Kyiv, 25 January 2023 – Today, an online course for anti-corruption officers, called “Protecting the rights of whistleblowers” – developed with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and financial support from the European Union (EU) in cooperation with the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) and the Online Education Studio EdEra – was presented.

Close cooperation between anti-corruption officers and whistleblowers – individuals who report corruption and are under the protection of the state – is one of the most important anti-corruption measures at all levels. The new online course – which comprises nine thematic modules, interactive simulation games and tests – is designed to improve such collaboration.

From the course, students will learn how anti-corruption officers interact with whistleblowers, how to submit and consider corruption reports, the rights and guarantees whistleblowers have, how to conduct a procedural interview and much more. After completing the course, all trainees will receive a certificate, and officials will also obtain 1 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credit.

Frederik Coene, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, noted that the fight against corruption remains a priority on Ukraine’s reform agenda, including in the context of EU candidacy. “Despite Russia’s brutal and illegal war of aggression, Ukraine continues on its reform path. We are convinced that fostering a culture of whistleblowing will further strengthen the anti-corruption infrastructure,” he said. “Transparency, accountability and integrity in the public and private sectors are keystones also for recovery.”

Jaco Cilliers, interim UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, said that UNDP, together with its partners, is contributing in every possible way to developing new qualitative approaches to preventing and combating corruption. “This is already the second course for anti-corruption officers that we have developed together with EU and NACP,” he added. “The systematic approach in working with anti-corruption officers and whistleblowers will make it possible to protect and encourage those who help to expose cases of corruption more effectively.”

Vasyl Lutsyk, interim Head of the Corruption Prevention and Detection Department at the NACP, noted that everyone could contribute to preventing corruption in Ukraine. “The NACP – the body that creates state policy on whistleblowing – is popularizing the role of whistleblowers. After all, exposing corruption is correct, conscious and moral,” he said. “Thanks to the partnership with UNDP and the EU, we can provide people who want to fight corruption with high-quality educational products.”

Background

The training course was created by the Online Education Studio EdEra in partnership with the NACP and with the support of the UNDP in Ukraine in the framework of the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (UN RPP) with financial support from the EU.

The UN RPP is being implemented by four United Nations agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Eleven international partners support the Programme: the European Union (EU), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, and the governments of Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland.

Media inquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org