Public consultations are needed to identify stakeholders' positions and adopt well-balanced decisions. Stakeholders include groups affected by state policies. Holding public consultations has several consequences, including placing issues on the agenda, taking stakeholders' interests into account, building understanding and confidence in authorities. Consultations should be held throughout the public policy cycle, from identifying problems to evaluating solutions. This ensures stakeholders' problems are addressed and the best options are chosen.

1. WHY ARE PUBLIC
CONSULTATIONS NEEDED?
Public consultations – are consultations of policy makers from state executive bodies and local self-government bodies with
the stakeholders to identify the stakeholders’ positions for adopting a well-balanced decision.
WHO ARE THE STAKEHOLDERS?
groups of persons whose interests are directly influenced by state policies
strengthening
the institution
of representation
STATE EXECUTIVE BODIES
AND LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES
STAKEHOLDERS
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF HOLDING PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS?
1
placing topical
issues on the agenda
2
taking into account
stakeholders’ interests
when developing
state policies
3
understanding
the expediency
of and confidence
in public authorities
4
approval of state policies
capable of resolving
problems
5
USAID RADA PROGRAM: RESPONSIBLE ACCOUNTABLE DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY

2. WHEN SHOULD PUBLIC
CONSULTATIONS BE HELD?
PUBLIC
POLICY
CYCLE
USAID RADA PROGRAM: RESPONSIBLE ACCOUNTABLE DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY
DECISION ON FOLLOW-UP
 Consultations with the stakeholders:
› on the impact of the approved decision
› on determining a follow-up plan
IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM
 Public consultations enable
identification of stakeholders’
problems
FORMING THE AGENDA
 Approving a decision
on the necessity to resolve
the problem
EVALUATION
 Was the problem resolved?
DEVELOPING A POLICY
 Working out possible options for
addressing the problem
 Consultations with the
stakeholders on the best way
to resolve the problem
IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING POLICIES
 Developing normative legal
instruments for addressing
the problem
CHOOSING A POLICY
 Choosing an option to address
the problem

3. WHEN SHOULD PUBLIC
CONSULTATIONS BE HELD?
USAID RADA PROGRAM: RESPONSIBLE ACCOUNTABLE DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLY
PROBLEM
 Holding consultations with the stakeholders on
existence of a problem, its acuteness and relevance
 Identifying the stakeholders’ concerns
 Writing a Green Paper aimed at initiating public
discussion and starting the process of
consultations
AGENDA
 Prioritizing the problems.
Identifying the most
important/urgent problems
to be addressed
PLANNING OF POLICY
 An action plan for
follow-up activities:
› budget;
› provision of information, etc.
IMPLEMENTATION
DECISIONONFOLLOW-UP
EVALUATION
 Was the problem resolved?
 The law effectiveness indicators must be in line
with the aims and evaluation criteria specified in
the White Paper
DEVELOPING A POLICY
 The policy-maker holds public consultations at
which stakeholders propose ways to address
problems
CHOOSING A POLICY
 The policy-maker chooses the best option for
addressing the problem
 A decision is taken on the need to adopt
amendments to legislation as a tool for resolving
the problem
 Designing a draft law
 Writing a White Paper which includes:
› identification and analysis of the problem
to be addressed by the law;
› alternative options for addressing it;
› rationale for the expediency of the chosen option;
› risks associated with adopting the draft law;
› indicators of law effectiveness for its possible
evaluation at the policy review stage.