On 12 November 2024, the Council of Europe project «Strengthening democratic resilience through civic participation during the war and in the post-war context in Ukraine» held the concluding conference, “Participatory Democracy: A Key Factor in Ukraine’s Resilience.” Together with partner communities and civil society organisations, the project showcased the results of a two-year collaboration (2023–2024).
The Council of Europe project on civic participation project focuses on:
- enhancing the capacity and engagement of civil society organisations in decision-making processes;
- strengthening the legal framework and implementing mechanisms to involve citizens at local, regional, and national levels;
- developing participatory solutions in communities using innovative methodologies and tools;
- strengthening the role of volunteerism and fostering cooperation between local authorities and volunteer organisations;
- increasing public awareness about mechanisms and tools for civic participation.
Launched on 1 January 2023 and concluding on 31 December 2024, the project has supported 36 territorial communities and two regional authorities, closely cooperating with 16 pilot communities.
At the closing conference, Oleksandr Korniyenko, First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, emphasised the importance of advancing civic participation in Ukraine:
“It is symbolic that this event takes place just days after Ukraine celebrated its accession to the Council of Europe. The Verkhovna Rada actively supports civic participation, including through laws on public consultations, transparency in local governance, and direct democracy, and we will continue advancing in this direction.”
Oleksandr Yarema, State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, highlighted:
“Over the past two years, we’ve seen that regardless of the size or location of a community, there are passionate people who believe in their work and can achieve remarkable results. I thank the project team for gathering invaluable experiences from various Council of Europe member states and sharing them with Ukrainian communities. Today, some Ukrainian communities are ready to share their best practices in citizen engagement with others globally.”
Maciej Janczak, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, emphasised:
“Participatory democracy plays a vital role in strengthening Ukraine’s resilience, especially amid current challenges, from resisting Russian aggression to advancing on the path to European integration. By actively involving citizens in decision-making, Ukraine reinforces its democratic foundations, builds trust, and fosters a deeper connection between the government and the people. Referring to the standards of the Council of Europe, it is essential to continue implementing inclusive and transparent decision-making practices in Ukraine.”
The conference featured three panels showcasing the achievements of the project over the past two years.
In the context of strengthening the legal framework, the following results of developing effective mechanisms for local-level decision-making were presented:
- Statutes of territorial communities,
- School participatory budgeting,
- Programs on promotion of voluntarism.
In the direction of developing participatory solutions, specific examples were presented showing how citizens are engaged in shaping important decisions during the war:
- Ukraine’s first-ever Citizens’ Assemblies,
- Participatory development of community strategies,
- Participatory monitoring and evaluation of community strategies.
As part of efforts to enhance community resilience, civil society organisations presented their implemented projects, including:
- Initiatives by five Ukrainian CSOs, grantees of the Council of Europe project,
- Projects developed by alumni of the certificate program 'Monitoring and Evaluation of Decisions and Projects for the Restoration and Development of Ukrainian Communities.
At the conclusion of the conference, representatives of partner communities received awards for their active engagement of residents in decision-making processes and successful collaboration with the project.
The Council of Europe project «Strengthening democratic resilience through civic participation during the war and in the post-war context in Ukraine» is designed to support the implementation of the objectives set out in the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine «Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction» (2023-2026) to strengthen the democratic processes and address the challenges public authorities are facing in the time of war and in post-war context through active and effective civic participation at the local, regional and national level.
