AMAN and Roya Association for Development Abilities conclude a series of awareness raising sessions on action against corruption in the midst of COVID-19

AMAN and Roya Association for Development Abilities conclude a series of awareness raising sessions on action against corruption in the midst of COVID-19

Gaza – In cooperation with Roya Association for Development Abilities, the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) concluded a series of awareness raising sessions, which targeted staff members of line ministries, government bodies, and local government units. Addressing measures against corruption, these events also engaged media representatives and beneficiaries from government and civil society assistance and relief programmes and services throughout the Gaza Strip.

Encounters aimed at raising community awareness of the concept and various forms of corruption, such as favouritism, cronyism, nepotism, bribery, misappropriation of public funds, and impact of corruption on the ability of public institutions to deliver on their commitments towards citizens. Awareness raising was tailored to ensure that the state of emergency would not be used in suspicions of corruption or mismanagement of public finances and public administration. The meetings covered mechanisms needed to strengthen the National Integrity System (NIS) and improve the environment of transparency and accountability as a key entry point to promoting the anticorruption effort. To this avail, suspected corruption will be reported to government bodies and civil society organisations, which provide relevant support, legal counselling, and response amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sessions provided sensitisation to staff members of line ministries and government agencies, which provide basic services to citizens during the pandemic, focusing on key measures and procedures that ensure response to the anticorruption effort in a work environment in times of disasters and crises. This particularly includes procurement systems, selection of beneficiaries from government emergency assistance programmes, receipt of complaints from the public, and provision of essential services to citizens, especially medical and local government services.

A number of sessions targeted staff members of the Directorate General of Consumer Protection at the Ministry of National Economy, highlighting the Ministry’s role in the fight against corruption. These shed light on some merchants who have exploited the COVID-19 pandemic, monopolised commodities, and raised prices. Presentations also covered necessary mechanisms to ensure integrity and accountability in times of quarantine and lockdown.

Some encounters targeted staff members of collection, community service, complaints, and procurement sections at the Gaza Municipality, making them better acquainted with the measures and procedures for ensuring integrity, transparency, and accountability in emergency procurement processes amid the COVID-19 crisis. Other sessions brought together the staff of government assistance programmes at the Ministry of Social Development throughout the Gaza Strip governorates. In addition to outlining mechanisms to receive public complaints and reports, these were designed to review policies and measures that maintain an integral, transparent and accountable implementation of emergency aid exercises.

It is worth noting that awareness raising sessions are part of the joint efforts led by AMAN in coordination and cooperation with various civil society organisations to provide emergency response to COVID-19. This activity is set to increase awareness of, and pay more attention to, the anticorruption system, promote the NIS among different society groups, and create community action against corruption. Citizens, civil society organisations, and media outlets will be engaged in this effort by reporting cases of corruption and providing oversight and accountability for public finances and public administration.

 

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