Global issues are often first solved at the local level. Having realized their community’s context and specific features, people may find efficient solutions via active participation.

 According to the E-Government Development Index, Ukraine ranks first in the “E-participation” category. Its results show the citizens’ willingness to engage in government processes via online platforms. The direct participation of East Europe Foundation allowed the elements of e-democracy to be implemented in over half a thousand communities.

Vira Nedzvedska, Vice President for Strategic Partnerships, spoke on the said experience and our “best practice” within the framework of the 10th European Congress of Local Governments held in Poland Vira joined the “Are Local Communities Prepared for the Digital Future?” panel.

“Digitalization makes services more accessible, attracts investors, and increases residents’ trust in authorities. Communities that actively implement digital technologies get more development opportunities,” Vira noted.

Vira told the expert community about the initiatives developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation within the framework of the Swiss-Ukrainian EGAP Program: “Digital Transformation Index of Ukrainian Communities”, the Diia.Digital Community portal, the E-DEM e-democracy platform, and SVOI tools. She also told about projects on CivicTech solutions and the CDTO Campus initiative aimed at training experts in digital transformation.

“Such initiatives allow Ukraine to become a state, which citizens actively participate in their communities development and have leverage on decisions.” These are successive steps towards transparent, innovative governance,“ Vira concluded.

More than 2,000 people joined the Congress – leaders of local governments, businesses, media, authorities, and NGOs from different countries. The event featured a wide range of discussions, seminars, lectures, and networking sessions across the following 15 areas: politics and security, economics and finance, regional infrastructure, green energy, international cooperation, and more.