Supporting Anti-Corruption Efforts of the Government of Moldova

The extra-budgetary project aims at assisting the Government of Moldova in fulfilling relevant OSCE commitments in good governance and anti-corruption, as well as aligning its national standards in public administration, transparent and accountable civil service and corruption prevention with the UN Convention against Corruption, the Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan, and other international standards and good practices. The project, implemented by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, will support relevant anti-corruption authorities in combating corruption through five project results.

The first component of the project focuses on updating normative and regulatory frameworks for Moldovan authorities mandated to fight corruption and aimed at improving their internal regulations and bylaws governing investigation techniques and criminal procedures. Activities under this result include:

• Conducting a comprehensive needs assessment analysis of the existing regulatory framework

The assessment will aim to identify opportunities for improvement, taking into consideration human rights and gender perspective in anti-corruption efforts.  

• Developing recommendations on updating the legislative and regulatory framework governing investigation of corruption crimes

Based on the needs assessment and in co-ordination with the relevant authorities, the project will support drafting amendments and additions to the existing regulatory framework and present them to the stakeholders for their action.

The second component of the project focuses on building capacities of relevant government authorities to investigate corruption crimes, including through the use of specialized computer/phone software, special investigation techniques, OSINT, information analysis, and other tools. Activities under this result include:

• Training Programme on Investigative Techniques

The project will develop and deliver a training programme consisting of specialized training events and real-life simulation exercises, focused on specific areas of investigation processes and designed for junior and mid-level officials from relevant government agencies.

• Train-the-Trainer courses 

A tailor-made programme, consisting of specialized intensive training courses will be developed and implemented to enhance professional capacities of investigators, as well as to ensure sustainability of the project. The programme will be handed over for incorporation into the official formal training of law enforcement practitioners.

• Study visits to OSCE participating States

The project will organize study visits to OSCE participating States aimed at observing good practices in investigation of corruption and establishing formal and informal working relations with counterparts.

The third component of the project focuses on inter-agency and international co-operation and information exchanges related to corruption-related criminal investigation, especially through formalized forms of co-operation among different law enforcement authorities within Moldova and peers from other OSCE participating States. Activities under this result include:

• Workshops on information sharing and international and inter-agency co-operation

The project will organize inter-agency workshops on information-sharing, establishing inter-agency working groups on corruption investigation, drafting agreements or protocols on the effective co-operation framework for prevention, investigation and prosecution of corruption crimes within Moldova and with international peers.

• Trainings and practical exercises on joint investigation of corruption crimes

The project will facilitate specialized trainings on joint inter-agency and international investigation of corruption crimes, supplemented by interactive modules.

• Conference on co-operation in investigation of corruption crimes

The conference will focus on investigation of corruption crimes from other OSCE participating States and will serve as a platform for exchange of information and networking among relevant authorities.

The fourth component of the project focuses on enhancing public sector’s resilience towards petty corruption through a number of workshops for relevant officials and recommendations.

• Recommendations on reducing opportunities for corruption in the public sector

Based on the findings of the needs assessment, a team of international and national consultants will prepare a number of targeted and tailor-made recommendations for each reviewed sector of public administration to be used by officials responsible for corruption prevention in public sector.

• Practical workshops for government officials on reducing opportunities for corruption

The project will organize workshops on the implementation of OSCE recommendations focused on reducing opportunities for corruption in the public sector, with a focus on public officials working in anti-corruption

The fifth component of the project aims to increase civil society’s engagement in anti-corruption through awareness raising and public information campaigns. Through workshops and online training courses, the project will contribute toward increasing reporting of corruption in Moldova.

• Workshops and trainings for civil society on reporting illegal practices

The OSCE will roll-out a specialized online training course on gathering information on corrupt behaviour from open sources and reporting illegal activities to relevant law enforcement agencies with an additional module designed on barriers for women to report corrupt practices to authorities.

• Updated legislation on whistle-blowers’ protection

A team of international and national consultants will prepare an assessment of existing measures on whistle-blowers protection in the public sector and propose recommendations aimed at improving the protection mechanisms based on international standards and practices.

• Developing a Terms of Reference for the Integrity Lab

In co-operation with the National Anti-Corruption Centre, the project will develop a ToR for an Integrity Lab for anti-corruption volunteers.