OSCE organizes roundtable on municipal governance in Ukraine

Data driven decision-making in municipal governance and key indicators for sustainable urban development in Ukraine were among the main topics of a two-day expert roundtable discussion organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in co-operation with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine in Kyiv on 16 and 17 December 2021.

Over 25 experts and municipal officials from different regions of Ukraine took part in the event.  Participants discussed a wide range of issues related to digitalization of municipal services and implementation of national standards of Ukraine and ISO standards in municipal governance as well as efficient management of municipal revenues and expenses.

Participants also discussed the use of gender-specific indicators and collection of gender-disaggregated data. The use of gender-disaggregated data will help to promote and provide significant support to gender-mainstreaming efforts in municipal governance and allow a targeted approach in addressing gender gaps. 

Henrik Villadsen, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, said: “I am pleased to acknowledge that our Ukrainian partners share our vision and values and are ready to commit themselves fully in bringing international standards in municipal governance in line with the European Charter of Local Self-Government.”

Lorenzo Rilasciati, Acting Deputy Co-ordinator of the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities said: “High standards of public ethics, transparency in public administration, and integrity of civil servants are the basis for good governance. Particularly at the local level, it is essential that municipalities are administered fairly, openly, and in the interest of the entire community.”

The event was a part of the extra-budgetary project “Digital standardization of good municipal governance services in Ukraine” funded by the United States and Germany.