This document provides a progress review and priorities for donor boards working groups on decentralization reform in Ukraine from January to March 2018. It summarizes the work and issues facing six main working groups: 1) administrative territorial reform and legal framework, 2) local self-government finances and budgeting, 3) local democracy, 4) regional and local development, 5) administrative services and municipal utilities, and 6) communication and training. The working groups are focusing on adopting new laws, building local government capacity, improving participatory democracy, coordinating regional development, integrating administrative services, and increasing communication and training around decentralization.

1. Donor Board on Decentralization
Reform in Ukraine
Progress Review and Priorities
January-March2018
Olena Krylova, Donor Board Secretariat
April 13, 2018

2. WGs Progress and Issues
1. Administrative Territorial Reform and Decentralization Legal
Framework
Adoption of pending draft laws (DB interface with VR)
Supporting Minregion in pursuing its Action Plan priorities
(creating a new administrative-territorial basis for local self-
government/ the Law on the Principles of Administrative-
Territorial Structure / adjustment of laws - G. Milbradt’s list /
finalization prospective plans of amalgamation
Target 130 rayons where amalgamation is not taking place – a
need for common approach and regional coordination
2. Local Self-Government Finances and Budgeting
Priorities: capacity-building on program-based planning and
budgeting for hromadas / stimulating the increase of local
budget revenues through favorable conditions for economic
development (incl. land management and spatial planning

3. WGs Progress and Issues
3. Local Democracy
Concept of the Modernization of the System of Organizational
and Legal Support for Local Democracy in Ukraine and
amendments to some laws of Ukraine on participatory
democracy
Priorities: the Concept implementation / methodological
support to hromadas on statute and local democracy tools /
advancing the work on e-democracy
4. Regional and Local Development
Distinguishing between regional and local development but
with linkages between the two
Priorities: Dialogue with economic regional and local
development actors / Monitoring of regional and local
development

4. WGs Progress and Issues
5.1 Administrative Services
Coordination with the Ministry of Social Policy on integrating
social services with TsNAPs
Implementation of the Cabinet of Ministers’ Resolution 523
(the list of administrative services to be provided by TsNAPs)
TsNAPs in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts (coordination of
donors’ investments)
A unified methodology for surveying administrative services
quality across the country
5.2 Municipal Utilities
Reformatting the WG to ensure Inter-sectoral work on
National Water Strategy, Waste Management Strategy and
formulation of a sharper vision of gradual decentralization in
the communal services and housing sector

5. WGs Progress and Issues
5.3 Humanitarian Policy
Inter-sectoral work on establishment of common
humanitarian districts (spaces) in hromadas
Priorities: Elaboration of joint methodological
recommendations / Assessment of emerging models in the
regions/ Local consultations / Defining necessary legal and
regulatory changes
5.4 Healthcare
The necessity to establish a formal WG is still discussed
between the two Ministries
Appeal for financial support for a presentations round on the
health care decentralization reform in region

6. WGs Progress and Issues
5.5 Public order
A guide on the organization and financing of integrated civil
protection and public security services in hromadas
The choice of pilot sites for establishing decentralized security
centers
Priorities: Methodological and information support to
hromadas/ Property transfer from the state to hromadas/
Coordination with the MoH/ Security centers funding through
the SFRD

7. WGs Progress and Issues
6.1 Communication
Action plan for information provision for accelerating the
amalgamation and a coordinated information campaign
6.2 Training System and Knowledge Management
Review of CRF in the context of the new civil servants and LSG
training concept
Alignment of efforts for building a sustainable national system
of LSG training