practices and public-private partnerships.
More information:

Event Agenda
Presentations:Mr. Ioannis Foustanakis, Head, Directorate for Strategic Planning and Behavioral Analysis, National Transparency Authority, Greece
Ms. Julija Nikolovska, Head, Integrity Department, Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance
Mr. Milos Pavkovic, Researcher,CEP
Mr. Stanley Chio, Principal Corruption Prevention Officer of the Corruption Prevention Department of the Independent Commission Against Corruption
Mr. Radu Nicolae, RAI Anti-Corruption Expert, President, Syene Centre for Education, Bucharest
Ms. Tatiana Mostovei, Chief Inspector, Institutional Assessment Division, General Corruption Prevention Directorate, National Anticorruption Centre

Photo Gallery:

Webinar - Effectively identifying Corruption Risks in the Central - Local Level Budget Distribution and Spending
2023-10-10 | Online
Regional Anti-corruption Initiative (RAI) Secretariat together with the R2G4P hosted today an online webinar titled “Effectively Identifying Corruption Risks in the Central – Local Level Budget Distribution and Spending”.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Desislava Gotskova, Head of RAI Secretariat, emphasized that the RAI Secretariat with its expertise in specific anti-corruption areas has contributed to the project implementation, especially in the fields of sectoral corruption risk assessment and corruption proofing of legislation and asset declarations. Ms. Gotskova highlighted the importance of R2G4P platform which brings together new partners both from the public sector and from the non-governmental sector, as well as regional and international organizations, in their efforts to find joint solutions in tackling new corruption forms and threats in line with the EU Anti-Corruption Package, the Summit for Democracy Commitments, and the renewed enlargement momentum.
The webinar brought together more than 70 participants from the R2G4P platform, anti-corruption agencies, competent ministries, researchers, custom and tax authorities, representatives of the associations of local authorities in the region, policymakers, investigative journalists, experts and the CSOs representatives to discuss, share experiences, and inspire new practices for strengthening the integrity and accountability of the public administration and the public sector in general, in the development of effective corruption risk assessment tools and impactful methodologies, including red-flags for predicting corruption and fraud. Audit offices and the associations of local authorities in SEE also shared their experience and presented their training programs to emphasize the role of the audit as the key pillar of the national integrity system as a critical element in the ecosystem of budgetary control and oversight in the public sector.
The project, coordinated by the Center for the Study of Democracy, Bulgaria benefits from a €1.5 million grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Regional Cooperation. The aim of the project is to implement shared anti-corruption and good governance solutions in SEE through innovative practices and public-private partnerships.
More information:

Event Agenda
Presentations:
Mr. Ioannis Vlassis
Mr. Maksim Acevski
Ms. Margarita Dobrynina
