This Project focused on reviewing the application of the National Integrity Standards in the public sector to guarantee the implementation, compliance with, and activation of these standards with related institutions in Jordan.

Moreover, the Project was directed towards developing the Operational Manual for Corruption Risk Assessment and Management, that enabled JIACC and its specialized directorates to effectively assess and manage corruption risks in the ministries, departments and public agencies.

The EU Ambassador to Jordan, H.E. Maria Hadjitheodosiou, participated at the closing ceremony, and stated that “the European Union has a strong and comprehensive partnership with Jordan, with an aim to contribute to the long-term prosperity and stability of the country. In this context, democratic governance and the systems of a responsive state, accountable institutions and the fight against corruption underpin the EU’s commitment. Corruption impacts the ability of a state to cater for its citizens and damages the trust in government institutions. It is therefore paramount that we join forces to fight this evil.” 

In his speech the Chairman of JIACC, H.E. Dr. Muhannad Hijazi, has stressed that the Commission acknowledges the importance of partnership with the executive bodies in terms of exchanging experiences in the fields of anti-corruption to enhance and consolidate the compliance with the National Integrity Standards in public sector, as well as the importance of motivating the public officials to initiate proactive action to prevent corruption crime.

Additionally, H.E. Artūras Gailiūnas, the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to Egypt, has congratulated on the joint efforts of the STT and JIACC that led to the success of the Project, and underlined that the legal, institutional and professional ties established during this Project will be a sustainable integral part of the bilateral relationship between the Jordanian and Lithuanian people, as well as European Union.

The Director of the STT, H.E. Žydrūnas Bartkus, has emphasized that during the Project Member State experts intensively shared their expertise in conducting comprehensive corruption risk assessment, designing effective corruption prevention measures, and applying IT solutions and data analytics for enhancing integrity and strengthening anticorruption environment in public and private sectors. Some of these tools have been already applied by Jordanian partners and this is an excellent indicator of the successful implementation of this Project, as well as a solid cooperation between Member States and JIACC.

During the closing event, milestones and achievements were presented by the National Project Leader, H.E. Sami Salaita, JIACC’s Board Member, and the Member State Project Leader, H.E. Jovitas Raškevičius, First Deputy Director of the STT. Both Project counterparts highlighted the main outputs achieved in the two components of the Project, alongside their effective implementation by JIACC despite the challenges and difficulties encountered at the start of this Twinning Project due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This Twinning Project was implemented over the period of 21 months, with a budget of 1.5 million Euros. It contributed to building the capacity of the Anti-Corruption Commission through the application of best practices within the standards adopted by the EU and relevant international organizations, and in accordance with Jordanian context. All activities were carried out by experts from the Special Investigation Service of the Republic of Lithuania, Police Department under the Ministry of the Interior, Chief Official Ethics Commission, Central Project Management Agency, and JIACC.                                                                     

The Project’s milestones and outcomes were achieved by conducting trainings, coaching sessions, workshops, and study visits to Member States public institutions which allowed to broaden the knowledge, enhance competences and skills of the respective directorates of JIACC.