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Hromadskyi Project

Initiative Category: SubmittedInitiative Tags: (Local) Development and Planning Agenda Setting of policy Consultation Decision-making on policy Dialogue Drafting of policy Implementation of policy Information Input/Incentive ideas for policy Monitoring of policy implementation Partnership Public Finances
Current status


Submitted

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After a contribution is submitted to BePART Forum, the initiative is marked as “Submitted”; as other partners involved in the initiative submit information from their side, the initiative is marked as “Under review” and goes through the validation process; twice a year, initiatives are validated by the BePART Working Group at the Council of Europe. Successful initiatives are marked as “Validated”. Do you want to learn more – click here

 

Contributor(s)

First contributor: Social Boost

 

Summary

Hromadskyi Project is all-in-one IT-solution for participatory budgeting automation. Being a huge trend in democracy, participatory budgeting helps to build a long-lasting dialogue between the officials and the citizens. It allows citizens to have their say on local budget spending. 

 

Administrative level

At local level, 105 cities in Ukraine are currently using the platform. 

 

Year of implementation

2017

 

Policy area(s)
  • (Local) Development and Planning
  • Public Finances

 

Further details

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Social Boost

Civil society organisation

Contact info

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Tipology of involvement in the initiative
  • Initiating (i.e., advocating for and starting the process)
  • Organising
  • Participating with a direct involvement

USAID

Civil society organisation

Contact info

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Tipology of involvement in the initiative
  • Funding

Ukrainian city councils

Public Authority

Contact info

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Tipology of involvement in the initiative
  • Participating with a direct involvement

Level of Participation
  • Information
  • Consultation
  • Dialogue
  • Partnership

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By level of participation we refer to the type of involvement in the decision-making process. The levels are identified by the intensity of participation: going from “information” to “consultation” to ” dialogue” to “partnership”. Do you want to learn more – click here

 

Developed practice(s)

/

 

Step(s) of the political decision-making process at which the practice was implemented
  • Inputs/Incentive ideas for policy
  • Agenda Setting of policy
  • Drafting of policy
  • Decision – making on policy
  • Implementation of policy
  • Monitoring of policy implementation

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There are six different steps of the political decision-making process: agenda setting, drafting of policy, decision-making, implementation of policy, monitoring and reformulation of policy. Each step offer opportunities for CSOs and public authorities to interact. Do you want to learn more – click here

 

How the initiative was implemented
Situation

The project was initially funded in by USAID in 2016. SocialBoost initiated a pilot of online participatory budgeting system to be developed and implemented in 15 Ukrainian cities. 

Activities performed
  • Development of a digital participatory system (pb.org.ua);
  • drafting of supporting policies;
  • City councils’ budget appointment with a participatory accountability approach.  
Tools and mechanisms applied

Online tool was developed by SocialBoost (pb.org.ua). 

Goals of the civil participation initiative
At community level

To allow citizens to initiate local projects, to submit them to the platform, to be voted by citizens , get funded and control the projects’ implementation. 

From Civil society organisation’s perspective

To develop the online platform, policy-drafting, to ensure fair and transparent submissions and voting process. 

From Public Authority’s Perspective

To allocate fraction of the budget, to review citizen submissions, to fund successful applicants. 

 

Results expected prior to the implementation

The results expected prior to the implementation in 2016:

  • around 100 applications were received;
  • 10 projects were funded;
  • UAH 10 million (EUR 0.3 million) of funds were allocated by local councils. 

 

Immediate results achieved after implementation

The immediate results achieved after the implementation in 2016:

  • 750 applications were received;
  • 75 projects were funded;
  • UAH 36.8 million (EUR 1.2 million) of funds were allocated by local councils;
  • 2 million votes from citizens.  

 

Long-term impact

The long term impact confirmed in 2021 were:

  •  3,221 projects were submitted across 105 communities/cities which used the system;
  • UAH 323 million (EUR 10.1 million) allocated for citizen initiatives;
  • 1 million users monthly, 1.6m voters (up to 10% of population in some cities). 
  • Hromadskyi Project was awarded by Barcelona Smart City Awards in 2019. SocialBoost presented WEF panel on Civic Tech in Davos.

 

Practice lessons learnt (obstacles and solutions)
Agency (i.e., political conditions/power structures) Obstacles Cities don’t see incentives of sharing budget spending with citizens 
Solutions Political incentives were found and clearly communicated to all mayors via Mayor’s Summit 
Legislative Obstacles No legislation for participatory budgeting 
Solutions Legislation for participatory budgeting was introduced 
Administrative Obstacles Participatory budgeting requires very high level of citizen participation in each city/community 
Solutions Motivate cities/communities to run local outreach campaign via local press/TV/outdoor and support via national campaign run by Social Boost in social networks 
Socio-cultural Obstacles Citizens are afraid to vote online and suspect fraud of vote count 
Solutions Supervisory board commission was established to control voting and tech aspects of the online platform 
Economic Obstacles Grant for the system expired in 1 year 
Solutions Self-sustainable model of annual membership paid by cities was introduced 
Human capital Obstacles Local city councils are slow and not tech-savvy 
Solutions Education program with TOT and other activities to boost the level of knowledge and system management on the local level 
Other Obstacles /
Solutions /

 

Further information

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Self-assessment

The self-assessment presents the opinion of the contributor about on what extent the following principles for Civil Participation have been reflected in the implementation of the initiative/practice/case-study, ranging from 1 (min) to 4 (max) (N/A: not applicable, do not know)

Openness 4
 Explanation /
Trust 4
  Explanation /
Independence 4
  Explanation /
Participation 4
  Explanation /
Transparency 4
  Explanation /
Accessibility 4
  Explanation /
Non-discrimination 4
  Explanation /
Inclusiveness 4
  Explanation /
Accountability 4
   Explanation /
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Agenda Setting of policy, Consultation, Decision-making on policy, Dialogue, Drafting of policy, Implementation of policy, Information, Input/Incentive ideas for policy, (Local) Development and Planning, Monitoring of policy implementation, Partnership and Public Finances