Launch of the “Alliance of Integrity” project in Ukraine

The “Alliance of Integrity” project for local self-government has been launched in Ukraine. This important initiative covers 22 municipalities across 10 regions, but it needs to be scaled up, especially in regions with capable budgets. This was announced by the Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister for Development of Communities and Territories, Oleksii Kubel, during the project presentation.

Need for collaborative efforts

Oleksii Kubel emphasized that expenses during the war must be clear, open, and transparent. He noted that the most support needs to be provided to frontline and near-frontline areas, calling on international partners to pay special attention to these regions.

International support

The U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, highlighted the program’s potential for transformation, emphasizing that it could meet European and international standards with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Kingdom. The diplomat added that by implementing these standards, local communities will be able to manage taxpayer funds more effectively.

Focus on key areas

The “Alliance of Integrity” will concentrate on five main areas:

1. Assessment of corruption risks.
2. Development of integrity improvement plans.
3. Review of regulatory acts to ensure transparent conditions for business.
4. Cooperation with municipalities from other countries and international financial institutions.
5. Capacity building for anti-corruption officials.

Initiative goals

Over the next five years, the project aims to unite 80 communities to enhance integrity among local self-government bodies. This year, the pilot communities include cities from Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, and Cherkasy regions.