Fostering integrity and preventing corruption in the public sector in Armenia

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Published: August 9, 2022
Persons in Photograph (left to right): German Ambassador to Armenia Viktor Richter, European Commission DG NEAR Team Leader Bella Nestorova, Head of Anti-corruption policy elaboration and monitoring department at Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Hasmik Tigranyan, Beneficiary Project Leader and Chairwoman of the Corruption Prevention Commission Haykuhi Harutyunyan, European Union Ambassador to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin, Project Leader Ingo Sorgatz, Resident Twinning Adviser Diana Stepina
Persons in Photograph (left to right): German Ambassador to Armenia Viktor Richter, European Commission DG NEAR Team Leader Bella Nestorova, Head of Anti-corruption policy elaboration and monitoring department at Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Hasmik Tigranyan, Beneficiary Project Leader and Chairwoman of the Corruption Prevention Commission Haykuhi Harutyunyan, European Union Ambassador to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin, Project Leader Ingo Sorgatz, Resident Twinning Adviser Diana Stepina
Armenia

The “Fostering integrity and preventing corruption in the public sector in Armenia” Twinning Project will run for 24 months, starting in June 2022, and has a budget of EUR 1 million. The project is being implemented by the IRZ in lead, together with the Latvian Ministry of Justice – in co-operation with the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau – as a junior partner.

In the last five years, Armenia has made significant strides towards tackling corruption in the country. The establishment of the Corruption Prevention Commission in 2020 and the adoption of the Anti-Corruption Strategy for the period 2019-2022 are just a few examples that highlight the progress that has been made in the field of corruption prevention policy.

However, despite this progress, these efforts have only had a limited impact thus far and corruption remains a significant problem in critical areas of public administration.

This Twinning Project aims to support and enhance the reform process and ensure the effective functioning of the anti-corruption measures in place.

The overall objective of this project is, as the name states, to foster integrity and prevent corruption in the public sector in Armenia. Specifically, the project aims to develop and assist the implementation of anti-corruption education and public awareness programmes targeted at government officials as well as the general public. The project further aims to advance the implementation of Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Strategy, in particular by enhancing the monitoring capacity of the Anti-Corruption Policy Development and Monitoring Department of the Ministry of Justice.

The main project beneficiary is the Corruption Prevention Commission.

An Opening Event was organised on 13.06.2022 in Yerevan, with the participation of representatives of the Beneficiaries as well as the German Ambassador and the IRZ project team. An official Kick-Off event for the project is planned for fall 2022.

The project has four components:

First component: Build the institutional capacity of the Corruption Prevention Commission to develop and assist in the implementation of anti-corruption (integrity) education and public awareness programmes

The first component of the project focuses on enhancing the capacity of the Corruption Prevention Commission to develop integrity education programmes and/or training courses. It will do so by improving the existing infrastructure and by developing and publishing materials for such courses which can be introduced in the general and higher education systems. It will also put in place a professional development system for government officials in the field of integrity, and develop and publish related materials and a code of conduct.

Second component: Establish strategic communication and collaboration mechanisms

The second component is concerned with improving the communication channels and collaboration mechanisms between the Corruption Prevention Commission, the civil service and media, so that the general public has a better understanding and a greater awareness of the mandate and functioning of the Commission. The aim is to put in place mechanisms that allow the Corruption Prevention Commission to effectively cooperate with external stakeholders, including anti-corruption state institutions.

Third component: Support the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Strategy by building the capacity of the Ministry of Justice to monitor

The third component of the project focuses on the Anti-Corruption Strategy and its implementation. Activities under this component aim to improve the legal framework around the Anti-Corruption Policy, to increase public awareness about anti-corruption measures in Armenia, and to develop and introduce an effective methodology for monitoring the measures put in place. Finally, the component also aims to enhance the implementation of international anti-corruption commitments generally.

Fourth component: Improve business integrity

The fourth component looks at anti-corruption measures in state-owned enterprises. It will conduct an assessment of the existing anti-corruption measures in such enterprises, and will develop and introduce additional anti-corruption measures in state-owned and public enterprises.