Open Government for Ukraine's Democratic Resilience & Reconstruction

International IDEA facilitated the discussion on the role of the open government for Ukraine's democratic resilience and reconstruction in the framework of the 8th Open Government Partnership Global Summit, which took place on September 6-7, 2023 in Tallinn, Estonia. The session titled "Role of Open Government for Ukraine's Democratic Resilience and Reconstruction" was co-hosted by International IDEA and the Institute for Analytics and Advocacy.

Despite the fact that Russia's war against Ukraine continues, the international community and Ukrainians are actively preparing reconstruction measures. Trust amongst all parties is essential for a successful and effective recovery. To achieve this level of trust, the reconstruction process must be carried out in an open, transparent, and accountable manner, free of corruption, and with continuous coordination among all parties. Furthermore, Russia's war against Ukraine is a fight for more than just territory; it is a war against democratic principles that Ukrainian society holds dear. For more than a year, Ukrainians have shown courage and dedication to democratic values, prepared to sacrifice their lives for them.

International IDEA Programme Officer Eastern Europe Yuliya Shypilova moderated the discussion between the State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleksandr Yarema, Head of Ukraine support of Open Contracting Partnership and Head of DREAM Project Office Viktor Nestulia, Deputy Mayor of Kyiv City State Administration Maryna Khonda and CEO of Institute of Analytics and Advocacy, member of RISE coalition Yurii Romashko. 

The panel discussion focused on how democratic principles and open governance practices helped to unite Ukrainian society in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression, as well as the planning and implementation of Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction, which will rely heavily on both domestic and international support. Furthermore, the discussion centered on the actual transparency and anticorruption tools and systems being built to enhance accountability, civic participation, and oversight. Panelists explored what is crucial at this stage and how various stakeholders may participate, with an emphasis on the EU approximation recommendations.

The panelists debated what role open government will play in Ukraine's democratic resilience and reconstruction, what the government's priorities are for ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of international aid for Ukraine's reconstruction, and how the government intends to collaborate with civil society in this process. The Digital Restoration EcoSystem for Accountable Management (DREAM) received particular attention as a state digital ecosystem that provides a single digital pipeline for all reconstruction projects, a tool that will be used to assist communities in recovery planning and project implementation based on the principle "everyone sees everything" to attract reconstruction investments. Panelists presented best practices in crisis communication, which proved vital for meeting people's needs during times of war and emphasized the critical role of Ukraine's unique and vibrant civil society in guaranteeing the integrity, sustainability, and efficiency of the country's reconstruction.

At the conclusion of the session, Open Government Partnership CEO Sanjay Pradhan presented Ukraine with a special award for a decade of achievements in open government partnership that serve as a role model for other countries in the region and globally, inspiring further reforms and building open government partnership.