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Description
The project shall primarily focus on horizontal coordination in the public sector, targeting management of human resources in integrity. The project shall include, inter alia, the following activities:
- An Integrity Review elaborated by the OECD, focused on strengthening the public integrity system, monitoring and evaluation;
- A Pilot initiative on behavioural insights shall be carried out, implemented in specific areas identified through the Integrity Review;
- An opinion survey, containing questions related to experience and incidence of corrupt practices, tolerance vis-à-vis integrity violations, or questions related to the observed effectiveness of specific integrity policies;
- As part of the Review, the OECD will facilitate the development of an action plan to be co-drafted and implemented by the project promoter;
- Codes of ethics and codes of conduct elaborated and implemented by the project promoter, in consultation with the OECD;
- Model sectoral anti-corruption programmes and methodological tools for the corruption risk management shall be developed by the project promoter;
- Establishment and maintenance of a register of sensitive positions and processes in the public sector exposed to corruption and integrity violations shall be elaborated and maintained by the project promoter, in cooperation with the OECD;
- A set of indicators to measure various aspects of integrity of the civil administration, including corruption risk registers a risk scoring tool, shall be developed in cooperation with the OECD;
- Comprehensive capacity-building and awareness-raising activities on corruption prevention and the protection of whistle-blowers shall be carried out by the project promoter, based on the ongoing mapping of the Slovak legislation recently carried out by the OECD.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to tackle systemic corruption and insufficient integrity in Slovakia’s public administration. It addressed several interconnected challenges:
- A lack of effective anti-corruption tools and mechanisms hindered efforts to identify and prevent corrupt practices.
- Limited public trust in government institutions created barriers to effective citizen engagement and confidence in decision-making processes.
- Inadequate ethical standards and insufficient transparency measures within public administration hampered the creation of a fair and accountable governance framework. These challenges were compounded by structural and cultural factors, such as weak internal policies, limited capacity for reform, and insufficient public awareness of anti-corruption initiatives.
The project implemented a series of focused activities aimed at strengthening public sector integrity:
- Development of Governance Tools: Collaborating with OECD, the project produced a Code of Conduct for government officials, including ministers, state secretaries, and political advisors, to establish clear ethical guidelines.
- Surveys and Research: The project conducted comprehensive Trust Survey to assess public perceptions of corruption and trust in governance. This replaced two initially planned, narrower surveys, offering a broader perspective on public sentiment.
- Capacity Building: Four workshops and seminars were conducted to enhance the skills and understanding of public officials regarding anti-corruption practices and ethical governance.
- Policy and Strategy Development: The project supported the creation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2024–2029, integrating insights from the surveys and OECD recommendations.
- Educational and Outreach Materials: A glossary of key terms related to corruption and integrity was developed, alongside measures to raise public awareness, such as publications and conferences.
- Public Engagement: Publicity efforts, including the establishment of dedicated web pages and a communications campaign, aimed to increase transparency and inform the public about ongoing anti-corruption measures.
These activities resulted in practical outputs, such as the publication of the “Integrity Review,” which contained actionable recommendations to prevent corruption, and the development of anti-corruption methodologies and frameworks.
The project achieved several significant results with meaningful impacts on various stakeholders. At the policy level, it facilitated the adoption of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2024–2029, which provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing public administration integrity. Additionally, it introduced rules for lobbying and asset disclosure, improving transparency and holding public officials accountable.
In terms of capacity building, the project trained 369 public employees in ethical behavior and anti-corruption strategies, equipping them to implement higher standards of governance. Methodological tools for managing corruption risks were also developed and shared with ministries and state administrative bodies, ensuring a systematic approach to addressing these challenges.
The project also had a strong focus on public engagement and awareness. It raised understanding of corruption prevention through a well-designed communication strategy, including updated web resources and public events such as workshops and conferences. Citizens benefited indirectly by gaining greater confidence in the transparency and accountability of public administration, which better aligned with their expectations for good governance.
Collaboratively, the partnership with OECD was instrumental in delivering the Integrity Review of Slovak republic and Trust Survey. This comprehensive study offered in-depth insights into governance challenges and public trust issues, directly informing the development of effective strategies to improve governance practices.
The primary beneficiaries of the project were public sector employees, who received targeted training and tools, government institutions, which gained enhanced frameworks and strategies to combat corruption, and citizens, who experienced a more transparent and accountable public administration. Overall, the project contributed to long-term improvements in governance and public trust in Slovakia.