Agency for Prevention of Corruption

Training on the assessment of corruption risks for integrity managers in Montenegrin institutions held in Podgorica

Oct. 19, 2017

The Agency for the Prevention of Corruption in cooperation with the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI), with the support of the Austrian Development Agency, held one-day training for persons performing coordination activities in the implementation of measures from integrity plans in Montenegrin institutions, the so called integrity managers.

The third of the three trainings titled "Developing and Implementing Integrity Plans in the Institutions of Montenegro" was held in Podgorica, and gathered over 80 officials from the central region, and from the municipalities of Podgorica, Nikšić and Danilovgrad.

The main objective of the training was to introduce integrity managers in a comprehensive and participatory manner with the purpose and importance of developing and monitoring the implementation of integrity plans, the role of integrity managers, and to present practical methodological guidelines for the effective assessment of corruption risks in institutions and timely action upon them. The training emphasized the importance of recommendation that the government authorities approach the process of assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of the adopted integrity plans in a uniform manner to ensure a high degree of successful implementation of these activities in accordance with the Methodology for developing and implementing integrity plans in the authorities of Montenegro.

In his introductory speech, the representative of the Agency, the coordinator of the Sector for the Prevention of Corruption, Mr. Mladen Tomović, pointed out that integrity plans aim not to solve individual cases of corruption, but by synchronized actions within institutions, to establish mechanisms that will prevent and eliminate the circumstances for the occurrence of corruption. "This is precisely why the Agency deems important trainings attendees of which are its key partners in establishing an effective prevention model at the level of individual institutions," Tomović emphasized.

The Agency's representative added that building the integrity of institutions, and the society as a whole, in its very essence implies the systemic approach of all actors bearing responsibility in such process. "When we talk about institutions, this implies the necessary support to the integrity manager by the management and all employees in the process of timely identification of risks and the elimination of their detrimental impact. Our ultimate task is to try to create an environment where every employee will have the awareness that timely response to the risks we face in daily work is the obligation of all of us," Tomović concluded.

RAI expert Mrs. Dragana Krunić presented the best international experiences in the field of designing and implementing integrity plans, with particular reference to the examples of Great Britain, Hong Kong and the Netherlands. "The most important factor that slows down the improvement of work processes as a key factor in eliminating risks is the traditional passivity of administration and the functioning by the inherited management model that is often outdated," said Mrs. Krunić.

Experts also presented the methodology to the trainees as well as an example of questionnaires for assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of integrity plans.

The training was organized within the Southeast Europe Regional Programme on Strengthening the Capacity of Anti-Corruption Authorities and Civil Society to Combat Corruption and Contribute to the UNCAC Review Process, implemented by the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative, and funded by the Austrian Development Agency. The third one-day training on "Developing and Implementing Integrity Plans in the Institutions of Montenegro" will be held on Thursday, October 19, 2017, starting at 09:00 a.m. in the City Hotel in Podgorica.

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