LocationsEnhanced Capacities for Oversight and Integrity in Public Administration
July 23, 2025
Podgorica, 23 July 2025 – The professionalism and ethics of public servants are key to strengthening public trust in institutions. By enhancing the capacities of the Administrative Inspectorate and the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (APC), oversight and integrity across public administration are being improved, it was highlighted at an event organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Montenegro with financial support provided by the British Embassy Podgorica.
At the UN Eco building in Podgorica, the Administrative Inspectorate received new IT equipment to support their fieldwork, and 13 APC employees were awarded certificates for completing a training-of-trainers programme in the field of ethics and integrity in public administration.
The donated equipment will enable the Administrative Inspectorate to more effectively use the Unified Inspection Information System, while the completed trainings will contribute to improved oversight of institutions under inspection.
The newly certified APC trainers will soon begin delivering ethics and integrity trainings for public servants, while efforts are simultaneously being made to strengthen the role of anti-corruption contact points, with particular attention to whistleblower protection.
These activities are part of the project “Merit-based Employment in Public Administration in Montenegro,” funded by the British Embassy Podgorica and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Public Administration and the APC.
Ekaterina Paniklova, UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, emphasized the importance of working together on public administration reform:
“Public administration reform is a long-term process that requires strong institutions and dedicated public servants. Together with the Ministry of Public Administration and the APC, we are building a public administration based on professionalism, integrity, and accountability to all citizens.”
Sarah Pilbeam, Charge d'Affaires at the British Embassy Podgorica, expressed the UK’s support for this important process:
”Today’s handover of equipment is not just a technical upgrade - it is a tangible investment in the integrity and professionalism of Montenegro’s civil service. Merit-based recruitment is a cornerstone of democratic governance. It ensures that public servants are selected based on competence, not connections, and that institutions reflect the values of fairness, transparency, and inclusion. These principles are vital not only for effective service delivery, but also for building public trust and advancing Montenegro’s EU integration aspirations.”
Marash Dukaj, Minister of Public Administration, highlighted the importance of investing in people:
"This project goes beyond investments in infrastructure and equipment – it is an investment in people, in our civil servants, who are the driving force behind reform processes and key actors in building a modern, accountable, and transparent public administration. Partnership and a shared vision of development are the guarantee of meaningful public administration reform. The work of our institutions will be based on competence and integrity."
Pavle Ćupić, Chair of the APC Council, emphasized the role of education in the fight against corruption:
“The training-of-trainers programme has enabled us to strengthen our internal capacity to deliver specialized training and workshops targeting decision-makers and relevant public sector stakeholders. With UNDP’s support, we are further reinforcing the Agency’s institutional role in advancing accountability and public trust in institutions.”
UNDP and and the British Embassy Podgorica continue to strengthen the technical and human resource capacities of Montenegrin institutions, aiming to build an efficient, accountable, and transparent public administration that serves all citizens.