MAAC REQUESTS APPLICATIONS TO ESTABLISH AND/OR OPERATE ADVOCACY AND ASSISSTANCE CENTERS
21 June 2010 - The Mobilizing Action Against Corruption (MAAC) Activity is seeking for grant applications from Armenian NGOs and other qualified organizations to establish and/or operate Advocacy and Assistance Centers (Շահերի պաշտպանության և աջակցության կենտրոններ ) and Reception Centers in eleven (11) cities of Armenia.
To view the Request for Applications document and to access the application package please go to our announcements page by clicking here.
FIGHTING CORRUPTION WITHOUT LAWS
8 June 2010 –Can you imagine a situation when the legislation of the entire country is not accessible not only to its citizens, but also to its judges, public officials, and lawmakers alike? This is the situation in Liberia, a small West African country of 3.5 million. As the allafrica.com internet medium informs, a former Justice Minister Philip Banks who was also in charge of the country's legal reform commission tasked with codifying Liberia's legislation, claims intellectual property right over the country's whole legislation. A handful of lawyers are demanding more than $100,000 from the government to release a physical copy of the country’s legal code.
The situation is rather ambiguous – the proper enforcement of legislation is jeopardized by ambitions of a private person. But how should the Liberian government deal with the situation? Should it ask Mr. Banks to share his codification with the government and then subsequently reject it? Or should the government view this as a case of corruption, confiscate all the materials, and publish laws themselves? Lawmaking is an essentially public sector oriented activity. As a creative activity, generating draft laws could be rewarded; however, the laws all lie in public domain and shall belong to public.
One of the prerequisites of an effective fight against corruption is the proper enactment and enforcement of legislation. But what happens when the enforcement of legislation itself if jeopardized because of corruption? The case of Liberia maybe a very specific case of abusing local office for private gain; however, this still remains a very disturbing precedent.
To read the full original story (source: New Democrat, 6 May 2010) please click here.
COMBATTING CORRUPTION AROUND THE GLOBE
7 May 2010 – The fight against corruption and impunity can take on many forms; MAAC presents three illustrative stories below.
Macmillan publishers banned from World Bank contracts after confessing to bribery
On 5 May, as Reuters reports, the World Bank banned British publisher Macmillan from taking up the Bank's contracts for six year, because of Macmillan's confession of having paid bribes for securing a deal to print textbooks in Sudan; the textbooks were to be printed within the framework of a World Bank-supported education project.
The full story is available here.
Moscow University tutor arrested for 35 000 Euro bribe
On 27 April, as Life News reports, a lecturer of the Department of Public Management of Moscow State University Polina Surina was arrested then released on bail after receiving a bribe of 35 000 Euros for assisting an applicant to gain admission to the Department. Polina Surina is the daughter of the Dean of the Department Alexey Surin, whose role in this issue is currently being investigated by the police.
To read the full story in Russian, please click here.
To see the video of the lecturer taking the bribe and being arrested, please click here.
Foreign businesses in Russia pledge to abstain from corruption
On 21 April, the chairmen of 52 major foreign businesses present in Russia committed to not participate in corruption, Russian Vedomosti reports. This move has been initiated by a number of German companies in Russia – Mercedes Benz, Siemens, Deutsche Bank, etc. The International Business Leaders Forum, the American Chamber of Trade, and the Association of European Business joined the initiative.
The businessmen signed two documents - an Initiative on Principles of Corporate Ethics in Russian Federation and Principles of Countering Bribery; the documents were developed by a working group involving experts from the World Economic Forum, Transparency International, and Basel Institute of Governance.
To read details about this initiative please click here.
MAAC EXTENDED TO JULY 2012
30 April 2010 - The entire team at MAAC is pleased to announce that it looks forward to continue supporting Armenian citizens, civil society organizations and government in the fight against corruption till July 2012.
YEREVAN STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY POSTER RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS
8 April – In December 2009, MAAC grantee Yerevan State Medical University, a winner of 2009 NGO Marketplace, began implementing a project aimed at identifying the corruption risks in its health care institutions by surveying medical personnel and conducting public awareness campaigns focusing on the identified corruption risks. To raise public awareness on corruption risks in healthcare institutions, the University has placed these posters in the university clinics.
MAAC FORUM ADDRESSES THE ROLE OF PRIVATE SECTOR IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION
The Forum’s 200 participants discussed tools for stronger corporate integrity
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24 March 2010 – Today the MAAC Activity, in collaboration with the RA Ministry of Economy, the USAID Competitive Armenian Private Sector (CAPS) Project, Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia, and Union of Information Technology Enterprises, held a forum dedicated to the role of the private sector in fighting corruption entitled Towards Stronger Corporate Integrity. More than 200 representatives from Armenian and foreign enterprises, international banks and trade agencies, government and civil society attended the forum which took place in Ani Plaza Hotel in Yerevan. RA Deputy Minister of Economy Mushegh Tumasyan and USAID/Armenia Mission Director Jatinder Cheema opened the one-day forum.
To read the full story about the forum, please click here.
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MAAC EXTENTS GRANTS PROJECTS AIMED AT INCREASING ANTI-CORRUPTION AWARENESS OF YOUTH AND INTRODUCING ANTI-CORRUPTION EDUCATION
NGO Center Coordinator Arpine Hakobyan and MAAC Senior Media
and Communications Specialist Ara Brutian after signing
the grant extension agreement
11 February 2010 – Today MAAC has awarded grant extensions to two grantees - NGO Center Civil Society Development Organization and The Future is Yours NGO.
Since February 2009, the NGO Center Civil Society Development Organization has been implementing a project aimed at creating greater awareness among youth about the essence of corruption, its short and long term impact, and the actions that youth can undertake to combat corruption. Within the framework of the grant project, NGO Center organized fifteen TV talk shows in Northern regions of Shirak, Lori, and Tavush; the talk shows discussed how corruption affected youth.
In order to follow up on the success of the project (which was supposed to be closed in February 2010), MAAC extended NGO Center's grant till May 2010. The extension will allow NGO Center to undertake the following activities: training program for a group of active youth on corruption and how to detect it, internship for training participants at the broadcast and print press offices, and establishment of an anti-corruption club of young journalists.
An extension was also granted to the Future is Yours Charitable Social NGO, which since April 2009 has been implementing the "Education Against Corruption" project, the goal of which has been to get the approval of the anti-corruption course for high schools from the Ministry of Education and Science and the National Institute of Education. Within the scope of the project, a guidebook was developed to assist the teachers in lecturing anti-corruption.
MAAC extended the grant project by The Future is Yours NGO in order to increase the number of teachers involved from 1050 to 1410, thus involving one teacher from each of the 1410 public schools in Armenia.
FAIR PLAY - ANTI-CORRUPTION YOUTH VOICES GLOBAL COMPETITION IS LAUNCHED
10 February 2010 – The MAAC Activity wants you to know that The Fair Play - Anti-Corruption Youth Voices global competition for original songs by young musicians on the theme of anti-corruption and good governance has been launched by the Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI) and the World Bank Institute. The competition is open to all musicians under 35 of age, from any country.
To learn more about The Fair Play - Anti-Corruption Youth Voices, as well as to take part in it, please visit the official site of the competition by following this link.
Please note that MAAC is not connected with the competition or its organizers.
MAAC BILLBOARDS CALL FOR ACTIVE STANCE AGAINST CORRUPTION
AAC Billboard
Have you noticed these billboards in Yerevan and alongside highways on the outskirts of the city?
MAAC had these erected to introduce the Advocacy and Assistance Centers (AACs) to drivers, pedestrians and the general public, informing them on services provided by the AACs to corruption victims, stressing that the AAC services are free of charge.
AACs are public complaint offices where victims of corruption can receive free confidential legal assistance on a walk-in or call-in basis. A nation-wide network of 11 AACs provides services to citizens in the largest city of all ten marzes and Yerevan.
To learn more about the AACs or to seek assistance, please visit www.aac.am or contact them free of charge at 08000 11 22.
MAAC FORUM MARKS INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY IN ARMENIA
9 December 2009 – The anti-corruption forum organized by the USAID Mobilizing Action Against Corruption (MAAC) Activity in cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office in Yerevan and the Prosecutor General’s Office of RA marked International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9 at Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan.
To read the full story, please click here.
2009-2012 ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN ENTER INTO FORCE
3 December 2009 - Today the the 2009-2012 Anti-Corruption Strategy, its Action Plan, and the Monitoring and Evaluation System officially entered into force. The documents had been adopted by the Government of Armenia on 8 October and signed by Prime Minister Sargsyan on 16 November.
To read the full news (in Armenian only) about the adoption of the Strategy, please click here.
To read the Strategy and Action Plan documents adopted by the Government, please visit the Documents section of our website.
CHILDREN PRESENT ANTI-CORRUPTION FILMS AND PHOTOS TO PUBLIC
2 December 2009 - Today the “Shadow” festival of children’s anti-corruption films and photos opened its doors to the public in Yerevan, at Mkhitar Sebastaci Educational Center. The festival organizer “Center of Public Dialogue and Development NGO” is funded by a grant from MAAC.
To read the whole story please click here.
MAAC HOLDS FIRST ANNUAL GRANTEES MEETING
25 November 2009 - Today MAAC held the first annual meeting with its grantees in Yerevan. Forty-two representatives of twenty-two former and current MAAC grantee organizations took part in the meeting and shared their lessons learned and best practices on fighting against corruption and discussed strategies for strengthening existing and future programs.
To read the whole story please click here.
MAAC AWARDS GRANTS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION IN HEALTHCARE AND COMMUNITY TAX COLLECTION SERVICES
17 November 2009 - Today MAAC awarded two grants aimed at decreasing corruption in healthcare and community tax collection services.
To read the whole story please click here.
9 DECEMBER IS INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY
On 9 December, Armenia will join the worldwide marking of International Anti-Corruption Day. The UN General Assembly designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day on 31 October 2003, by resolution 58/4, in order to raise awareness about corruption and the role of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in fighting corruption. Armenia is one of the 140 signatories of the Convention.
MAAC will mark International Anti-Corruption Day with an Anti-Corruption Forum in Yerevan; please visit our website later for details.
To learn more about the International Anti-Corruption Day and the UNCAC please follow this link.
MAAC SUPPORTS ARMENIA'S PARTICIPATION AT THE CONFERENCE OF THE STATES PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION
9 November 2009 - The Third Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption takes place in Doha, Qatar, on 9-13 November. The participants will discuss prevention and criminalization of corruption, good practices in anti-corruption awareness-raising, fostering public-private partnerships in the fight against corruption, the role of civil society organizations in the fight against corruption, and asset-recovery related issues. A special session will be dedicated to the parliamentarians' fight against corruption under the ausupices of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC).
MAAC has supported the participation of two Armenian officials to the Conference - Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Strategy Monitoring Commission and Assistant to the President of Armenia Gevorg Kostanyan and Chief Advisor to the Chairman of the National Assembly Victor Mnatsakanyan.
To learn more about the Session please click here.
To learn more about GOPAC please click here.
MAAC HOLDS NATIONAL FORUM ON THE NEED FOR ANTI-CORRUPTION EDUCATION IN ARMENIA
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| USAID/Armenia Deputy Mission Director John Seong, Head of the Prosecutor General Office's Corruption and Organized Crime Department Armen Ashrafyan, Deputy Minister of Education Manuk Mkrtchyan, and MAAC COP Francois Vezina at the opening of the Forum |
29 October, Gyumri – The need for anti-corruption education in Armenian educational establishments was discussed today during the 5th Anti-Corruption Forum organized by MAAC in Gyumri. The forum was attended by over 160 participants from all parts of the country representing schools, universities, civil society organizations, state agencies, international organizations, and the media.
To read the full story please click here.
THE ADVOCACY AND ASSISTANCE CENTERS' WEBSITE IS LAUNCHED
21 October 2009 - On 1 October 2009, the Advocacy and Assistance Center's (AACs) website, available at www.aac.am and www.shpak.am, was officially launched. The website is designed to be an interactive, two-way communication tool, allowing citizens to file corruption complaints online, which are received and attended to by AAC lawyers under a confidential setting and free of charge.
The site includes, among other features news on the centers most recent activities, their contact information, newsletters, a directory of national and local authorities, and corruption related legislation and publications.
Furthermore, it features illustrative descriptions of cases successfully resolved through the AACs intervention, in areas such as property registration, police abuse, labor and social security benefits, healthcare services, etc.
For further information, please visit the subject site at www.aac.am.
MAAC AWARDS A GRANT TO REDUCE CORRUPTION RISKS IN PRIMARY HEALTHCARE
20 October 2009 - Today MAAC awarded a grant to the Support to Communities NGO to reduce corruption risks in primary healthcare in Tavush marz.
MAAC Senior Grants Manager Philip Hovhannisian, Civil Society Specialist Kristina Grigoryan,
STC Acting President Mariam Karapetyan, and MAAC Grants Associate Irina Rukhkyan (right to left) after the grant awarding ceremony.
To read the full story please click here.
MAAC AWARDS A GRANT TO RAISE ANTI-CORRUPTION PUBLIC AWARENESS ON THE NATIONWIDE SCALE
16 October 2009 - Today MAAC awarded a grant to Banadzev Production Studio to organize anti-corruption TV programs on Public TV of Armenia.
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| MAAC Civil Society Specialist Kristina Grigoryan, Executive Director of Banadzev Artak Aleksanyan, and MAAC Senior Grants Manager Philip Hovhanissian (left to right) after grant awarding ceremony |
To read the full story please click here.
MAAC AWARDS GRANTS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION IN SYUNIK AND LORI MARZES
15 October 2009 - Today MAAC awarded two grants to fund anti-corruption projects in Syunik and Lori marzes.
To read the full story please click here.
THE GOVERNMENT OF ARMENIA ADOPTS THE 2009-2012 ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
8 October 2009 - Today the Government of Armenia has adopted the 2009-2012 Anti-Corruption Strategy, its Action Plan, and the Strategy's and Action Plan's Monitoring and Evaluation System. Prime Minister Sargsyan has mentioned that all the governmental ministries and agencies, as well as the international organizations were involved in the preparation of the Strategy.
To read the full news (in Armenian only) about the adoption of the Strategy, please click here.
To read the Strategy and Action Plan documents adopted by the Government, please visit the Documents section of our website.
THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA ANTI-CORRUPTION COUNCIL ENDORSES FOR GOVERNMENT APPROVAL 2009-2012 ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
7 October 2009 -Yesterday the Anti-Corruption Council of Armenia convened its meeting, chaired by the head of the Council, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. During the meeting, the Council endorsed for government approval Armenia's anti-corruption strategy and the action plan for 2009-2012.
Please follow these links to read the news about the Council's meeting in Armenian and English.
MAAC AWARDS GRANTS AIMED AT INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS ON CORRUPTION AND WAYS OF FIGHTING IT
6 October 2009 - On 1 October MAAC awarded a grant to Lori TV to implement the ''Let's Be Informed and Struggle Together" grant project, aimed at increasing the awareness of the citizenry of Lori marz about corruption in different sectors, its consequences, as ways of engaging in the fight against corruption. Lori TV will broadcast 15 live TV programs and 15 video materials that will be filmed in different communities of Lori Marz; the TV programs and video materials will present corruption cases in different areas of the public sector. The grant project will last for eight months.
On 14 September MAAC awarded a grant to the Armenian Public Relations Association NGO to implement the "Channel Corruption Away" grant project, aimed at raising the public awareness about the mechanisms the citizens can use to protect their rights against corruption. The grant project will achieve its goal by organizing a wide spread media campaign of spreading success stories of combating corruption in the courts. The grant project will last for six months.
ARMENIA PARTY TO THE OECD ASTANA STATEMENT ON GOOD GOVERNANCE AND FIGHTING CORRUPTION
21 September 2009 - On 16 September, Armenia became a party to the Astana Statement on Good Governance and Fighting Corruption, adopted during the conference on fighting corruption and promoting good governance in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 16-18 September 2009. The Astana Statement aims to reinforce support for fighting corruption and good governance in the countries that are part of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The conference, entitled ''Creating Conditions for Sustainable Economic and Social Development in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Fighting Corruption and Promoting Good Governance'', was organized by the OECD and hosted by the Agency for Combating Economic and Corruption Crime of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Some 130 representatives from Eastern Europe and Central Asia and OECD member countries discussed policies and good practice in the fight against transnational bribery, corruption in business, corruption in public education, and corruption in public procurement. Armenia was represented by the Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr. Emil Babayan, and the Head of Department of Corruption and Organized Crime of the Prosecutor General Office, Mr. Armen Ashrafyan. MAAC was represented by its Chief of Party François Vézina. The participants also discussed OECD policies and standards and learned about good practices in member countries.
Please follow these links to view the OECD Astana Statement in English and Russian.
MAAC AWARDS GRANTS AIMED AT PROMOTING ANTI-CORRUPTION IN SCHOOLS AND MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS
25 August 2009 – Yesterday MAAC awarded two grants to Armenian NGOs, aimed at promoting anti-corruption among schoolchildren and monitoring corruption in medical institutions.
To read more detail please click. here.
ANTI-CORRUPTION FORUM AND REPORT LINK CORRUPTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS
23 July 2009 – At a press conference held yesterday, the USAID Mobilizing Action Against Corruption (MAAC) Activity and Armenia’s Human Rights Defender’s Office, in conjunction with the International Council on Human Rights Policy (ICHRP), announced the release of the Armenian version of ICHRP report entitled “Corruption and Human Rights: Making the Connection”. The press conference was followed by a forum on the report topic
To read more about the press conference and the forum, please click here.
MAAC AWARDS GRANTS AIMED AT REDUCING CORRUPTION IN TAX SYSTEM, BIRTH ASSISTANCE, AND BUDGET EXPENDITURE PROCESS
26 June - MAAC has awarded today three grants under its annual program statement aimed at combating corruption in tax system, birth assistance procedures, and budget expenditure processes.
The Foundation for Small and Medium Businesses was awarded a grant aimed at the reduction of corruption risks in tax system through monitoring the implementation status of recently adopted tax reforms in Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) taxation area in Armenia, assessment of legislation and evaluation of enforcement process of reform policy, development of recommendations on improvements in tax regulations, facilitation of public awareness campaign aimed at highlighting the corruption risks for SMEs in relationship with the tax authorities, and promoting active advocacy campaign for the implementation of suggested anti-corruption measures.
The Martuni Women Community Council was awarded a grant to implement a project to prevent corruption risks in birth-assistance sphere of health sector in Martuni, Vardenis, Gavar, and Sevan regions of Gegharkunik Marz. Finally, Harmony NGO for Public Health and Civil Society was awarded a grant to assist in decreasing the level of corruption in the processes of budget preparation and expenditure by Local Governing Bodies (LGB) in Goris, Sisian and Kapan through increasing the accountability of LGBs in the processes of budget preparation and implementation.
ADVOCACY AND ASSISTANCE CENTERS HAVE BEEN OPENED THROUGHOUT ARMENIA
12 June 2009 – Six new Advocacy and Assistance Centers (AACs) have opened their door for operations in Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Gegharkunik, Kotayk and Vayots Dzor, and. These are part of a network of 11 AACs with a nationwide presence along with the five previously opened centers in Lori, Shirak, Syunik, Tavush and Yerevan. Attending the opening ceremonies of these six new AACs were local and regional government officials (Governors, Prosecutors, Police Chiefs, and Judges), representatives from USAID, the international community, local NGOs, and citizens.
To read the whole story please click here.
24 ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS PROMOTED THEIR ANTICORRUPTION PROPOSALS TO THE PUBLIC
Eight proposals won the opportunity to get funding from MAAC
On 22 April, twenty-four non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other organizations from across Armenia participated in a unique competition entitled NGO Marketplace; the eight winners are invited to negotiate a grant from the USAID Mobilizing Action Against Corruption (MAAC) Activity to support their anti-corruption project initiatives in Armenia. The event, organized by the USAID MAAC Activity, was designed to encourage Armenian NGOs and other interested organizations from all regions of the country and from all sectors to join in the fight against corruption. More than 1600 guests from all over the country reviewed the projects, selected their preferred ones, and voted for them. After the results of the voting by the public and the Panel of Judges were tabulated, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Marie L. Yovanovitch announced the winners of the competition.
To read the full story please click here.
MAAC Awards a Grant to Develop Anti-Corruption Education Course for High Schools
15 April 2009 - Today MAAC awarded a grant to "The Future is Yours" Charitable Social NGO to implement "Education Against Corruption" project, aimed at developing an anti-corruption cirriculum for 9th and 10th grade high school students in Armenia.
To read the full story please click here.
MAAC COP Francois Vezina, the President of the "The Future is Yours" NGO, and MAAC Deputy Chief of Party Eduardo Flores-Trejo after the signing of grant award agreement. |
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New Advocacy and Assistance Centers to Open in Kotayk, Aragatsotn, Ararat, and Vаyots Dzor Marzes
7 Аpril 2009 - Today MAAC awarded a grant to Armenian Young Lawyers’ Association to establish and operate Advocacy and Assistance Centers in Ararat, Aragatsotn, Kotayk, and Vayots Dzor marzes.
To read the full story please click here.
AYLA President Karen Zadoyan, MAAC COP Francois Vezina, and MAAC Acting Grants Manager Irina Rukhkyan after signing the grant award agreement. |
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MAAC Announces the List of Pre-Qualified Organizations for the NGO Marketplace
16 March 2009 - MAAC is pleased to announce that twenty four organizations have pre-qualified for the NGO Marketplace. To view the list of pre-qualified organizations, please click here.
Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center NGO Officially Opened the Yerevan Advocacy and Assistance Center
2 March 2009 - The Advocacy and Assistance Center of Yerevan officially opened its doors to the public today. US Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, representatives of the international community, local NGOs, and the media attended the opening ceremony, hosted by Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center NGO.
To read more about the Yerevan AAC opening please click here.
MAAC Announces NGO Marketplace Request for Applications
9 February 2009 - The first-of-its-kind NGO Marketplace, a competitive event aimed at awarding grants to Non-Governmental Organizations to implement innovative activities to fight corruption, is being organized by MAAC. The Marketplace is a two-step process during which NGOs first submit their applications to MAAC for pre-qualification review, and those applicants who pre-qualify are invited to take part in the Marketplace Day where they will be given an opportunity to promote and campaign for their proposed projects to the voting general public, Panel of Judges, and MAAC.
For more detail about the NGO Marketplace please click here.
MAAC Awards a Grant to Protect Drivers Against Corruption
25 December 2008 - MAAC is pleased to announce the award of a grant to the Achill Society for the Defense of Drivers' Rights NGO to implement a project aimed at reducing corruption and its risks in traffic regulation through awareness building, legal protection of drivers, and advocacy activities.
MAAC expects to award additional grants in early 2009. NGOs should note that the Small Grant Annual Program Statement ends on 6 February 2009, at which time MAAC will stop accepting new proposals. After the February 6 deadline, MAAC will be inviting NGOs to submit their proposals for consideration within the scope of the April 2009 NGO Marketplace.
The first Advocacy and Assistance Centers Open in Four Marzes
16 December 2008 - The first Advocacy and Assistance Centers (AACs) opened their doors for the citizens of Shirak, Lori, Tavush, and Syunik marzes.
The Centers will allow citizens to receive support regarding and ask questions about corruption-related problems they face. They will also provide citizens with channels for reporting corruption and directing complaints to GOAM agencies and receive assistance in legal processing of their complaints.
MAAC, in association with the AACs, will establish working relationships with government agencies and officials to stimulate corrective actions and system-level reforms to reduce corruption.
To read more about the opening of the AACs, please click here. |
Governor of Tavush Armen Ghularyan and USAID/Armenia Democracy Advisor Mark Levinson open the AAC in Ijevan |
MAAC Facilitates Discussion between the Ministry of Health and Civil Society on Monitoring of Free Obstetric Services
25 November 2008 - A forum organized by the RA Ministry of Health and USAID Mobilizing Action Against Corruption (MAAC) Activity took place in the Congress Hotel in Yerevan on 25 November 2008. The forum discussed public participation in and public support for the newly introduced state-guaranteed free obstetric services and Obstetrical State Certificate system.
To read the full story about the forum, please click here. |
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MAAC Awards Grants to Decrease Corruption Risks in Customs Regulation, Healthcare, Local Self-governance, & Social Services, and Birth Assistance
28 October 2008 - MAAC is pleased to announce the award of two grants to Armenian NGOs, aimed at reducing corruptin risks in customs regulation and birth assistance areas.
On 27 October, MAAC awarded a grant to "Armavir Development Center” NGO to implement a project entitled “Providing free of charge birth-assistance” in the marz of Armavir. The goal of the project is to decrease corruption risks in the state-guaranteed free maternal and child health services, in particular state-guaranteed free birth-assistance in Armavir marz. The project duration is eight months.
The implementing organization, "Armavir Development Center” NGO, was established in 2005 in the town of Armavir with a mission to promote collaboration of public, private and business sectors of the marz.
The other grant award in Armavir marz went to ALT TV to raise awareness in the Armavir region about major corruption risks in the spheres of healthcare, education, local self-governance, social services, and public services.
On 28 October, MAAC awarded a grant to "The Union of Information Technology Enterprises” to implement a project entitled “Anti-Corruption Program: Legislative Improvements in Customs Regulations” project. The project is aimed at preventing corruption in customs services through suggesting improvements in customs regulation; a public awareness campaign to highlight the corruption risks in the existing customs regulations; and an advocacy campaign for the suggested legislative changes. The project duration is six months.
“The Union of Information Technology Enterprises” (UITE) of Armenia is the first ICT Business Association of Armenia. Founded in 2000 by the private sector representatives, UITE strives to consolidate industry issues for advocacy, to facilitate business and to encourage research advancement in the ICT sector. Currently, UITE has over 20 member companies, involved in software product development, Internet and E-commerce, IT services, R&D, semiconductors design and etc. Among the strategic goals of UITE is creating favorable legislative environment for the sector development.
MAAC Awards Grants to Decrease Corruption in Education Sector and Condominium Governance
25 October 2008 - MAAC is pleased to announce the award of two grants to NGOs under its Small Grants Program.
On 20 October, MAAC awarded a grant to "Partnership and Teaching” NGO to implement a project entitled “Transparent and Accountable School”. The goal of the project is to contribute to the improvement of transparency and accountability mechanisms/procedures of the secondary school management/governance bodies in Syunik Marz. The project will last ten months and will be implemented in the towns of Goris, Kapan, Sisian, and Meghri.“Partnership and Teaching” NGO is based in Goris, Syunik marz, and works in the area of educational reforms and civil society organizations development.
On 24 October, MAAC awarded a grant to "Millennium Communities” Development Foundation to implement a project entitled “Transparency and freedom of information in Sengavit community: tool against corruption”. The project will contribute to decreasing corruption risks in condominium governance by encouraging the application of the reporting system as defined by law in multi-apartment buildings of Shengavit community in Yerevan. The project duration is seven months.
Established in 2005 in Yerevan, "Millennium Communities” Development Foundation supports community development through introduction and promotion of sustainable development/management mechanisms.
MAAC Awards Armenian NGOs Grants to Operate Advocacy and Assistance Centers
TI AC Executive Director Sona Ayvazyan with MAAC COP François Vézina and Senior Technical Advisor Ventsislav Karadjov, after awarding the grant to TI AC to operate Advocacy and Assistance Centers in Yerevan, Shirak marz, and Lori marz
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8 October 2008 - Between 30 September and 8 October, MAAC awarded grants to three Armenian NGOs to operate Advocacy and Assistance Centers (AACs) in Yerevan, Shirak marz, Lori marz, Tavoush marz and Syunik marz. The AACs will provide citizens with advice and assistance in the legal processing of corruption-related complaints and will assist them in addressing grievances and other corruption-related problems, thus serving as an accessible channel for reporting corruption and directing complaints to governmental agencies. The five AACs will become operational starting in November, with another six AACs scheduled to open early next year to support citizens in the six other Armenian marzes.
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| To read the full story please click here. |
MAAC Organizes a Study Tour in Bulgaria for Armenian Chamber of Control
MAAC organized a study tour for Chamber of Control (CoC) to Bulgaria to support the institution’s capacity building and enhance its knowledge in organizational management; the study tour took place on 20-30 July 2008.
To read the full story please click here. |
MAAC Organizes an Anti-Corruption Forum to Discuss Armenia's International Anti-Corruption Obligations
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Prime Minister Sargsyan delivers opening remarks
2 July 2008 Representatives of state agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, international organizations, and the media discussed Armenia´s international obligations to fight corruption during MAAC´s first Anti-Corruption Forum held on 2 July in the Armenia Marriott Hotel in Yerevan and organized by MAAC, in cooperation with UNDP.
To read more about the Forum, please click here.
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MAAC Organizes a Workshop On Human Rights And Fight Against Corruption
1 July 2008 - On 1 July, the MAAC Activity organized a one-day training workshop for Human Rights Defender (HRD) staff on the linkages between the protection of human rights and the fight against corruption. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Christian Gruenberg of the International Council on Human Rights Policy in Geneva.
For more information about the workshop, please click here. |
The Workshop Participants |
MAAC, along with other organizations from Armenia, present at 7th General Meeting of the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central
Asia (ACN)
28 June 2008 - The 7th General Meeting of the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN) took place on 25-27 June 2008, in Tbilisi, Georgia. MAAC, along with other organizations from Armenia, was present at the meeting.
To read more about the meeting, please click here.
MAAC Awards a Grant to Support the ACSMC Expert Group in Developing the New Anti-Corruption Strategy
5 June 2008 - On 5 June 2008, the Mobilizing Action Against Corruption (MAAC) Activity awarded a grant to the Freedom of Information Center of Armenia (FOICA) NGO to support the Anti-Corruption Strategy Monitoring Commission (ACSMC) Expert Group in developing the new National Anti-Corruption Strategy by providing technical expertise and facilitating communication between the Expert Group and civil society.
To read the full story please click here.