This document discusses civic participation in policy-making in Ukraine through various coalitions and advocacy efforts. It provides examples of effective coalitions that brought about reforms through multi-year advocacy campaigns engaging citizens, NGOs, journalists, and government. These coalitions used innovative communication technologies and public outreach strategies to foster reform on issues like access to public information, charity laws, legal aid, anti-censorship, and election integrity.

1. Civic Participation in
Policy-Making
Ukrainian Examples
[May 30 2013][Victoria Marchenko]

2. Approaches and Mechanisms
1. Identify and support local drivers for reform
2. Foster coalitions (wide and inclusive)
3. Reach out to citizens for input and support
4. Constructively engage with government
5. Use international best practices
6. Conduct effective advocacy campaigns
7. Widely use innovation and communication
technologies (ICTs)

3. Examples of Effective Coalitions
New Citizen http://newcitizen.org.ua/
A general horizontal platform for joint civil society advocacy initiatives
in Ukraine. Initiated and led by the Center-UA NGO (http://uacentre.org.ua/)
New Citizen brings together around 60 independent CSOs and important
figures, dozens of thousands of people via online and real-life venues, and
cooperates with media and businesses.
“New Citizen stimulated a massive mindset change in Ukraine; brought
new communication channels for its member NGOs (including new media
and innovative public outreach strategies); and revived motivation of
dozens of very different organizations and individuals to work together by
creating a new culture of activism, advocacy and philanthropy.”

5. Examples of Effective Coalitions
On January 13, 2011, after three years of relentless efforts of NGOs and
journalists (via New Citizen platform) and committed politicians, the
Parliament finally passed the law On Access to Public Information

6. Examples of Effective Coalitions
In March 2012, the fundamental Law “On Public Associations” was
adopted due to a multi-year advocacy campaign led by the Ukrainian
Center for Independent Political Research and the New Citizen coalition.

8. Civic Alliance “For the Integrity of Public Procurement “
Coordinated by TORO NGO, the Alliance unites over 40 members: journalists,
activists, think tanks and business http://www.toro.org.ua/en/tender/participants/
Due to Alliance effective advocacy efforts, the President included a range of
amendments proposed by NGOs to the Law #7532 on Public Procurement.

9. Ukrainian Philanthropists’ Forum http://ufb.org.ua/
Continuous advocacy campaign led by UCIPR (http://www.ucipr.org.ua/)
in cooperation with UPF and CSR-Center (http://csr-ukraine.org/)
resulted in the Law “On Charity and Charitable Organizations” 2013

10. National Legal Aid Coalition http://pravovakrayina.org.ua/
Consisting of 100 legal NGOs, student legal clinics, in collaboration with 29 pro bono
law firms and 700 government legal offices, the Coalition lobbied the Law on
Smoking Ban in Public Places and the Bill on Student Legal Clinics

11. Stop Censorship Movement http://stopcensorship.wordpress.com/
Unites 135 members

12. Silent Protest at the WAN-IFRA in Kyiv 2012

13. Defamation Law

14. Election Integrity
Civic Movement CHESNO:
• Several national-level and
over 50 regional branches of
different parties signed an
agreement with the
CHESNO Movement,
• Conducted a “civic audit” of
the 450 previous Members
of Parliament and 2,306
candidates for parliament
• The Movement has over 40
platforms in all regions of
Ukraine, which unite
representatives of over 300
civil society organizations.
14

15. 15

16. 16

17. Constructively engage with government
UCIPR with partners advocated the Cabinet of Ministers Decree On ensuring
participation of citizens in development and fulfillment of state policies of
November 3, 2010. It obliges the government at all levels to create Public
Councils and respond to their recommendations.
On January 25, 2012 the President issued the Decree #32/2012 on the
Coordination Council for Civil Society Development. Out of 44 members of the
Council, 16 are civil society reps. The Council has developed the Strategy for
Government Policy on Civil Society Development and the Action Plan.

18. Innovation and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
ElectUA http://electua.org/
Parliamentary Election Violations
“Kafa”, Informtavrika http://mne-nadoelo.com/
Bad services for local residents
UkrYama, http://ukryama.com/
Bad roads (with holes)
Alushta Live, http://alushtalive.com/
Important issues for local residents
Deriban.net http://www.deriban.net/
Misuse of land legislation
Vladometer http://vladometr.org/
How do politicians implement their promises?