USAID’s PDP II Runs Successful TOT on the Problem Solving Method for Legislative Development

The TOT took place on June 11th and 12th, 2012, and brought together 30 civil servants, NGO activists, legal experts, and academics. Participants had previously received training on the methodology and were selected for their facility with the method and their experiences applying it. Tetyana Fuley, PDP II's legal expert, led the TOT with assistance from Laura Lucas of ICLAD. Over the two days, participants were asked to assume dual roles, acting as both participants and future trainers. They used the problem-solving method to work through real-life examples of problems affecting Ukrainian communities, while also reflecting on pedagogy and the difficulties their future trainees might encounter. Participants took turns facilitating sessions and debating their approaches with their peers. The TOT was well received and met the expectations of both attendees and the PDP II team. Participants practiced employing the methodology, clarified questions with the trainers, and discussed the best ways to transfer their understanding to others. They also exchanged experiences, discussed the diverse ways in which the methodology can be applied, and suggested next steps for PDP II and ICLAD. For example, one civil servant expressed a desire to have one-day trainings on the method for every person involved in the legislative process at the Verkhovna Rada. Attendees provided crucial feedback on a newly published manual entitled "Development and Drafting of Law in Accordance with the Problem Solving Method." The manual, currently available only in Ukrainian on PDP II's website, was the subject of a lively discussion. Laura Lucas, who has worked with this methodology in over 20 countries, was impressed with Ukrainian experts' application of ICLAD's tool. She noted that the discussion in Kyiv was one of the most vibrant she had seen anywhere in the world. The success of the TOT demonstrates the potential of the legislative problem-solving methodology to improve law development in Ukraine. The methodology has been applied in over 20 countries, and its effectiveness in facilitating collaborative problem-solving and improving law development outcomes is well-documented. The PDP II's efforts to promote the methodology through training and capacity-building initiatives are likely to have a positive impact on the legislative process in Ukraine.