ODEAC: The first six months — from open data to practical anti-fraud tools
From project launch to collaboration. In March 2026, the Open Data Association NGO began implementing the ODEAC project – Open Data Education Against Corruption & Fraud. The 12-month initiative is supported by the European Union under the EU Anti-Fraud Programme (EUAF).
In March 2026, the Open Data Association NGO began implementing the project ODEAC – Open Data Education Against Corruption & Fraud. The initiative is designed for 12 months and is supported by the European Union under the EU Anti-Fraud Programme (EUAF).
The ODEAC project aims to strengthen the capacity of Ukrainian law enforcement, anti-corruption, and government agencies to systematically use open data to detect, analyze, and document risks of fraud and corruption. Special emphasis is placed on using open data that can potentially help increase the transparency of international aid and identify potential risks of its misuse. The primary audience for ODEAC includes investigators, analysts, and specialists in financial monitoring, internal audit, procurement, compliance, and anti-corruption who work with risks, vet counterparties, and make data-driven decisions every day.
In its first six months, the project has progressed from researching the needs of target institutions to conducting two large-scale online courses. In August, the next stage began — in-person practical training in small groups, where participants analyze specific cases and master analytical tools.
In the first issue of the ODEAC Newsletter, we have compiled the key results for March–August 2026: what has already been implemented, completed tasks, interim results achieved, and the next steps planned for the project.
ODEAC Launch: From Dialogue to Learning
On April 28, 2026, an introductory online meeting took place. The event lasted two hours with simultaneous interpretation (in Ukrainian and English) and attracted 31 registered participants from six countries — Ukraine, Lithuania, Romania, Latvia, Estonia, and Denmark. The discussion was joined by representatives of financial intelligence, law enforcement and regulatory bodies, tax services, and the civil sector.
The Ukrainian side was represented by specialists from the State Financial Monitoring Service, the Bureau of Economic Security, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the State Tax Service. The organizers succeeded in bringing together Ukrainian and European experts who work daily on detecting financial risks, countering financial offenses, and monitoring the use of public funds.
Speakers focused on practical experience:
- OLAF analyst Andrii Gabriel shared how his service protects the EU's financial interests and uses OSINT tools and link analysis in real investigations.
- Anton Ivanytskyi from the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine analyzed schemes involving suspicious financial flows, price inflation in procurement, and the misuse of budget funds.
- Open data expert Maksym Zinchenko demonstrated the potential of open data for vetting beneficiaries, identifying hidden connections, assessing sanctions risks, and analyzing public procurement.
During the meeting, the ODEAC team launched a survey to prepare for Basic Course 2. Questionnaires, interviews, and an analysis of existing practices helped adapt the curriculum to the daily tasks of law enforcement officers.
Initial feedback confirmed a demand for more practical exercises. This request was incorporated into subsequent modules, making practical work the foundation of the training. Additionally, the team identified a technical issue: security restrictions in some government agencies blocked access to external online forms. For future events, the specialists have provided alternative registration and communication channels.
The introductory meeting helped the team more accurately define the audience's needs and move on to the educational block.
Online Training: From Due Diligence to Fraud Detection
The training program began with two online courses. The first was developed for civil servants, covering basic Due Diligence skills and working with open data. The second was tailored to the needs of law enforcement, focusing on investigations, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and fraud detection.
From April 20 to May 8, 2026, the Basic Course 1 took place — "Due Diligence Basics: Tools, Algorithms, and Practical Application using YouControl," which at the time of launch was already approved by the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service as a professional development program worth 0.5 ECTS credits. The training was successfully completed by 401 civil servants. Participants mastered vetting legal entities and individuals, examining corporate connections, analyzing financial indicators, and assessing procurement and sanctions risks.
From July 16 to July 28, 2026, the Basic Course 2 was held — "Open Data for Fraud Detection: Tools for Law Enforcement." The program combined video lectures, independent study, case study analysis, and live online sessions. Participants explored registries, identified risk indicators, and learned to track financial abuse schemes.
The course generated high interest:
[stat] 401 | completed Basic Course 1
[stat] 916 | applications for Basic Course 2
[stat] 506 | started training
[stat] 354 | completed the final assessment
[stat] 347 | received certificates
[stat] 4.87 / 4.77 | average course ratings (out of 5)
[note] Participant ratings confirmed the quality of the training: the average score for Basic Course 1 was 4.87/5, and for Basic Course 2 it was 4.77/5 (99% and 98% of participants gave the courses the highest ratings of "4" and "5"). Participants also expressed interest in more practical exercises, working with international registries and OSINT tools, and gaining a deeper understanding of European approaches to fraud prevention. These requests were taken into account when developing the Advanced Course program.
Advanced Course: from knowledge to practice
After completing two online modules, the ODEAC team moved on to the next stage of the training program — three-hour in-person practical sessions in Kyiv led by a professional trainer
The training is built around the analysis of real-life situations. Participants work on practical cases using open data tools and government registries: they investigate ownership structures, analyze the activities of international companies, and identify corruption risks.
All 33 respondents who completed the post-session survey rated the quality of the training as 5 out of 5. They confirmed that the program fully met their expectations and that the session format provided sufficient time for Q&A.
In their feedback, participants noted the intensity of the sessions, the clarity of the materials, and the usefulness of analytical tools for investigations. Suggestions included increasing the duration of the sessions, adding more complex exercises, and examining connections within business networks in greater detail.
Currently, students are deepening their skills in the in-person Advanced Course.
Participant feedback confirms the high practical value of the program. Most often, students highlighted the clear presentation of material, the applied nature of the sessions, the opportunity to work with real analytical tools, and the ability to directly apply the knowledge gained in their professional work. At the same time, participants expressed interest in further deepening their practical skills, particularly in working with international sources, OSINT approaches, and European anti-fraud mechanisms
The ODEAC training trajectory is built sequentially: from basic Due Diligence skills and counterparty verification to the analysis of fraud risks, procurement, and financial flows, as well as identifying hidden connections and working practically with complex cases. Participants learn not just to find information in open sources, but also to systematically cross-reference data, verify links between individuals and companies, identify risk indicators, and form well-founded analytical conclusions for further professional work.
What's next?
In the second half of the project, the team will focus on sharing experience, systematizing knowledge, and developing practical recommendations for fraud prevention.
In parallel with the Advanced Course, consultations and meetings with European experts will take place. The experience gained will be included in the final Guidelines/Recommendations document. These materials will describe the methodology and tools for open data analysis for implementation in the work of government, law enforcement, and anti-fraud agencies.
The team will present the prepared recommendations at the Final Conference ODEAC, and the final materials will be handed over to Ukrainian and European partners for further work in the field of exposing corruption and fraud.
Follow ODEAC news — international consultations, the publication of recommendations, and the final conference are coming up.
The ODEAC project is co-funded by the European Union under the EU Anti-Fraud Programme (EUAF). The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.