Currently, the only regional center devoted solely to curbing corruption in South Eastern Europe (SEE), the RAI Secretariat represents a concrete and visible demonstration of the member states’ commitment to the continuing, concerted, and coordinated fight against corruption in the region.
The Secretariat is the executive body of RAI.
The Secretariat facilitates regional cooperation and efforts to curb corruption in the SEE region by building on existing actions, through better coordination of all efforts, and by relying on high-level political commitment. The Secretariat adopts a human rights-based approach and promotes anti-discrimination by promoting the impact of corruption is looked at from perspectives including gender, disability, and poverty.
The Secretariat strives to:
– serve as the main focal point for regional anti-corruption cooperation in SEE through the coordination, facilitation, and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned as well as through the interaction and coordination among member states and between member states and other international partners;
– act as a regional Anti-Corruption Resource Center for the countries of the SEE region; and
– enable a better integration and implementation of the international legal instruments concerning the prevention and fight against corruption.
The Secretariat stipulates its specific objectives in the Programme, which is developed every two years. This document is subject to the approval of the RAI Steering Group. The Programme represents a compilation of national needs, regional demands, and international commitments of RAI member countries. Its intention is to set Secretariats’ strategic direction and to inform the wider anti-corruption community and all the stakeholders. The Specific Objectives stipulated in the Work Plan are a product of joint efforts of the Secretariat and the representatives of its member countries and observer countries alike. In the development of the Specific Objectives, the Secretariat also consults with its partner organizations and stakeholders.
RAI is a gender-aware organization committed to upholding fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights and other relevant internationally recognized standards. The Secretariat is committed to ensuring that all programmatic and organizational endeavors of the Secretariat are gender sensitive.
In addition to the stated strategic commitments, the Secretariat dedicates itself to exploring its environment and looking for other anti-corruption endeavors in the SEE region. The Secretariat aims to avoid overlapping and ensure synergies with comparable activities and processes implemented by different international organizations, beneficiaries, and stakeholders.
RAI Secretariat follows its Specific Objectives and its Observers, thus strengthening collaboration and ensuring the best use of possible avenues of cooperation.
The Secretariat is a multidisciplinary regional anti-corruption resource center and network for information and expertise exchange by providing a platform of interaction among relevant regional and international actors.