OSCE supports training seminar on public procurement in Astana

An OSCE-supported training seminar on improving efficiency and combating corruption in public procurement concluded on 28 August in Astana.

The two-day event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in partnership with the Agency for Civil Service Affairs and Anticorruption (ACA) and the Academy of Public Administration.

The event brought together some 50 representatives of the ACA and municipal administrations. Participants explored best practices in developing transparency mechanisms and in identifying corruption risks in public procurement. The seminar addressed topics such as developing terms of reference for bids, applying public procurement techniques, the distribution of authority among agencies and addressing fraud risks. It was conducted by an expert from the Russian Federation, whose participation in the seminar was made possible through OSCE financial support. The presentations were complemented by practical assignments during which participants attempted to identify corruption risks and offered proposals to improve the process.

The event is part of the multi-year efforts of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana to promote good governance by focusing on anti-corruption activities in Kazakhstan.