OSCE Office helps strengthen civil service integrity and accountability in Armenia

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Training on integrity, transparency and reduction of corruption risks in public administration was held for some forty high-level representatives from Armenia’s government institutions and regional self-government bodies on10-15 November 2014, in Aghveran, Kotayk region. The training was held by the Union of Armenia's Government Employees NGO with the OSCE Office in Yerevan support and in partnership with the Civil Service Council of Armenia.

Armenpress reports that Naira Gyulnazaryan, anti-corruption projects coordinator at the OSCE Office in Yerevan said: “Integrity, skilful and fair work of civil servants is essential for effective public administration and we hope our joint efforts will promote efficient and accountable governance in Armenia.”

The training focused on the principles of integrity in civil service, accountability, ethics, conflict of interest, public relations, and case studies on civil servant engagement in decision making process.

Manvel Badalyan, Chairman of the Civil Service Council of Armenia said: “Our co-operation to improve civil service system and train civil servants is an important contribution to promote high quality public administration and trust to state governance in Armenia.”

Recruitment tests for the civil service enrolment were amended and incorporated into the recruitment procedure within the project ‘Integrity in public service system’ implemented by the Union of Government Employees NGO in co-operation with Civil Service Council and the OSCE Office. The initiative aims to improve civil service system, including recruitment, monitoring and attestation, as well as mainstream integrity in public administration in Armenia.

Vache Kalashyan, Chairman of the Union of Government Employees, said: "We enjoy continuous co-operation with the civil service sector to promote integrity, beware of corruption risks and strengthen civil servants’impact in delivering quality services on behalf of the state.”