The representatives of local municipalities of Georgia have an important role in the development and implementation of anti-corruption policies and promoting integrity tools. To support a better understanding and implementation of the anti-corruption framework at the local level, the Council of Europe in cooperation with the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) organised two editions of awareness raising events on fighting corruption in the public sector. The activities were delivered on 15-16 June 2023, in Tbilisi, and targeted public officials from two Georgian municipalities (Kvemo Kartli and Mtskheta-Mtianeti). These activities were held as a follow-up of the awareness raising events organised for Georgian municipalities in 2022 in the framework of the project “Enhancing the systems of prevention and combating corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing in Georgia”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in their Partnership for Good Governance II.
The SSG’s Anti-corruption Agency, in partnership with the Council of Europe’s consultant, have shared with the representatives of Georgian municipalities basic anti-corruption concepts, key tools for preventing corruption as well as effective mechanisms for monitoring and managing corruption risks. Identifying and reporting conflicts of interest, protection of whistleblowers and investigating corruption offences represented the topics mostly addressed during the events. Practical cases dwelling form the local practice of Georgian municipalities were discussed and analyzed. Input from the Council of Europe’s consultant brought an international perspective and a benchmark approach to the exchanges amongst participants. The meetings also offered an opportunity for the SSG’s Anti-corruption Agency to share an overview of its mandate and activities.
The SSG’s staff that acted as local trainers during these events have previously benefited from the Council of Europe’s assistance, in the form of a Training of Trainers programme, aimed at improving institutional capacities to design anti-corruption training programmes.
This activity was organised in the framework of the project “Consolidating and Enhancing the Institutional and Operational Frameworks for the Prevention and Combatting of Corruption, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in Georgia” co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in their Partnership for Good Governance III 2023-2027.