The focus of the VI Ukrainian-German Municipal Partnership Conference was the modernization of infrastructure and reconstruction of war-ravaged areas. The Conference took place on November 13–15, 2023, in Leipzig. The event brought together government officials and representatives of local communities from Ukraine and Germany. The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) was represented at the conference by Ihor Khokhych, Chief of Staff of the NACP.
In his speech at the professional forum "Local Self-Government and Democracy in Administrative Structures," he emphasized the importance of preventing corruption risks during Ukraine's reconstruction and of using funds efficiently and transparently to restore the war-torn territories of Ukraine. According to him, this can only be achieved through the implementation of systemic measures to prevent corruption and build integrity on the ground.
The NACP has already implemented the Declaration on Building Integrity of Local Governments, which unites communities and strengthens cooperation with the regions to prevent corruption, build trust in local authorities, and build integrity in communities and society as a whole.
"So far, more than 20 local governments and two community associations have joined the signing of the declaration, which is based on the best practices of the Council of Europe on good governance and takes into account the provisions of the UN Convention against Corruption. The National Agency has developed recommendations for preventing corruption risks during the reconstruction of the country and analyzing counterparties during procurement. These and many other developments should prevent reputational risks, prevent abuse of the simplified procurement system, and promote business confidence in local authorities. Communities should become the centers of responsibility for the quality of recovery and the efficient use of funds. The absolute requirement of the time is that this reconstruction should be transparent, under effective control and management," said Igor Khokhych.
The conference was held under the patronage of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, also addressed the conference online, noting that there are currently 190 intercity and 6 interregional partnerships between our countries and emphasizing that the cities of Germany and Ukraine are united by a fundamental thing: a European attitude towards people.
The Mayor of Leipzig, Burghard Jung, emphasized the need for solidarity among German communities in helping Ukraine. According to him, "these efforts will also be efforts on Ukraine's path to the European Union."
In general, the Conference speakers focused on humanitarian aid to Ukraine, assistance in its modernization, strengthening cooperation between local governments of both countries, and Germany's participation in rebuilding Ukrainian cities and destroyed infrastructure.
As a reminder, the NACP works to build integrity as a norm for local governments, engage communities to ensure transparent recovery processes, establish cooperation with businesses, and restore public trust.
This year, the National Agency's management and representatives made working visits to Lviv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Chernivtsi. Their goal is to strengthen the NACP's cooperation with the regions, engage communities in building integrity, help minimize corruption risks, and strengthen cooperation with secondary and higher education institutions, journalists, and civil society organizations.
Photo: Nicky Hellfritzsch/ Engagement Global
VI Ukrainian-German Conference of Municipal Partnerships: Communities should become centers of responsibility for the effective use of funds during reconstruction
VI Ukrainian-German Conference of Municipal Partnerships: Communities should become centers of responsibility for the effective use of funds during reconstruction
