Communication with local authorities, which is demonstrated in comprehensive assistance in the development of anti-corruption programs, identification of corruption risks, implementation of modern anti-corruption tools, etc. is one of the priority areas of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP). After all, it is the local authorities who should stimulate integrity in communities by setting an example of compliance with anti-corruption legislation.
This was stated by NACP Head Viktor Pavlushchyk during a meeting with the heads of Cherkasy City Council, Cherkasy Regional Council and Cherkasy Regional Military Administration.
“First of all, I would like to emphasize the urgent connection of the city and regional councils, as well as enterprises, institutions, and organizations under their management to the Whistleblower Reporting Portal. More than 4,000 organizations have already been connected, but local authorities should be the leader in this process. I would like to note the work of the authorities in writing anti-corruption programs, and emphasize even more the importance of its implementation. NACP is constantly improving and developing recommendations and tools, the implementation of which makes the government more transparent and effective. For example, this includes identification of corruption risks, a guide to analyzing counterparties in procurement, a manager's guide to building an honest and effective organization that will help understand the mechanisms of anti-corruption compliance, etc.”, NACP Head emphasized.
Ihor Taburets, Head of the Regional State Administration, noted that it is crucial to create an environment of intolerance to corruption at the state level, as well as at the level of regional administrations and territorial communities. This requires an effective anti-corruption infrastructure of the state, where everyone is an active participant. The Regional State Administration is implementing an anti-corruption program, and at the regional level, there is a working group called Transparency and Accountability that systematically monitors procurement. In addition, the Regional State Administration has internal control authorities, and the Unified Whistleblower Portal accepts reports of possible corruption violations around the clock.
Anatolii Bondarenko, Mayor of Cherkasy, emphasized that the city council has repeatedly asked NACP for help and clarification and has always received comprehensive and professional explanations. In addition, the City Council's Department of Business Management and Legal Support constantly updates programs and activities based on NACP recommendations.
At the end of the meeting, Anatolii Pidhornyi, Chairman of the Cherkasy Oblast Council, signed the Declaration on Building Integrity in Local Self-Government. The regional council became the 25th signatory of the declaration.
“We have signed the Declaration on Building Integrity of Local Governments. In this way, we demonstrate our commitment to implementing the best international practices in ensuring zero tolerance to any corrupt practices. I am convinced that constant work and effective communication with NACP will make the activities of the government more open and transparent,” said Anatolii Pidhornyi.
In July 2023, Cherkasy City Council became one of the first signatories of the Declaration within the framework of the Forum of Good Communities.
During the working visit, Iryna Tymchenko, Head of the Public Sector Capacity Building and Integrity Department of NACP Outreach and Training Programs Office, conducted training for about 200 public servants, including heads of structural units and anti-corruption commissioners of the regional executive bodies, regional council, city council, heads of district state administrations, as well as heads of enterprises, institutions, and organizations under the management of the Cherkasy Regional Council.
With the assistance of the Department of Education and Humanitarian Policy of the Cherkasy City Council, a meeting was held with the heads of the city's schools. Alyona Khylko, Project Manager of NACP Integrity Office, presented the Transparent School project and methodological recommendations for the functioning of educational institutions on the basis of transparency, openness, and integrity - the Educational Navigator manual. About 40 participants joined the meeting.
As part of the regional visits project, NACP representatives have already visited Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Vinnytsia, and Lutsk this year. The regional travel project was created to strengthen NACP cooperation with communities, local authorities, secondary and higher education institutions, journalists and NGOs, and to promote building integrity through community engagement.
