UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (USPC), with UNDP Kosovo, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH), and the Kosovo Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (APC), co-hosted a South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) workshop from 2 to 4 June 2025 in Pristina. The workshop served as a platform for in-depth, cross-regional dialogue on advancing anti-corruption measures.  

With financial and technical support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), the workshop brought together the Anti-Corruption Agencies (ACAs) and UNDP Offices across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Mongolia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Uzbekistan. The ROK’s Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), a key institutional partner, also shared its recognized expertise in strategic and innovative anti-corruption approaches.

Image Credit: UNDP Kosovo

The workshop aimed to: (1) promote SSTC by sharing good practices and insights from USPC’s partner countries, Kosovo, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan, on enhancing corruption reporting mechanisms inspired by Korea’s Clean Portal model; (2) leverage the knowledge shared on the corruption reporting mechanism to broaden discussions on anti-corruption strategies; (3) reinforce regional cooperation in anti-corruption within the Western Balkan region aligned with the EU reform agenda; and (4) identify key challenges and opportunities in advancing anti-corruption initiatives, and explore innovative solutions to enhance institutional transparency and accountability through active public engagement. 

Image Credit: UNDP Kosovo

Day 1: Advancing anti-corruption through digital reporting – Insights from Korea and partner countries  

The workshop opened with a visit to the UNDP Kosovo Office and the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (APC). Participants were introduced to Kosovo’s anti-corruption initiatives, including the upgraded digital reporting platform developed with support from USPC and ACRC, setting the stage for the thematic discussions to follow.  

The official opening session featured remarks by Nuno Queiro (Resident Representative, UNDP Kosovo), Anne Juepner (Director, USPC), Biljana Cvetanovska Gugosk (Regional Specialist, UNDP IRH), Yll Buleshkaj (Director, APC), and Wontae Hong (Deputy Director, Inspection Planning Division, ACRC). Speakers highlighted the urgency of addressing corruption as a barrier to development and emphasized the value of South-South exchanges in co-developing locally adapted and sustainable solutions.

Image Credit: UNDP Kosovo

In Session 1, Mr. Hong, ACRC’s Deputy Director of Inspection Planning Division, and Youngchan Kim (Governance and Gender Team Lead, USPC) introduced the ROK's Clean Portal and USPC’s SDG Partnership programme, the modality through which ACRC expertise has been shared and adapted by partner countries. The session highlighted ROK's experience in developing digital corruption reporting systems, shaped by public demand, international expectations, and institutional reforms. Emphasis was placed on sustainability, stakeholder commitment, and the operational realities of managing such systems over time.  

The following Session 2 provided a forum for highlighting Kosovo, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan’s progress achieved through their respective SDG Partnership projects on Clean Portal. Each country shared how the Korean model was adapted to local contexts: Kosovo, by modernizing the reporting system and organizing awareness campaigns; Mongolia, by restructuring its fragmented reporting channels; and Uzbekistan, by upgrading the platforms extensively and enhancing the whistleblower protections. Key enablers for all the countries included context-specific needs assessments, legal basis, innovative public outreach, and strong peer exchange with ACRC.  

Session 3 facilitated technical discussions on regional corruption dynamics and innovation. Participants reflected on the complex relationship between economic development and governance, the challenges of fostering a culture of integrity and encouraging behavioural change, particularly with youth engagement in the digital age, and the need for coordinated legal and institutional responses. The session highlighted the critical role of digitalization, including interoperability of systems and reducing human discretion, in strengthening anti-corruption responses across the region.

Day 2: Steering the direction for sustainable and effective anti-corruption efforts in the Western Balkan

On the second day, the workshop turned its focus to regional and future-oriented insights and analysis. During Session 4, the UNDP IRH noted that while countries in the Western Balkans have demonstrated growing commitment to democratic governance, emerging challenges related to corruption remain, requiring sustained attention in areas such as sustainable development and EU integration. The session featured key findings from the upcoming report, which highlighted persistent implementation gaps, weak enforcement, and low public trust in ACAs across the Western Balkans. Following this, the representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo shared national perspectives, showcasing recent reforms, political commitments, and institutional efforts to address corruption despite structural and resource challenges.  

Image Credit: UNDP Kosovo

During Session 5, to exchange practical ideas for regional action and agree upon the future direction of anti-corruption efforts, the participants were divided into three thematic groups on: (A) future of anti-corruption agencies; (B) public engagement in anti-corruption; and (C) tools and mechanisms for corruption prevention.

Collectively, these discussions demonstrated the need for adaptive, data-driven, and inclusive approaches that blend institutional reform with cultural change. Participants emphasized the importance of early education, stakeholder engagement, and South-South collaboration to sustain long-term anti-corruption impact. The day closed with a call to continue convening regional exchanges to build shared strategies and scale good practices through UNDP’s global network.

Day 3: Zooming into anti-corruption initiatives at the local level

On the final day, participants visited Prizren Municipality to explore integrity-building efforts at the local level. They met with municipal leaders to discuss practical strategies for enhancing transparency, accountability, and ethical governance in municipal operations. The exchange highlighted how locally embedded integrity mechanisms can foster intercultural cooperation, strengthen social cohesion, and prevent corruption from the ground up.

Image Credit: UNDP Kosovo

The three-day workshop yielded insights to guide future action. First, strategic planning must be anchored in locally driven needs assessments and underpinned by strong legal frameworks. Integration with existing systems is essential to ensure sustainability and accessibility, particularly for digital corruption reporting tools. Second, institutional capacity must be reinforced through inclusive stakeholder engagement, cultural sensitivity, and a strong sense of ownership within public agencies. Peer-to-peer exchanges and regional collaboration were also highlighted as critical enablers of effective reform. Third, public engagement efforts should use innovative, context-specific approaches, such as media campaigns, school curricula, and youth-targeted content, to foster long-term behavioral change and support a culture of integrity.  

In conclusion, the workshop provided a platform to reflect upon the value of SSTC in navigating today’s governance challenges. As perfectly encapsulated in the opening speech of Ms. Juepner, USPC Director, the event contributed to “building enduring networks of trust, shared accountability, and innovation” among the ACAs.

By bringing together diverse partners to reflect on challenges and co-develop actionable strategies, the workshop demonstrated how the SSTC process can catalyze systemic improvements in anti-corruption frameworks. As USPC continues to advance this agenda through the UNDP Global Policy Network, it remains committed to fostering inclusive, locally driven, and globally connected pathways to good governance.

*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999).

**UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (USPC) shares Korea’s tested-and-proven policy tools with other countries through SDG Partnerships. SDG Partnerships provide a combination of support, including partnership development with Korean institutions, seed funding, technical assistance, and policy advisory services. It utilizes UNDP’s global network of country offices and the policy expertise and know-how of partner organizations.