Timor-Leste's Inspector General Mariano Lopes recently took the government's message of "zero tolerance" for corruption to civil servants in Aileu and Liquica. The two workshops emphasized the need for transparency and accountability from public officials, and included information on the role of the Inspector General's office and the recently approved Civil Service Statute.

Some 40 civil servants from every level of local government attended each workshop, including teachers, health workers, and security guards. They had an opportunity to discuss the implications of the government's anticorruption approach and their ethical obligations as public servants. Outreach materials included posters, pamphlets, and stickers. They define corruption, describe it impacts, and give ideas on how to prevent it.

Workshop participant Paul Martins, a security guard, said, "This workshop is so important because it combats corruption. Today I got information about different types of corruption, but I think this kind of workshop should not only be for civil servants." High school teacher Zeremias Liu agreed, adding, "This workshop should also be conducted for high school students, and I hope I can get some posters and pamphlets to distribute to my students."

During the workshops, Mr. Lopes cited the five most common types of corruption in public administration: financial fraud, recruitment fraud, abuse of authority, procurement fraud, and theft or misuse of public goods. It is the responsibility of Office of the Inspector General to monitor the use of public resources by government officials and to guarantee their accountability to the citizens of Timor-Leste.

USAID supported the Aileu and Liquica workshops with a grant of $58,400. They are part of a nationwide campaign by the Office of the Inspector General to improve accountability among civil servants in district government offices and to help them better understand the function of the Office of the Inspector General. The workshops build the skills of government officials and provide for better delivery of government services at local levels.

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