The Council of Europe, in cooperation with the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG), held the sixth and seventh editions of its awareness-raising training on “Fighting Corruption” which on November 15-16 took the initiative to Borjomi to discuss the challenges of corruption and of promoting integrity with local authorities from the Region of Samtkshe-Javakheti and Shida Kartli, in Georgia.
As in previous editions, the discussions were led by the staff of the SSG’s Anti-corruption Agency (ACA) whom the Council of Europe had previously trained as local anti-corruption trainers, equipping them with the tools to transfer knowledge, and to design anti-corruption programmes and curricula. Input from the Council of Europe’s international expert brought an international perspective and a benchmark approach to the exchanges amongst participants.
The prevention of corruption offences amongst public servants in state institutions and local municipalities is part of ACA’s mandate. Through the training of trainers, the Project is supporting the sustainability of the Agency’s efforts against economic crime by equipping the authorities in Georgia with the expertise and capacities to replicate, with their own means, the trainings in other municipalities and state institutions.
During the sessions, trainers shared with representatives of the municipalities of Sakrebulo (local assembly) and Gambegoba (City Hall) of Samtskhe-Javakheti Region (Adigeni, Akhalkalaki, Akhaltsikhe, Aspindza, Borjomi, Ninotsminda) and Shida Kartli Region (Gori, Kareli, Kaspi, Khashuri) basic anti-corruption concepts, and key tools in fighting against it; all of which illustrated with case studies drawn for the Agency’s real practice. The meeting also offered an opportunity for the ACA to share an overview of its mandate and activities. The core of the discussions was devoted to the prevention of conflict of interests; as well as to the protection of whistle-blower.
These trainings follow previous editions of the Project’s efforts to take the anti-corruption discourse to different institutions and regions in Georgia, among which similar trainings that the Project has been organized for the representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development; the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure (17 December 2021), the municipality of Tbilisi (18 December 2021) as well as the meetings convened for the Municipality of Kakheti (14-15 April), Imereti (23 September 2022) and Adjara/Guria (25 October 2022) Regions.
This activity was organised in the framework of the project “Enhancing the systems of prevention and combating corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing in Georgia”, funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in their Partnership for Good Governance II.