OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine helps introduce e-governance in the Dnipropetrovsk region

DNIPROPETROVSK, Ukraine, 21 December 2009 - The results of a project to introduce e-governance for local government were presented by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU) in the eastern city of Dnipropetrovsk today. 

The project, implemented by the PCU in co-operation with the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council and the East Europe Foundation, aimed to create a common regional information network that would ensure better communication between citizens and the local authorities.

"E-services expand the range and the quality of services that authorities provide to citizens. The introduction of new information technologies on the local level can thus help Ukraine to achieve its good governance objectives. In turn, good governance practices are important for achieving tangible progress in the socio-economic development of the country," said Yaroslav Yurtsaba, National Project Manager of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

During the course of the project, 334 village councils were connected to the Internet, interactive web-sites in 22 districts were created and civil servants were trained to provide e-services. As a result, more than 800,000 village residents are now able to use e-services and communicate with local authorities faster and more efficiently.

"Thanks to the project, local authorities in the Dnipropetrovsk region have acquired a state-of-the-art, powerful tool to serve the people more effectively," said YuriyVilkul, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional council.

Dnipropetrovsk was the first region in Ukraine to introduce digital signature technology.