07:45 - 10:45 (GMT) | 08:45 - 11:45 (CET)
The Russian aggression against Ukraine has devastated the country, requiring significant international aid to address immediate recovery needs and to reconstruct the country once hostilities cease. However, transparency is key to ensuring a proper allocation of funds. What is civil society’s role as ‘the second line of defence’ against corruption in Ukraine?
To support Ukrainian civil society in the efficient oversight of international aid allocation, RUSI’s Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies (CFCS) and RUSI Europe have launched the Supervising and Monitoring Ukraine’s Reconstruction Funds (SMURF) project.
The project’s 'Securing Integrity of Ukraine’s Reconstruction Funding' conference on 14 March 2023 will bring together a cohort of leading Ukrainian anticorruption activists invited by CFCS and RUSI Europe, as well as EU policymakers, civil society activists, and journalists to discuss the challenges and best practices in financial crimes investigation. During the conference, the Ukrainian anticorruption activists will also share their experience and insights on working with the Ukrainian government on transparency and accountability in the country’s reconstruction.
Agenda
Agenda
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Welcome coffee
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Panel One: Manage the Money, Secure the System
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BREAK
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Panel Two: Follow the Money, Investigate Corruption
The conference will be followed by a closed meeting with media.
The cohort includes members of the RISE Ukraine coalition and BRDO think tank, and investigative journalists from OCCRP and N-ost. They will meet with representatives of the European Commission, European Parliament, local think tanks, and journalists in Brussels (March 13-17), followed by meetings with stakeholders in London (March 20-24).
The project, supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), is implemented in partnership with the Better Regulation Delivery Office (BRDO), a leading Ukrainian think tank closely engaged in dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities on building accountability mechanisms for reconstruction aid.
To schedule media interviews, please contact Balázs Gyimesi, Communications Officer, RUSI Europe, at balazs.gyimesi@rusi.org.
SMURF aims to empower Ukraine’s civil society as the ‘second line of defence’ by providing the necessary expertise and tools to enhance the financial monitoring capabilities of Ukraine’s reconstruction funds.
