Democratic processes prevent corruption risks and promote dialogue and trust between the government and the public, which provides the foundation for the effective restoration and development of Ukraine as a European country with democratic values.
on 25 October, the conference “Democracy in Times of War: Engagement and Best Practices in Ukrainian Communities” was held in Kyiv. The event brought together more than 200 participants, including representatives of local governments, NGOs, businesses and active citizens. They discussed the challenges and opportunities for the development of democracy during the war.
In their welcoming remarks, Oleksandr Riabyi, Regional Director of the USAID Democratic Governance in Eastern Ukraine Project’s Southeast Portfolio, and Kateryna Ivanchenko, Director of the Centre for Innovation Development, stressed that engaging citizens in local decision-making is not only a tool for sustainable development, but also an element of national security.“Today, more than ever, we need open and honest communication between the government and communities. This is the key to ensuring that all stakeholders feel involved and hear each other,” said Kateryna Ivanchenko.
The panel discussion “Democracy in Times of War” brought together speakers who discussed how democratic processes and digital tools can support communities in times of war.
Viktoriia Podhorna, Member of Parliament, Chair of the e-Democracy Subcommittee of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Digital Transformation, stressed the importance of dialogue between national and local authorities and society on recovery:
“Building a dialogue between the government and society is an important element that strengthens communities and increases their preparedness for future challenges. This is the foundation that will ensure our resilience and bring us closer to victory.”
Anna Yemelianova, coordinator of the project “Strengthening Democratic Processes in Territorial Communities” and e-democracy expert at the Centre for Innovation Development, explained how digital tools help integrate residents into the reconstruction process:
“Digital tools allow communities not only to inform the population but also to actively involve them in decision-making, creating a transparent and inclusive process where everyone’s voice is heard.”
Serhiy Loboyko, chairman of the expert council of the Centre for Innovations Development, spoke about the importance of involving residents in the reconstruction process. He noted that “public participation at every stage of project development not only promotes transparency but also ensures trust between the community and the authorities.”
mykhailo Leichenko, CTO of the Innovation Development Centre, spoke about modern engagement tools, especially digital platforms. He noted that “in the context of war and digitalisation, it is important to use online tools to communicate with citizens so that everyone has the opportunity to be heard and join the recovery.”
In particular, the participants were presented with the future e-participation platform – eIDEA for Recovery and Development in the Digital Recovery Ecosystem – DREAM.
The platform provides communities with a wide range of functions: from collecting ideas and suggestions to organising public discussions, conducting surveys and creating teams to implement projects. eIDEA complements the DREAM ecosystem, which combines tools for planning, accounting and monitoring recovery projects, making reconstruction more transparent and citizen-oriented. This integrated approach allows for the involvement of all stakeholders, from local residents to international donors, who can track project implementation stages and evaluate their effectiveness.
A separate part of the conference was the presentation of interactive dashboards created to increase the participation of residents in democratic processes. Olesia Malyavina, an analyst at the Centre for Innovation Development, demonstrated the capabilities of dashboards, which allow collecting ideas and suggestions from citizens, making the community management process more transparent and inclusive.
The conference presented successful practices implemented in four pilot communities within the framework of the project “Strengthening Democratic Processes in Territorial Communities.” The Pidhorodnenska, Pereshchepynska, Novoodeska and Kazankivska communities have developed strategic documents that have become the basis for their further development: development strategies, comprehensive territorial rehabilitation programmes, rehabilitation plans and investment passports. These documents take into account the needs of local communities and help ensure sustainable development, which has become one of the project’s important achievements.
The final stage of the event was a discussion of future prospects for strengthening democratic institutions in communities, especially in wartime. Participants shared their experience in implementing democratic practices and identified priority areas for further development, including strengthening communication between citizens and local authorities, using digital platforms to engage residents in decision-making, and enhancing transparency and accountability of processes.
Following the conference, the participants agreed to continue their cooperation to enhance the transparency and democratic nature of the recovery process. The practices implemented in the pilot communities will be scaled up to other regions of Ukraine so that every community has the opportunity to actively participate in recovery and development, contributing to a stable and innovative future.
To view the speakers’ presentations and video of the event
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For reference: This event were conducted by the Center for Innovations Development as part of its project implemented under the USAID/ENGAGE activity, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Pact. The contents of these events are the sole responsibility of Pact and its implementing partners and do not necessary reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.