State institutions' active engagement with civil society contributes to effective and open governance. Moreover, such cooperation contributes to the development of policies that meet society's real needs.
All over the world, including in Ukraine, parliamentary committees, as key actors in the legislative process, play an essential role in holding discussions with the public. Committees engage in various forms of interaction with society and facilitate the creation of platforms for citizen participation in the legislative process. At the same time, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play a significant role in providing analytical support to the Parliament. Of course, the involvement of NGOs is not limited to participation in the discussion of draft laws. Still, it covers various activities, from organising events and events for committees to providing expert opinions and training. Interaction between state institutions and civil society is an organic part of democratic governance.
The ALI study details this aspect of public-private interaction and the cooperation process between the Verkhovna Rada committees and NGOs.
The study answers the following questions:
- How is cooperation between non-governmental organisations and parliamentary committees organised in Ukraine?
- How can cooperation between parliamentary committees and non-governmental organisations ensure openness and inclusiveness?
- How can new non-governmental organisations initiate cooperation with the committees of the Verkhovna Rada?
Methodology
- An analysis of international experience in cooperation between parliamentary committees and non-governmental organisations;
- An empirical section on cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada committees and non-governmental organisations: a survey and in-depth interviews with representatives of the Verkhovna Rada committee secretariats and non-governmental organisations engaged in cooperation with these committees.
Read more about cooperation between the parliament and the civil society — in our study.
The study was conducted within the framework of the project “Parliamentary Accountability of the Security Sector in Ukraine” (PASS Ukraine), which the Agency implements together with the Parliamentary Centre, in cooperation with The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and with the support of Canada’s Foreign Policy—Global Affairs Canada as part of the Peacebuilding Program and stability (PSOPs).
