Improving defense procurement remains one of Ukraine's top priorities. Representatives of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) discussed procurement policy, as well as problems and challenges in defense procurement, together with representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Logistics Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Enterprise ''State Logistics Operator'' and the heads of food services of brigade-level military units.
"Currently, Ukrainian experts are working with NATO to develop recommendations for improving the defense procurement system as part of the Strategic Defense Procurement Review of the NATO Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine. At the same time, the NACP is launching an analysis of corruption risks in this area, which will involve all stakeholders and international experts. As a result, we will provide recommendations that will contribute to building integrity in defense procurement and implementing the reforms already launched by the Ministry of Defense. The study will be the product of cooperation between executive authorities, civil society institutions and international organizations to achieve a common goal - to effectively provide the Armed Forces with the necessary resources," said Iaroslav Liubchenko, Deputy Head of the NACP, who is the National Coordinator for NATO-Ukraine Building Integrity Cooperation.
"Transparency in procurement is the key to financial efficiency of budget funds and public trust in the Ministry of Defense. That is why we are building a new procurement architecture that is in line with NATO practices. We are obliged to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with quality food in a timely manner," said Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Dmytro Klymenkov.
Following the meeting, further steps to implement the defense procurement reform were identified.
To build integrity and in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Prevention of Corruption", the NACP conducts anti-corruption expertise of draft legal acts, including those related to the security and defense sector, coordinates the activities of authorized units (authorized persons) on the prevention and detection of corruption, monitors, coordinates and evaluates the effectiveness of the implementation of measures set out in the State Anti-Corruption Program for 2023-2025. Defense procurement has been identified as one of the problems in the defense sector and a list of measures necessary to achieve the relevant expected strategic results is provided.
