Overview

For the time being, Ukraine is in the process of building democratic governance. The transition to democracy brings new challenges for a modern system of public administration. Decentralisation and citizens’ participation are the intrinsic elements of European normative understanding of democratic governance. Ukraine formally embraced these by joining the European Charter on Local Self- Governance in 1997. However, to be meaningful, the commitment of the country’s political elites to building a system of governance compliant with European values and standards needs to be reinforced by adequate policies, institutional reforms and appropriate implementation arrangements. Some changes are already taking place, but the development of a comprehensive “transformative strategy” for this still highly centralised state lies ahead yet. At the national level, agreement on a common vision on decentralisation has proved hard to achieve, not least because of differing interpretations and understandings of what decentralisation is. On the other hand, at the local level the communities are currently not always benefiting from the decentralisation process; efficient and effective communal services are more the exception than the rule.

Ukraine needs assistance in decentralising and devolving power. On the one hand, the Government requires help in its efforts to form a “National Agenda” on decentralization and in achieving its aim of co-ordinating and harmonizing national policy initiatives on decentralization. On the other hand, it will be necessary to assist selected local governments at the oblast, rayon, village and municipality levels to plan, finance, implement and co-ordinate affordable services in a participatory and innovative manner. Both these will be core elements of this component.

Projects at a glance (click on project for further information):