Ramallah – Last week, the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) and Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) concluded a training programme for local government units (LGUs). The training was set to empower LGUs to promote transparency, integrity, governance, and anti-corruption measures in relevant functions.
Held over five weeks, the training programme targeted 95 participants from different LGUs in northern, central, and southern West Bank. Participants were introduced to a set of themes, which centred on the anti-corruption system. In addition to international and national legislation on the fight against corruption, these included the definition, forms, impacts, and consequences of corruption. The training covered approved procedures for combating corruption, including whistleblower protection, disclosure of conflict of interest, receipt of gifts, and asset declarations. It highlighted citizens’ role in reporting corruption and filing complaints. A special focus was placed on the functions of targeted LGUs, including the concept complaints, goals of complaint units, concept and role of internal audit and control, and fraud. A review included anti-corruption measures in procurement, tenders, financial and administrative processes, planning, and promotion of transparency in LGU internal and external and relations and communications. LGUs can be immunised against corruption by a set of procedures and mechanisms that strengthen the system of integrity, transparency, and fight against corruption.
The training programme fell within the framework of implementing activities of the National Cross-cutting Strategy for Integrity and Fight against Corruption. It reflected the partnership between AMAN and PACC to consolidate the National Integrity System within LGUs, raise awareness among communities of the fight against corruption, and rejuvenate internal and external accountability mechanisms. The activity was set to promote the values of integrity, principles of transparency, and systems of accountability within LGUs.
