OSCE Project Co-ordinator and Ukraine’s National Reforms Council discuss co-operation on improving reform efforts

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Vaidotas Verba and Dmytro Shymkiv, Deputy Head of Ukraine President’s Administration of President of Ukraine, who is also Secretary of the National Reforms Council (NRC), met on 27 September 2016 in Kyiv to discuss continuing support to the country’s reform agenda. National Reforms Council is a consultative body created under the President of Ukraine to plan, promote and track implementation of reforms.

Verba and Shymkiv reviewed two-year experience of co-operation within a series of dialogue projects, support provided to the NRC’s Project Office, an entity created to ensure use of project management approach in reform transformations. 

Shymkiv highlighted importance of several recent improvements introduced into the Council’s workflow with support of the OSCE such as digital workflow enabling smooth preparation and conduct of its meetings.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator provided 60 tablet PCs and helped to build the necessary software to provide instant access to the documentation needed for a swift and efficient decision-making in a  more efficient and cost-effective way. Previously, preparation of two meetings of the Council involved printing of over 30,000 pages of presentations, reference materials and leaflets.

”At this point, implementation rate for decisions of the National Reforms Council stands at 74%. We hope that digitalisation of decision-making and tracking will help us reach 90%,”said Shymkiv.   

Verba highlighted the need to further expand various initiatives aimed at ensuring that the public are aware of the essence of reforms and are engaged in the dialogue on their planning and implementation. “Success of transformations heavily depends on whether people know, understand and support the process, that is why we are glad to contribute to strengthening the ability of reformers to bring their agenda for discussion with a wider public,” said Verba.