UNDP and the Government of Japan have signed a US $2.26 million project at the Government Palace of Guinea-Bissau to strengthen transparency and accountability in the country’s institutions.  Counsellor Shinichi Hirose sat with the Resident Representative Tjark Egenhoff and the Vice-Prime Minister, H.E. Soares Sambu, the Minister of Economy, H.E José Carlos Varela Casimiro and the Minister of Commerce, H.E Abas Djaló for the occasion.

As part of ongoing efforts to bolster governance in the country, UNDP Guinea Bissau has supported the development of a comprehensive and integrated anti-corruption strategy for government aimed at identifying mechanisms to prevent and combat graft, promote a culture of transparency, integrity and good governance.

The recently agreed the “Project for Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Governance to Prevent Corruption and Consolidate Peace” aims to accelerate these efforts by focusing on strengthening national capacities to fight corruption, improving transparency of State activities and budget, and enhance transparency and accountability of public administration offices and processes. The project was discussed with national counterparts and the Embassy of Japan in Dakar, Senegal.

In a high-level ambassadorial meeting held in New York on 29 November H.E. Susi Barbosa expressed appreciation to the Government of Japan for its contributions and noted that it demonstrated once more that the fight against corruption is a priority for H.E President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.