Ukraine—Governance and Local Accountability (HOVERLA)

[Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, DAI’s programs in Ukraine have had to adapt their modes of operation and in some cases their underlying activities and objectives. This project description remains generally accurate but should be read with that caveat in mind.]

Ukraine continues along the path of decentralization, but there is an urgent need to secure the gains of the past six years of reform. Stakeholders in Ukraine, including the current administration, understand that the expansion of the institutions of democratic local governance is critical to raising local living standards and reducing out-migration, achieving more balanced regional economic development, improving accountability, and enhancing citizen confidence.

The USAID Governance and Local Accountability (HOVERLA) Activity facilitates the creation of Ukrainian local governance systems and processes that are more self-reliant, accountable to citizens, inclusive, and able to provide services. HOVERLA works with 103 communities in 12 oblasts and collaborates primarily with the Ministry for Restoration to progress and strengthen the decentralization reform. To address the challenges of war, HOVERLA expanded its support to assist partner communities with emergency response, continuation of service delivery, and reconstruction planning.

HOVERLA works to ensure that Ukraine’s system of local self-governance is increasingly institutionalized and effective, that subnational governments are more self-reliant, and that citizens can play an increasingly influential role in local governance processes.

HOVERLA fosters citizen participation and engagement in local governance processes in Ukraine. it focuses on raising awareness, developing citizen engagement tools, and building the capacity of civil society organizations to enhance oversight activities. The team works to enhance the economic and financial resilience of communities and build their capacity to exercise the powers envisaged by law. With Ukraine’s acquisition of European Union candidate status and its associated obligations, improving the quality and accessibility of municipal services and ensuring their alignment with European standards has become more important.

Sample Activities

• Ensure the content of proposed primary or secondary legislation or amendments is evidence-based, in keeping with European standards and rationalized within the local legal system and cultural environment.
• Support the development of subnational governance action plans.
• Support effective systems of financial control and external audit of the local level.
• Increase local and subnational government capacity to perform budget fiscal and administrative roles.
• Expand municipal fiscal transparency through public hearings and e-portals.

Select Results

• Helped develop 32 laws and 71 legislative briefs—including the Law on Administrative and Territorial Structure, Budget Code Amendment, Law on Service in Local Government Bodies, Law on Administrative Procedure, Law on Cross-Border Cooperation, and Draft Law on Amendments to Administrative Procedure—playing a key role in strengthening a self-sufficient and capable local self-governance system.
• Procured emergency response commodities to bolster the resilience of communities affected by Russia’s aggression and to enhance the capacity of local governments to address war-related needs. The support included 100 backhoe loaders, 672 generators, 136 woodchippers, 25 sets of kitchen equipment and furniture, 65 sets of firefighting pneumatic tools, 650 firefighting uniforms, and 250 multifunctional tents.
• Supported 106 local governments in developing and implementing local acts, such as asset management, local revenue generation, and establishing firefighting brigades.
• Facilitated 37 inter-municipal agreements between Ukrainian communities and nine international partnerships with United States and European communities.
• Assisted communities in preparing project proposals for the Interreg NEXT Poland-Ukraine 2021-2027 Programme, leading to the approval of seven projects valued at €5.6 million.
• Built the capacity of 9,851 government officials in key local government functions like development and spatial planning, cross-border cooperation, and administrative procedures.
• Supported 32 civil society organizations in conducting advocacy initiatives, including participatory budgeting, social services, and inclusive governance.
• Facilitated hands-on community engagement for youths and youth leaders through various programs such as internships and youth councils.
• Hosted historic forum with more than 300 participants to set the legislative agenda for 2022.
• Provided fire extinguishers, chainsaws, extension cords, and other tools to partner municipalities and the Military Administration in Poltava Oblast, which will help local authorities maintain the civil protection system and serve citizens, including internally displaced people.