Baghdad: The Ministry of Planning, in cooperation with the Federal Integrity Commission, is conducting a workshop focused on modern trends in promoting a culture of integrity and enhancing the skills of government employees.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Legal Department at the Ministry of Planning organized the specialized workshop on Sunday, titled “Modern Trends in Promoting a Culture of Integrity and Developing the Skills of Government Employees.” This initiative is part of a larger effort to create educational programs for government entities, aiming to reinforce a culture of integrity, transparency, accountability, and adherence to laws through various educational tools such as studies, seminars, conferences, and training courses.

Dr. Maida Hussein Majeed from the Federal Integrity Commission led the workshop, addressing the concept of integrity culture at the institutional level. The discussions encompassed the institutional environment’s role in protecting public funds and the skills, responsibilities, and powers of employees within their work environment, with a focus on committees and core tasks.

Key discussions involved principles of integrity culture, including integrity, transparency, and accountability, and how institutions can establish this culture as a cornerstone in combating corruption. Topics of risk management and integrity risks related to abuse of power were discussed, alongside the development of a culture of integrity among employees as per the code of conduct, including duties, prohibitions, violations, and penalties.

The workshop also explored modern trends in integrity, focusing on skills for predicting, diagnosing, and managing administrative risks, analyzing procedures, identifying violations, and addressing conflicts of interest. Emphasis was placed on adhering to ethical principles and avoiding actions that might raise suspicions.

The review included the culture of integrity at various levels-institutional, individual, systemic, and leadership-and discussed the role of digitalization in reducing corruption within state institutions. The significance of practical training and the development of employee skills through modern digital programs were also highlighted.