Annual Report for the Development Initiative for Advocating Local Governance in Ukraine (DIALOGUE) Project 2012

The project's implementation in July-September 2011 yielded several outcomes, including the preparation of one draft law, monitoring of 35 draft laws and legal documents, and the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine. In 2012, the project continued to focus on promoting local governance and decentralization in Ukraine. Key achievements in the reporting period included the preparation and publication of the "AUC Herald" (Issue #88) and the dissemination of the twenty-third issue of the "DIALOGUE Newsletter" electronic publication. The project also conducted a series of expert workshops in various regional offices of the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC), providing training and support to local government officials. The project's communication and branding strategy was also implemented, with the production and dissemination of tools for message delivery, including the "city-minded Ukraine" TV program series. The program aimed to promote the idea of local self-governance and best municipal practices, and four TV programs were aired during the reporting period. Additionally, the project conducted 13 expert workshops in AUC ROs, provided 100 consultations to local governments, and published several issues of professional legal publications. The project also focused on fostering public support for reform, with the establishment of formal and regular coordination mechanisms with other USAID-supported activities and donor organizations. The Forum of Donor Organizations was established to facilitate coordination and cooperation among stakeholders. Furthermore, the project conducted a working meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, M.Azarov, and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine. The project's geographic focus was on Ukraine, with a particular emphasis on the regions of Kirovohrad, Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, Kharkiv, Lviv, and Zakarpattya. The project's timeframes were not explicitly stated, but the reporting period coincided with the vacation season, which led to a reduced workload in parliamentary committees, ministries, and other government agencies. The project's implementation was divided into several components, including legal framework, policy dialogue, fostering public support for reform, legal assistance and protection, and special emphasis on Crimea. The project's key findings and methodologies were not explicitly stated, but the project's implementation was guided by a clear understanding of the need for decentralization and local governance reforms in Ukraine. The project's conclusions and recommendations were not explicitly stated, but the project's achievements and outcomes suggest that it was successful in promoting local governance and decentralization in Ukraine. The project's implementation was guided by a clear understanding of the need for coordination and cooperation among stakeholders, and the project's achievements suggest that it was successful in fostering public support for reform.