The project on “Protection of the Rights of Entrepreneurs in the Russian Federation from Corrupt Practices at the Municipal Level” - PRECOP II focuses on addressing corruption at the municipal level in select geographic regions of the Russian Federation, given that it is in the municipalities where in particular small and medium-size enterprises face the biggest obstacles created by various administrative and corruption-prone practices.

Activities are focused on key issues such as procurement practices; municipal government level oversight and control over businesses; and the rules and regulations governing businesses at that level. PRECOP II also aims to find ways of establishing a mechanism through which businesses can report corruption anonymously through the institution of the Business Ombudsman. All activities will strengthen the knowledge base of the institution itself, and thus increase its credibility, legitimacy, and capacity.

Following are the expected results:

ER 1: Increased capacities and role of the Federal and Regional Business Ombudsmen in addressing and preventing corruption;

ER 2: Public procurement processes at the municipal level are improved;

ER 3: Capacities of municipal authorities to carry out administrative inspections are improved;

ER 4: Public services for entrepreneurs at the state and municipal levels are delivered in an accountable and transparent manner, in accordance with the rule of law;

ER 5: Capacities of the Regional Business Ombudsmen are strengthened with regards to the institutions’ ability to effectively take forward entrepreneurs’ complaints about corruption.