Suva, Fiji – The University of the South Pacific (USP), in partnership with the United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project (UN-PRAC), today launched a new Pacific-wide anti-corruption course to improve understanding of corruption among future leaders of the Pacific.

USP, assisted by UN-PRAC, a joint initiative of UNDP and UNODC, has developed the 200-level anti-corruption course as part of USP’s Leadership, Governance and Human Rights (LGHR) programme to insert anti-corruption knowledge at the tertiary level in a holistic manner throughout the Pacific.

“Education is considered as a key tool for preventing corruption and promoting the values of transparency, integrity and ethics in the Pacific Island countries (PICs). 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,” said UN Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji, Anti-Corruption Adviser, Ms. Sonja Stefanovska-Trajanoska. 

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

The Diploma in Leadership, Governance and Human Rights (DLGHR) was initiated in 2013 at a Diploma level at USP and currently has five core courses. The new 200-level course on anti-corruption will be offered as part of the LGHR programme.

“This course will be delivered in blended mode to the 12-member USP countries. This will ensure that all interested Pacific Islanders can have access to these courses. Looking forward, the DLGHR may be potentially upgraded to a Bachelor’s level degree,” said Associate Professor Dr. Sandra Tarte, Acting Head of School of Law & Social Sciences at USP.

The online Pacific-wide inauguration of the course on 16 June, saw Dr. Giulio Masasso Paunga, Acting Vice Chancellor of USP officially launch the course. Key stakeholders spoke of the value of anti-corruption education for their sectors, including Mr. Kameli Batiweti, Chief Executive Officer for the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation; Mrs. Anne Pakoa, Chief Executive Officer of the Vanuatu Human Rights Coalition; and Mr. Philip Manakako, youth advocate and Assistant Secretary to Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption.

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

For more information, or media interviews please contact:

Emily Moli, Knowledge Communications Analyst - UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji. E: emily.moli@undp.org P: (679) 3227 504 M: (679) 722 5301.

Akara Umapornsakula, Communications Assistant - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, E: akara.umapornsakula@un.org  P: (66) 22 88 1906