Background and Purpose
By training 30 legal professionals from Ukraine and Moldova, RWI aims to equip them with the tools, knowledge, and ethical foundations necessary to prevent and combat corruption while promoting the rule of law and human rights. The project aligns with both countries' European Union accession processes by fostering legal reforms and ensuring that anti-corruption measures adhere to international standards.
The academy emphasizes transparency, accountability, and participation in combating corruption. By strengthening the role of legal professionals, the ACT Academy allows to drive systemic change, rebuild public trust, and enhance the integrity of legal institutions in Moldova and Ukraine.
Key Activities and Learning Opportunities
Participants engage in both in-person and online workshops focusing on international best practices, EU anti-corruption standards, and the application of human rights principles in addressing corruption. They are paired with mentors from Sweden and other EU countries, enabling them to exchange knowledge and experiences. Peer-to-peer learning is also encouraged to foster collaboration and generate innovative solutions tailored to the local contexts of Moldova and Ukraine.
A “learning by doing” approach is employed during the program, motivating participants to address selected issues, such as conflict of interest, through practical exercises and real-world applications. As a result, participants will create toolkits, curricula, and analysis of cases aimed at addressing corruption. They will serve as valuable resources for broader dissemination, ensuring the impact of the program extends beyond the academy.
“Viewing corruption through a human rights lens reveals shared roots between them, often shaped by the gap between laws and social norms. Our challenge is to align accountability with prevention across borders and cultures to make change truly effective and sustainable.”, says Morten Koch Andersen, Research Director at RWI.
Get In Touch
Zuzana Zalanova
Ms. Zalanova has been promoting human rights, good governance, and civic engagement in various capacities in Europe and Central Asia.
Since joining RWI in 2018, she has led RWI programme in Belarus (until 2020), initiated and expanded RWI programme in Armenia, and broadened regional engagement with initiatives in Uzbekistan and the Western Balkans. Her expanding portfolio includes four projects in Ukraine, supported by sub-regional engagement in Poland and Moldova.
In 2023, Ms. Zalanova also assumed the role of Acting Executive Director of the International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC), an international nongovernmental consortium established in 2002 to help coordinate and support the efforts of legal professionals to rebuild justice institutions in conflict and post-conflict countries. Through its member organisations and individuals, ILAC is comprised of more than 3 million legal professionals worldwide, including judges, lawyers, prosecutors, and court administrators.
Ms. Zalanova teaches regularly international development, human rights, and project management at three faculties of the Lund University in Sweden.
Before joining RWI, Ms. Zalanova worked for the United Nations in Ukraine, leading the UN Volunteers programme with a focus on civic and youth engagement. She previously coordinated rule of law programmes of the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO) in Mongolia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, supported regional human rights and justice initiatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Europe and Central Asia, and managed the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum, a platform of civil society actors from the EU and Russia.
Ms. Zalanova holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a master’s degree in Security Studies, and a joint (bachelor’s and master’s) degree in International Relations with a specialisation in Non-Profit Management from her studies in the Czech Republic (Charles University, University of Economics) and the United Kingdom (University of Reading).
Team
Tatsiana Rahozina
Before joining RWI’s Europe Office, Tanya gained experience in the fields of human rights and development at the Istanbul regional hub of UNDP working with a gender equality team, the Swedish section of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), MSF, and the Varieties of Democracy Institute. She holds an MSc in International Development and Management (LUMID) and an MSc in Global Studies from Lund University as well as a BA in International Relations.
In the capacity of a Department Associate, Tanya will continue working on the projects “Strengthening the Rights of Ukrainian IDPs and Refugees through Public Legal Education” and “Standing with Ukraine by Providing Enhanced Rights Protection for IDPs and Refugees” implemented by the RWI and its partners, ALCU and PLCF.
Tanya is fluent in English, Swedish, Belarusian, and Russian.