Quarterly Report for April 1 to June 30, 2012 (Q3, FY 2012): Legislative Policy Development Program of the Parliamentary Development Project (PDP II)

The program aims to assist USAID in achieving Strategic Objective SO 2.2. Good Governance through Intermediate Result 2.2.1 Legislative Function and Processes. The program focuses on Legislative Policy Development, working with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers, the Presidential Administration, and the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The program addresses four objectives and 13 results, with a focus on consultative, transparent legislative processes; Ukrainian institutions' capacity and technical skills; Ukrainian civil society organizations' role in legislative and policy-making processes; and the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea's capacity for intergovernmental dialogue and civic engagement. The program seeks to contribute to the development of legislation, enhance the capacity of the civil society sector, and increase transparency and accountability in legislative policy development processes. During the third quarter of the program, PDP II worked on continuations of existing program elements, such as Working Groups and the Parliamentary and Executive Internship Program, with the introduction of new partnerships. The reporting quarter was marked by the upcoming parliamentary election campaign and the beginning of the work of the Constitutional Assembly. The Constitutional Assembly held its first meeting on June 20, attended by all former Ukrainian presidents, President Viktor Yanukovych, VR Chairman Volodymyr Lytvyn, and Head of the Constitutional Assembly. The meeting discussed the draft of the new Constitution, which is expected to be adopted by the end of 2012. The program's activities during this quarter focused on supporting the development of the new Constitution and enhancing the capacity of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to engage in transparent and accountable legislative processes. PDP II's program activities during the third quarter included the continuation of Working Groups, which brought together representatives from the Verkhovna Rada, Cabinet of Ministers, and civil society organizations to discuss legislative policy development processes. The program also supported the development of the new Law on Access to Public Information, which aims to increase transparency and accountability in government decision-making processes. In addition, PDP II worked with the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to enhance its capacity for intergovernmental dialogue and civic engagement. The program supported the development of new communication mechanisms between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada of ARC, and increased transparency and citizen access in the ARC. The program's activities during the third quarter were led by Chief of Party Eleanor Valentine and Deputy Chief of Party Edward Rakhimkulov, with the support of the Ukraine team and implementing contractors Indiana University and The Ohio State University. The program's progress was monitored and evaluated through regular meetings and reports, and adjustments were made to the program's activities as needed to ensure that the program's objectives and results were met.