Project Summary:

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the effective prevention of corruption, by means of improved and innovative mechanisms facilitating corruption risk assessment, corruption proofing of draft legislation, integrity testing and public awareness raising to foster zero-tolerance towards the phenomenon.

The project seeks to catalyze the emergence of the strongest possible national anticorruption institution, the National Anticorruption Centre (NAC) and will continuously support NAC in strengthening its capacities in-line with the institutions’ development plans, as well as to ensure that the planned actions are on track and the resources are utilized efficiently. The project will focus on the practical implementation of the planned actions with tangible and visible results both for the target groups involved and the broader public. The project activities will also address capacities needed for strengthening the analytical work, for quality performing risk assessments in various priority sectors (for example, public procurement), for ensuring a system for whistleblower protection, engagement with citizens through anticorruption education and public awareness, etc.

Objectives:

• Strengthen NAC's operational and institutional capacity to fulfill its prevention and analytical functions;
• Endow NAC Prevention Directorate with modern equipment and specialized software;
• Support NAC in elaborating and implementing a new National anti-corruption strategy and the Action Plan;
• Support NAC in assessing corruption risks and development of integrity plans in vulnerable sectors;
• Develop a platform for cooperation between NAC and civil society;
• Support initiatives promoting youth awareness and engagement in anticorruption;
• Strengthen NAC's capacity to perform corruption analysis as per national and international strategic documents.

Expected results:

• Capacity Development and Training Plan for NAC corruption prevention and analysis units elaborated and implemented;
• NAC endowed with modern equipment and specialized software;
• New national anti-corruption strategy elaborated, approved and implemented according to the Action Plan;
• Assessment of corruption risks and development of integrity plans conducted in at least three vulnerable sectors;
• Cooperation with civil society strengthened through developing a platform for cooperation between NAC and civil society and supporting initiatives promoting youth awareness and engagement in anticorruption;
• NAC new Communication Strategy elaborated, approved and implemented according to the Action Plan;
• Analytical studies on corruption analysis in at least three priority sectors elaborated;
• Gender disaggregated risks of corruption assessed.

Accomplishments:

• Capacity Development and Training Plan for NAC corruption prevention and analysis units elaborated and implemented;
• NAC endowed with modern equipment and specialized software;
• National Integrity and Anti-corruption Strategy 2017 – 2020 elaborated and approved on 30 March 2017;
• Assessment of corruption risks in the national system of public procurement; in private sector and in Chisinau municipality City hall conducted; 700 civil servants from central public administration institutions and from 25 district level governments trained in corruption risks assessment and in the development of integrity plans;
• Cooperation with civil society strengthened through facilitating a series of public consultations of the draft policy and legislation; establishing a better cooperation between NAC and investigative journalists and awarding best anticorruption investigations; supporting initiatives promoting youth awareness and engagement in anticorruption, such as organizing the first ever in Moldova Anticorruption Hackathon and organizing two editions of the children’s drawings contest “Talent doesn’t take bribes”; 
• NAC new Communication Strategy elaborated and NAC website www.cna.md re-designed;
• Analytical study on mechanisms on the asset recovery and confiscation led to the adoption of the Law on the Asset Recovery Agency on 30 March 2017 and the establishment of the Asset Recovery Agency;
• Impact analysis of the anticorruption proofing of legislation; and analysis of corruption cases and sentences in judiciary provided recommendations on improving the practice and the relevant legal framework;
• The Assessment of the impact of corruption on women’s opportunities for jobs and career in the central public authorities provided gender responsive indicators to better inform the implementation of anti-corruption policies and initiatives.