By: Cornelia Walles, Communications Associate
In October 2025, RWI had a second workshop for the ACT (Addressing Corruption Together) project, in collaboration with Ukrainian Bar Association, (Ukraine) and Action for Justice (Moldova). The 2-day workshop was held in Vilnius, Lithuania on 7-8 October and gathered legal practitioners from Ukraine and Moldova. The participants were assisted by Tatsiana Rahozina (Raoul Wallenberg Institute), Kateryna Pyshchyk (Ukrainian Bar Association), Ecaterina Vornicescu and Alexandrina Eşanu (Action for Justice).
The aim of the ACT project is to train 30 Ukrainian and Moldovan legal professionals in anti-corruption using a human rights-based approach, strengthening legal integrity and supporting EU integration.
Day 1: Group Work on Anti-Corruption Initiatives
The first day of the workshop centered on hands-on collaboration, as participants continued to work in four groups to further develop innovative products that advance anti-corruption initiatives and promote human rights. Each group focused on a specific project, as outlined below:
- Group 1: Action Plan to Minimize Corruption Risks in International Assistance at the National Level in the Context of European Integration
- Group 2: Compliance Lessons for the Public Sector: A Step-by-Step Guide for Ukraine and Moldova
- Group 3: Conflict of Interest: Training Syllabus Model
- Group 4: Brochure “Raising Awareness about Corruption”
The group work was structured as peer review sessions, during which each group not only received substantive feedback on their project, but was also expected to provide input to other groups’ work. During the peer review sessions participants held presentations, followed by insightful discussions with peers and mentors (Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Sweden), Raimundas Kalesnykas (Turiba University, Latvia; National Anti-Corruption Association, Lithuania), and Ketevan Bolkvadze (Lund University, Sweden).
The Four Anti-Corruption Initiatives
Action Plan to Minimize Corruption Risks in International Assistance at the National Level in the Context of European Integration
The project addresses the challenge of managing international aid in Moldova and Ukraine amid democratic reforms and EU integration efforts. It seeks to strengthen transparency and efficiency in resource use by developing an Action Plan to reduce corruption risks. The plan will analyze vulnerabilities, draw on international best practices, and provide practical recommendations and a risk management model for governments, donors, and oversight bodies that promotes accountability, transparency, and sustainable development.
Compliance Lessons for the Public Sector: A Step-by-Step Guide for Ukraine and Moldova
The project develops a practical guide for public sector officials in Ukraine and Moldova to strengthen anti-corruption and compliance systems. It provides step-by-step tools for fostering integrity through audits, anonymous reporting, ethics training, and risk assessment. Focused on practicality over new regulations, the guide aims to simplify processes, build accountability, and promote a transparent, trust-based institutional culture.
Conflict of Interest: Training Syllabus Model
The team is creating a “Conflict of Interest” training course for first-year law students to build understanding of ethical and legal aspects of conflicts of interest and develop practical prevention skills. Using lectures, discussions, case studies, and a human rights-based approach, the course fosters integrity, critical thinking, and ethical awareness. It covers key topics: concepts and regulation, public and private sector cases, and liability for violations, helping students identify and manage conflicts in real-life situations.
Brochure “Raising Awareness about Corruption”
The team is creating an informational brochure in a storytelling format to make discussions about corruption more accessible. Aimed at citizens, officials, and legal professionals, it shows how corruption impacts daily life and why integrity matters. Visually engaging and practical, the brochure promotes a culture of integrity, trust, and accountability. Group presentations sparked valuable feedback and discussions, helping refine project structure, logic, and relevance to national contexts.
Day 2: Exploring Lithuania’s Approach to Promoting Integrity and Preventing Corruption
The second workshop day focused on learning about Lithuania’s experience in promoting integrity and preventing corruption. Participants visited the Special Investigation Service (STT), learning about its role and mandate,and Lithuania’s progress in reducing bribery and strengthening public trust. Participants also met with the Chief Official Ethics Commission (COEC) to discuss managing conflicts of interest, ethical standards, and communication’s role in transparency which are topics highly relevant to both Ukraine and Moldova.
In the final part of the workshop, teams summarized insights gained and feedback received and planned next steps toward completing their projects before the final meeting in Sweden in spring 2026. The workshop served as both a milestone and a platform for collaboration, showcasing how shared learning can advance anti-corruption efforts.
“The vibrant and insightful discussions among the participants not only reflected their deep knowledge and eagerness to learn from one another on addressing and preventing corruption, but also demonstrated the immense potential and solidarity of international professional collaboration for a better future.” – Morten Koch Andersen, Director of Research and Education and Corruption expert at RWI
What’s Ahead
During the coming 4 months, participants will continue working in their teams to finetune and finalise their group products. During this time, each group is to be supported by one of the ACT mentors and ACT partners.
The final workshop will be held in Lund, Sweden in spring 2026 and will serve as a platform for the participants to practice pitching their group products while also preparing for potential implementation of the initiatives and dissemination of the products.
This workshop was made possible with the generous support of the Swedish Institute. RWI acknowledges their commitment to strengthening human rights capacity in the region.
More Information:
Read more about the ACT project and RWI’s other Ukraine projects here
Read more about our Corruption expert Morten Koch Andersen and our Ukraine expert Tatsiana Rahozina
Read more about our partners here:
Ukrainian Bar Association
Action for Justice (Moldova)