Ukrainian Independent Center for Political Research (UCIPR) and Association for Promoting Citizen Self-Organization served as core initiators, fostering implementation of a project entitled "Support for Implementation the New Law "On public associations" and Advocacy Work for Wider and More Effective Dialogue Between Government and the Civil Society". The project is supported by UNDP Ukraine.

The new Law "On Public Associations" is called to simplify registration of new and re-registration of existing CSOs, to resolve the dilemmas existing with non-for-profit and business activities of public associations. Yet, a lot of questions arose as the new Law came to be implemented. In part, these issues deal with regional units of the Ministry of Justice and registration offices.

Head of UCIPR Civil Society Development Programme, Mr. Maksym Latsyba expressed hope that implementation of this project would give opportunity to authorities, as well as CSOs, to objectively evaluate conditions of civil society development in Ukraine and to improve them through amendments to legislation. The regional aspect, in its turn, could be strengthened through adoption and proper implementation of Regional Target Programmes for assistance to civil society development and provision of favorable conditions for creating and functioning of CSOs.

A method for monitoring the practical implementation of the Law "On Public Associations" in regions of Ukraine, which will be conducted within the project, was also presented. Civic experts will assess services rendered by the authorities regarding NGO registration, and will shape relevant recommendations. Additionally, awareness campaigns will be conducted among local civil activists regarding implementation of the Law's innovative approaches and mechanisms of its functioning.

Another policy of concern is the implementation of Regional Target Programmes for fostering civil society development. Despite provisions of the Presidential Strategy for Fostering Civil Society Development, which appeared in March last year, four regions (Donetsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil and Cherkasy) are still lacking such Programmes. In many other regions adopted Programmes are conducted in improper way.

UCIPR expert Anastasiya Krasnopilska noted, that a large number activities envisaged by Programmes were not conducted and were not provided required financial backing. Thus, in 2013 financing is provided only for 15 Programmes. Also, in regions which demonstrate the biggest amounts of funding for such Programmes, up to 70% of funds is meant for activities, which are not directly connected to civil society development. The participants of Network agreed on a plan of civic monitoring regarding implementation of Regional Target Programmes for fostering civil society development.

Round tables in regional centers are planned under the auspices of the project in order to discuss ways to overcome obstacles and to plan actions regarding civic lobbying. These efforts aim at nudging the Oblast State Administrations to develop the relevant Programmes and for the Oblast Councils to adopt the Programmes that are in the interest of the civil society and the society as a whole.

Head of the Association for Promoting Citizen Self-Organization, Mr. Andriy Krupnyk, introduced the activists to the proposed communications and advocacy plan, which are called to further the proposals that will be created based on assessment results and then submitted for consideration of relevant authorities.