A new anti-corruption course focusing on Pacific Island countries was launched virtually by the University of the South Pacific in partnership with the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project (UN-PRAC) on 16 June.

Education is considered as a key tool for preventing corruption and promoting the values of transparency, integrity and ethics in the Pacific Island countries, said Sonja Stefanovska-Trajanoska, Anti-Corruption Adviser at the UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji.

“This new anti-corruption course at USP aims to help prevent corruption by informing future Pacific leaders of the societal detriments of corruption and the benefits of collective anti-corruption action.” 

The new 200-level course will be offered as part of the Leadership, Governance and Human Rights programme and delivered to the 12-member USP countries, including Tonga.

“While the course will address global issues relating to corruption, it will strongly focus on the Pacific, said Annika Wythes, the Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser for the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, .

“The course enables the key work of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions to be localized for those engaged in leadership training.”

The course was developed by USP with assistance from UN-PRAC.

The UN-PRAC Project is a joint initiative by UNODC and UNDP supported by the Australian and New Zealand Governments.