“Decentralization opens up new opportunities to innovate public services” - Osnat Lubrani

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15.01.2019

On 5 December 2018 over 500 representatives of ACs learned of efficient ways of cooperating with civil society and engaging people into decision-making at the Third Forum of Amalgamated Communities.

“Decentralization opens up new opportunities to innovate in public services. So, empower youth and citizens to engage into policy-making, leaving no one behind: that’s my advice to local self-governments in Ukraine”, encourages Osnat Lubrani, the UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, to 500 representatives from all the regions of Ukraine at the Third Forum of Amalgamated Communities.

Only 16% of women are currently heads of the amalgamated communities, 19,3% have been elected as village councils mayors, and just 9,6% are majors of oblast councils. 

“New quality of the healthcare services, infrastructure and education must be a top priority for local self-governments. And heads of the amalgamated communities together with city and village councils mayors are responsible for creating new level of the service provision for citizens”, - stresses Hennadiy Zubko, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of the Minister of Regional Development.

While 743 amalgamated communities have been formed as of now, Government plans to create 1285 more till 2020. With roll-out of the decentralization reforms, within last year, local budgets have increased by 22.5%