International Cooperation
Delegation from Andalusia's Anti-Fraud Office (OAAF) visits BAK
On 18 November 2024, the Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAK) welcomed a delegation from the Andalusian Anti-Fraud Office (OAAF) from Spain. OAAF’s Director Marta Blázquez Expósito and Head of Prevention Department Manuel García Bernardez were present during the visit to discuss new forms of anti-corruption awareness-raising work.
The delegation from Andalusia visited BAK as part of the EU-funded ‘Best Anticorruption Practice Exchange’ project (BACPE) to learn about and share new forms of awareness-raising work in a direct exchange of experiences.
After welcoming remarks by Daniela Hatzl, Head of Prevention, Education and International Cooperation Department at BAK, the visitors were given an overview of the organisational structure, working methods and legal basis of the Federal Bureau. The discussion that ensued focussed mainly on investigating corruption cases, whistleblower protection and the implementation of whistleblower platforms.
The afternoon of the first day was dedicated to prevention work. Experts from the BAK explained, among other things, the Corruption Scale and Corruption Theatre – two concepts that are used as part of BAK’s awareness-raising workshops at schools. They also exchanged views on basic research. The representatives from Spain provided information about a prevention guidance project that their authority offers to public institutions in Andalusia.
The second day began with a visit to the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Laxenburg. In the afternoon, the Head of the BAK's Education Unit explained the BAK's various training programmes and its ‘train the trainer’ approach. The Spanish colleagues presented an OAAF university cooperation programme.
Oficina Andaluza contra el Fraude y la Corrupción (OAAF)
The Andalusian Office Against Fraud and Corruption (OAAF) was founded in 2021 and is dedicated to developing prevention measures to raise awareness among Andalusian society and Andalusian officials. Andalusia has a population of nine million and the office's remit covers 300,000 members of the civil service. Education, training, and the development of integrity systems for public administration are among the tasks of the OAAF.
The OAAF is part of the EPAC/EACN anti-corruption networks, European Partners against Corruption (EPAC) and European contact-point network against corruption (EACN). With the support of the EU, these networks finance the ‘Best Anticorruption Practice Exchange (BACPE) project, an exchange programme for its member authorities, including on the topic of ‘Anti-corruption awareness raising’. The visit by the Andalusian Anti-Fraud Office to BAK was part of the BACPE project.