Discussing corruption and absence of transparency is not strict on particular country or state, it is an international phenomenon suffered by all countries because it forms a threat against the social stability, economic growth and administrative performance. Hence, this phenomenon has drawn the attention of societies and states where calls have been launched to condemn and control its spread in addition to develop suitable formulas and identify the methods that should be adopted to impose community ownership and reduce its repercussions. The recent changes in the region foreshadow the possibility to promote transparency especially in light of the increasing demands to take actions against corruption.

Based on what have been mentioned above and in light of the center’s vision that calls for transparency, peace and democracy the Center for Civil Society and Democracy has accomplished the activities of the first thtransparency workshop that lasted for 10 days from the 14November 2014 with the attendance of 11 participants of the center’s team. Participants were from different Syrian provinces and three of them were women. The Center has conducted the workshop to proceed the previous phase of the transparency project, which has trained number of local councils, humanitarian and civil organizations.

Participants were trained on concepts of integrity and concepts that are related to transparency, its objectives and implementation mechanisms as well as corruption, its causes, and manifestations and how to fight it especially the economical, political, administrative and judicial ones. In addition, participants acquired information about the UN resolution on fighting corruption.

The training emphasized on the importance of civil society organizations’ role in fighting corruption. Participants were trained on training, mobilization and advocacy techniques. In the end of the workshop, participants came up with drafts of code of conducts that suit local councils and civil society organizations in Syria in order to identify the core values of institutions in terms of government as well as the ethical risks and to concentrate on the

culture of integrity and accountability and set the guidelines to help directors, employees and boards of directors to fulfill their duties.

Participants who attended the workshop will be in charge of preparing the third program of transparency and fighting corruption, in addition to building the capacities of the local councils and civil society’s institutions and training them on implementing the mechanisms of transparency and fighting corruption within their groups. The transparency program aims to spread awareness among people in order to promote their awareness about transparency and activate the community ownership.

Center for Civil Society and Democracy  CCSD