Transparency International Estonia

Description

Ühing Korruptsioonivaba Eesti (Transparency International Estonia, KVE) is a nonprofit civic association working in the public interest to prevent corruption, raise public awareness of corruption in Estonia, and promote transparency and democracy in Estonian society. It has been the accredited representative of the international anti-corruption network Transparency International in Estonia since 2007.

It was founded on 27 April 2000 as a sub-organization of Transparency International, an initiative of the Jaan Tõnisson Institute. Until the end of 2006 it operated informally through the Institute’s Corruption Analysis Centre. It registered as an independent nonprofit association in 2007.

KVE is not a law enforcement body and does not detect or investigate corruption cases itself. Instead it continuously analyses, monitors and seeks to influence Estonia’s anti-corruption policy and legislation, proposing measures to strengthen structural corruption prevention. It works to raise awareness among specific target groups, including state and local government officials, business people and journalists, as well as the wider public, through events, publications, training, and communication via media. It follows the principles of independence, political neutrality and professionalism.

The association is funded through project financing, including past support from the Open Estonia Foundation and various Estonian and international funders such as the European Commission and the Partnership for Transparency Fund. This is supplemented by fees for services such as studies, analyses and training, plus membership fees and donations.

It belongs to the Network of Estonian Nonprofit Organizations, participates in a community practice programme, and since 2019 has been an associate member of the Whistleblowing International Network. In 2020 it joined a diversity charter coordinated by the Estonian Human Rights Centre. It is based in Tallinn.