NGO "Mariupol development fund"

Mariupol is a developed industrial center of Donetsk region with a half a million population on the shore of the Azov Sea. Because of the military conflict in the East of Ukraine, more than 100 thousand people arrived to the city. Due to the active support of internally displaced people by the host community Mariupol gained the status of "Cities of Solidarity" from the United Nations. Mariupol citizens and authorities of Donetsk region clearly recognize and are in line with the EU Association Agreement implementation, and the decentralization in Ukraine is integral to this process. It is effective via enhancing civil society's role in promoting rule of law, democratic reforms and increasing public accountability. In the meantime, the conflict in the East of Ukraine has exhausted resources of Donetsk region hromada; therefore, we need the support of the reforming processes. The involvement of civil society actors (NGOs, active youth, other stakeholders) and Mariupol City Council (including deputies of the City Council), which are partners of NGO Mariupol Development Fund via signed Memorandum of Cooperation. Currently, more than 200 organizations (representatives of big business, two huge iron and steel works, in particular, as well as representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, non-governmental organizations, civil society activists and media) are partners of NGO Mariupol Development Fund. All of them directly or indirectly are involved in the implementation of specific components of this project. The monitoring of public services provided is an integral activity of the project through a social survey, work in focus groups, involving the media. This activity facilitates the creation of a database of hromada`s (including IDPs) contemporary needs in public services. The involvement of hromada will enhance to develop the feedback mechanism and the assessment of the public services` provision quality. We also intend to provide a series of training programs for the heads of departments of the local government aimed at involving hromada in public administration processes, as well as providing a platform for such interaction. In order to ensure accountability and transparency in the governance we provide training programs to reinforce skills on effective planning, principles of public procurement, preparation and presentation to the public consideration reviews concerning the activities of local authorities. For the purpose to exercise the innovative practices of public administration we visited local governments of other cities in Ukraine, in particular, L’viv and Vinnitsa, which are in few steps forward on the efficiency of municipal activities.