Ukraine’s reconstruction and EU accession will depend on people who can put anti-corruption reforms into practice. A paid internship programme developed and led by Transparency International Ukraine (TI Ukraine) in partnership with the Basel Institute on Governance is building exactly that pool of talent.

The initiative is currently in its third year, with support from the Principality of Liechtenstein and prior institutional support for TI Ukraine from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

In just three years, 42 interns have completed the programme – and alumni are already working at TI Ukraine, the High Anti-Corruption Court, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention and other key institutions. The 2026 cohort ended its placements with a study visit to Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

One of the 2026 interns, Yelyzaveta (Liza), summed up the experience:

This internship was a crucial step in my professional growth – I gained hands-on experience in analysing legal frameworks, identifying corruption risks and designing training sessions, while feeling that I am contributing to Ukraine’s development. Meeting leading practitioners left me reassured that one should never hesitate to speak up and share ideas, as true growth happens through open dialogue.

Taking first career steps in anti-corruption

The programme gives university students and young professionals a structured, hands-on entry point into anti-corruption work, placing them for four to six months with either TI Ukraine or the Basel Institute’s Kyiv-based team under close mentorship.

The design was a deliberate break with the past and a breath of fresh air for those who associate internships with making coffee and filing documents.

Volunteers had been part of TI Ukraine for a long time – around 10 to 12 a year, usually working remotely on routine tasks. After the full-scale invasion in 2022, the organisation rebuilt the internship experience from scratch.

The new paid internship programme has a single annual intake that forms a cohort, an office-first hybrid format, dedicated time for training and onboarding, and placements across several departments.

Demand has climbed steadily. The 2024 pilot drew 57 applications, the 2025 edition 156 and the 2026 edition more than 250 – for just 16 places.

For a generation whose education and early working life were shaped by COVID lockdowns, the war and near-permanent remote study and work, these internships offer a crucial route to practical and meaningful experience in the anti-corruption field.

Sofia, an intern in TI Ukraine’s grant department, said:

What I valued most is that you really get to meet other people and dive into a completely different context. It’s something you’ll never get from books or articles.

Svitlana Lutsiuk, Senior Specialist, Corruption Prevention in the Basel Institute’s team in Kyiv, explained what she learned from mentoring Liza, whose internship focused on legal analysis:

My key takeaway is that clear tasks, real ownership and honest feedback are all it takes. Liza showed just how fast talent unfolds when you trust an intern with work that truly matters.

A study visit to Liechtenstein and Basel

The 2026 edition closed with a study visit to Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The guiding questions were: what works in these countries to tackle corruption, and how can those lessons be adapted to Ukraine’s context?

Six interns took part: students and recent graduates of various Ukrainian universities with backgrounds in law, international relations, public policy, sociology, public history, social work and art history.

In Liechtenstein, the interns explored the country’s political system and participatory democracy, how courts, police and government bodies tackle corruption cases, and the tools used against money laundering. They met Deputy Prime Minister Sabine Monauni and spent a day with representatives of the banking sector, discussing compliance, anti-money laundering and fraud prevention.

In Switzerland, they met the team at the Basel Institute’s headquarters and learned about its wider work – from business integrity and to tackling green corruption, to research that drives behaviour change and why it is important to “follow the money” and recover illicit assets. They also dove into the practicalities of running an anti-corruption organisation.

Maksym, an intern in TI Ukraine’s legal department, put it frankly:

“One thought I’m taking back to Ukraine is the realisation that Ukraine isn’t alone in facing corruption.

A committed and professional cohort

Despite the difficult circumstances – starting a career in anti-corruption while their country is under attack – the interns impressed mentors and study visit partners alike with their commitment and professionalism.

The interns were equally positive about their internship experience. They highlighted the meaningful rather than mechanical tasks, concrete professional growth opportunities and gains in confidence and resilience. In a short video shared on social media, the interns summarised what they found most valuable and memorable.

Anastasia, an intern in TI Ukraine’s communications department, emphasised the value of gaining:

…soft skills and experience creating content at important events.

Capacity that outlasts the internship

The impact of the internship programme extends far beyond the placement itself.

In the first three years, 42 interns have completed the revamped internship programme. Several have received job offers from TI Ukraine or the Basel Institute, while other alumni have found jobs at Ukrainian anti-corruption and law enforcement institutions such as the High Anti-Corruption Court, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, the Economic Security Bureau and the Prosecutor’s Office.

This is what sustainable local capacity looks like in practice. Students and recent graduates gain their first real professional experience in the field, Ukrainian institutions recruit people who already know the terrain, and the wider anti-corruption community gains young professionals who have seen integrity applied as a working principle.

For the future of anti-corruption work in Ukraine and beyond, that is a real cause for optimism.

Learn more

• More on the internship programme.
• TI Ukraine news about the 2026 study visit to Liechtenstein and Switzerland.