Between 8–11 September, experts of the “Citizen Engagement” direction of the Polaris Programme “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine” visited the first five of 10 partner hromadas: Khotyn (Chernivtsi oblast), Boryslav (Lviv oblast), Lokachi (Volyn oblast), Shumsk (Ternopil oblast), and Korets (Rivne oblast).
The purpose of the visits was to gain practical insights into the work of local councils and their working groups, discuss the new opportunities opened by the updated Law “On Local Self-Government”, and provide consultations on introducing modern mechanisms of resident participation into hromada statutes.
Each visit included several key stages:
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a meeting with hromada leadership and presentation of cooperation areas;
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an information session for local councillors, starostas, civil society activists and organisations on the Polaris Programme partnership;
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work with hromada working groups on charters and consultations on introducing participation mechanisms in line with the new law;
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providing recommendations and discussing topics for information campaigns to inform residents about the charter and participation mechanisms enshrined in it.
Key Issues Discussed
The hromadas actively debated how to reflect the updated legislation, particularly the forms of resident participation in decision-making processes. Another important topic was the new requirements for hromada heads, councillors and executive bodies to report back to residents at open meetings.
These provisions set new standards of transparency and accountability for local self-government bodies and require proper preparation and integration into hromada charters.
Practical Implementation
Polaris partner hromadas are among the first in Ukraine to begin implementing the new legislation on people’s power in practice. They are working on the basis of the draft model charter developed by the working group under the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.
Pavlo Pushchenko, Coordinator of the “Citizen Engagement” area of the Polaris Programme:
“During our visits we saw a high level of responsibility and commitment from local self-government bodies to be closer to people. Our task is to help hromadas make these processes more systematic, transparent, and understandable for residents.”
Thus, the joint work of Polaris experts and local councils contributes to the development of real mechanisms of people’s power and the formation of more democratic and open governance in Ukrainian hromadas.
