Quarterly Report: April – June, 2015 for the Development Initiative for Advocating Local Governance in Ukraine (DIALOGUE) Project

Project implementation in April – June 2015 yielded significant outcomes. DIALOGUE Project experts worked on 79 draft legal and regulatory documents, and the project finished its work on preparing 4 draft legal and regulatory documents. A total of 16 regulatory and legal documents to support local self-governance came into effect. The project conducted 3 working sessions of AUC Professional Groups, and DIALOGUE Project experts participated in 27 working sessions of 6 ad-hoc parliamentary committees to present and promote the AUC position on draft legislation initiated by National Deputies. The project established Offices for Reform Implementation Support in every oblast of Ukraine and prepared draft long-term perspective plans for the formation of capable communities in all oblasts. A total of 17 long-term perspective plans were approved by oblast councils. The project also conducted 7 working sessions of Local Government Regional Advisory Boards, 9 national cohesion exchange study tours, and 23 expert workshops in AUC ROs. The project provided 220 consultations to local governments and launched a series of the Your Government TV talk show programs. Additionally, the project published and disseminated 3 issues of the "Herald" and 3 issues of the "Legislation News" professional legal publication, and 1 issue of the "Legal Consultations." The project also started issuing 2 new electronic publications: "Decentralisation in Focus" (bilingual) and "Громада" [community] (for National Deputies). Key achievements in the reporting period include conducting expert workshops in various AUC ROs, working sessions of Local Government Regional Advisory Boards, and national cohesion exchange study tours. The project also featured programs of the Your Government program series on Channel 5 TV Channel and published and disseminated various issues of professional legal publications. The project provided organizational support for the activities of Offices for Reform Implementation Support in the city of Kyiv and conducted information seminars to provide support for the activities of these offices. The project's efforts to promote decentralization and support local government reforms have yielded significant results. The establishment of Offices for Reform Implementation Support in every oblast of Ukraine and the preparation of draft long-term perspective plans for the formation of capable communities in all oblasts are key achievements. The project's provision of consultations to local governments and the launch of the Your Government TV talk show programs have also contributed to the promotion of decentralization and support for local government reforms. The project's implementation in April – June 2015 has laid the groundwork for continued efforts to promote decentralization and support local government reforms in Ukraine. The project's establishment of Offices for Reform Implementation Support in every oblast of Ukraine and the preparation of draft long-term perspective plans for the formation of capable communities in all oblasts will continue to support the decentralization process. The project's provision of consultations to local governments and the launch of the Your Government TV talk show programs will also continue to promote decentralization and support for local government reforms.