In December, more than 400 representatives of Ukrainian communities came to Kyiv for the annual Municipal Forum organised by the Association of Ukrainian Cities with the support of the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative, EU4Reconstruction Stream 2 and the Council of Europe. The event becomes a traditional platform where representatives of state authorities, MPs, experts and international partners share their experiences, discuss challenges and propose solutions.
Dmytro Iakymchuk, the EUACI Head of the Integrity Reconstruction and Integrity Cities components, presented the programme’s experience of cooperation with seven partner cities. Within the Integrity Cities Component, the EUACI implements practical tools for transparency and accountability: from updating local policies to digital solutions.
“Our partnerships with cities are long-term and systematic. They are aimed not only at introducing anti-corruption tools, but also at strengthening the institutional capacity of city councils, developing modern digital services and improving management processes. We assist communities in building transparent, effective and sustainable systems that work in the interests of citizens and remain reliable even in times of the greatest challenges,” emphasised Dmytro Iakymchuk.
The main areas of the corporations with cities are:
- Geographic information systems in Chernivtsi, Mykolaiv, Zhytomyr, and Nikopol. They help cities keep track of green spaces, maintain cultural heritage sites, and damaged or rebuilt sites.
- Assessment of the institutional capacity of the municipal enterprises. Due to this, the EUACI experts identify the strengths and weaknesses of the municipal enterprises, propose measures to minimise risks and improve management efficiency.
- E-reception – an IT tool for interaction between citizens and local authorities. The EUACI, in collaboration with Zhytomyr, Chervonohrad, Nikopol, and Chernivtsi, has transformed the city council receptions into digital ones. The system allows city residents to submit requests for information, engage in dialogue with city authorities, receive information, or report corruption.
- Internal audit, which consists of effective and independent self-analysis. The EUACI strengthens the capacity of local staff to audit enterprises and executive bodies.
- Updating procurement processes and policies in the areas of reconstruction, construction and related projects. Unifies and transparent market rules are the foundation for the effective use of budget funds.
- Implementation of the Municipal Integrity Plan – a strategic document that defines policies and areas of work to prevent corruption and implement standards of transparency and accountability in the community.
Find out more about best practices implemented in Integrity Cities, following the link to the joint project with the Association of Ukrainian Cities: https://www.integrity.auc.org.ua/home/dosvid-vprovadzhennia/
