Български
The launch of the project “Civic Efforts for Accountability and Integrity at the Local Level” brought together experts from the Anti-Corruption Fund, Initiative BG – Burgas, and partner organisations from Gotse Delchev, Dimitrovgrad, Galabovo, and Bobov Dol. The meeting provided an opportunity for the participants to get to know one another and prepare for the implementation of the planned project activities.
The coordination meeting, held in Bankya on 25 June, was opened by Boyko Stankushev, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Fund, and chaired by the project manager, attorney Denitsa Rukanova-Kaldamukova.
The participants were introduced to the Standard for Accountability and Integrity at the Local Level, developed by the Anti-Corruption Fund, as well as to the project’s effective communications strategy.
Dr Mario Rusinov, a political scientist at the Anti-Corruption Fund, explained how open data and public registers can be used to monitor public procurement and support checks and investigations conducted by civic activists.
The corruption environment in Bulgaria has reached increasingly concerning levels since 2012. The country currently ranks 84th in the international annual Corruption Perceptions Index, which covers 182 countries and territories.
Against this background, the project aims to contribute to reducing corruption at the local level by empowering local civic groups with greater knowledge of the relevant legislation, available data sources, and methods for searching for and obtaining information. This will enable citizens to exercise more effective oversight of public spending in their communities.
Following the completion of the initial training for the main project participants, a series of public meetings and training sessions will be organised in the participating cities. Anti-corruption monitoring and other activities aimed at improving the integrity of local government will also be carried out.
The project coordinator for the Municipality of Burgas is Roza Bozhinova, Chairperson of the Initiative BG Association.
The project is implemented with the support of the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme under the Civic Engagement and Transparency Facility 2024–2029.
The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the governments of Switzerland and Bulgaria.
