Inception Report – Action plan – Orzhytsia, Ukraine, 2025 – 2026

1 CommitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action... :

Youth Development

1.1 Is the commitment verifiable?

Yes

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The commitment contains clearly defined and verifiable actions aimed at strengthening youth participation in local governance. These include the establishment of a Youth Council at the Orzhytsia Settlement Council, development of policies to support talented youth, organization of a youth festival, and the creation of digital tools (website sections and social media platforms) to support ongoing engagement. Each activity has defined responsibilities, deadlines, and measurable outputs such as approved regulations, the number of events held, or youth engagement indicators, allowing for effective monitoring of implementation.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Action Plan Orzhytsia and Zviahel

1.2 Does the commitment language/activities clearly justify relevanceAccording to the OGP Articles of Governance, OGP commitments should include a clear open government lens. Specifically, they should advance at least one of the OGP values: transparency, citizen partic... to OGP values?

Yes

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The commitment directly advances OGP values by enhancing participatory governance and accountability in youth-related decision-making. It institutionalizes youth engagement through the creation of a Youth Council and supports proactive participation in policy development and local initiatives. By introducing mechanisms such as youth festivals and digital platforms for communication and transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More, the commitment strengthens young people’s ability to influence decisions that affect them and promotes a culture of open dialogue between youth and local authorities.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Action Plan Orzhytsia and Zviahel

1.3 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:

a new regulationGovernment reformers are developing regulations that enshrine values of transparency, participation, and accountability in government practices. Technical specifications: Act of creating or reforming ..., policy, practice or requirement.

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

This commitment introduces new institutional mechanisms and participatory practices to engage youth in local governance formally. The establishment of the Youth Council at the Orzhytsia Settlement Council, the development of support policies for talented youth, and the implementation of new public events and digital engagement tools represent a structural shift in how youth interact with government. These measures did not previously exist in the community and therefore constitute a new policy and institutional arrangement aligned with OGP principles.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Action Plan Orzhytsia and Zviahel

1.4 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:

will result in a change of the rules, practices or policies that govern a policy area, public sector and/or relationship between citizens and is binding or institutionalized across government or specific institution(s).

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The commitment introduces a binding and institutionalized approach to youth participation in local governance. By establishing a Youth Council with formally approved regulations and measurable responsibilities, integrating youth into policy development, and creating digital tools for regular engagement, the local government commits to sustained, structural changes. These actions are intended to become a permanent part of how the institution engages with young citizens, going beyond ad hoc or one-time activities.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Action Plan Orzhytsia and Zviahel

1.5 Are there any recommended changes to the design of the commitment to help improve its implementation?

To improve the implementation of the Youth Development commitment, it is recommended to ensure that the Youth Council is not only formally created but also provided with clear regulations, an annual action plan. The Council’s composition should reflect diversity, including rural youth, young women, and representatives of different social backgrounds to ensure inclusivity.

Capacity-building sessions and mentorship should be offered to youth members to strengthen their leadership and policy input skills. One foreseeable challenge is the risk of low long-term engagement by young people if the Council’s influence on decision-making is not clearly visible or if its work is seen as symbolic rather than impactful.

2 Commitment :

Developing a Veteran`s Policy

2.1 Is the commitment verifiable?

Yes

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The commitment outlines clearly identifiable and measurable activities, such as the organization of regular consultations with veterans and their families, the creation of Veteran Spaces in the community, and the development of tailored support measures. Deliverables include documented consultation events, physical spaces established for veterans, and strategies or tools adopted to address veterans’ needs. Each activity has responsible parties, timelines, and intended outcomes that can be tracked and reported on.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Action Plan Orzhytsia and Zviahel

2.2 Does the commitment language/activities clearly justify relevance to OGP values?

Yes

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The commitment directly supports OGP values of inclusionOGP participating governments are working to create governments that truly serve all people. Commitments in this area may address persons with disabilities, women and girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, tr... More, participation, and accountability by ensuring that veterans and their families are actively involved in shaping the local policies that affect them. Through regular consultations and the development of dedicated spaces, the initiative fosters transparency in service delivery and creates mechanisms for meaningful engagement with a previously underrepresented group in public decision-making.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Action Plan Orzhytsia and Zviahel

2.3 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:

a new regulation, policy, practice or requirement.

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The commitment introduces new forms of collaboration between local government and the veteran community. It institutionalizes regular consultations, proposes the establishment of dedicated Veteran Spaces, and creates tools to monitor veterans’ needs and responses. These are new governance practices within the Orzhytsia context and represent a policy and institutional innovation.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Action Plan Orzhytsia and Zviahel

2.4 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:

will result in a change of the rules, practices or policies that govern a policy area, public sector and/or relationship between citizens and is binding or institutionalized across government or specific institution(s).

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

This commitment introduces long-term improvements in how the local government works with veterans. Instead of providing only occasional or informal support, it establishes a structured system for participation, service delivery, and feedback, making the relationship with the veteran community more consistent and sustainable.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Action Plan Orzhytsia and Zviahel

2.5 Are there any recommended changes to the design of the commitment to help improve its implementation?

To improve the implementation of the Veteran’s Policy commitment, it is recommended to adopt a more integrated and holistic approach that links veteran support to broader social services, including mental health, educationAccountability within the public education system is key to improving outcomes and attainment, and accountability is nearly impossible without transparent policies and opportunities for participation ..., housing, and employment. A formal coordination mechanism involving veteran representatives, local authorities, and health and social workers could ensure that services are tailored and delivered effectively.

It is also advisable to map the needs of different categories of veterans and their families and use that data to shape targeted interventions. Another foreseeable challenge is the potential fragmentation of veteran services due to limited coordination between local and national institutions. Since many veteran-related programs (such as healthcare, rehabilitation, and employment) are overseen at the national level, the lack of integration may lead to inefficiencies, duplication of efforts, or gaps in support. Ensuring alignment with national policies and securing intergovernmental cooperation will be essential for successful local implementation.

3 Commitment :

Implementing the School Public Budget

3.1 Is the commitment verifiable?

Yes

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The commitment includes a detailed sequence of verifiable actions with measurable outputs. These include the creation of a working group, development and adoption of local School Public Budget (SPB) regulations, teacher and student training, a public information campaign, pilot implementation in schools, use of electronic voting, and public presentation of results. Each activity is time-bound, has responsible implementers, and delivers clear, trackable outcomes—such as the number of students engaged or projects implemented.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Action Plan Orzhytsia and Zviahel

3.2 Does the commitment language/activities clearly justify relevance to OGP values?

Yes

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The commitment promotes the core OGP values of transparency, accountability, and public participationGiving citizens opportunities to provide input into government decision-making leads to more effective governance, improved public service delivery, and more equitable outcomes. Technical specificatio.... It introduces a digital participatory budgeting process in schools, enabling students to propose and vote on school-level projects. This empowers youth to directly influence the use of public resources and encourages an early understanding of democratic governance and civic responsibility.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Action Plan Orzhytsia and Zviahel

3.3 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:

a new regulation, policy, practice or requirement.

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The School Public Budget is a new initiative in Orzhytsia, inspired by Zviahel’s experience. It includes the creation of a new local regulation, participatory procedures within schools, and formal mechanisms to involve students, teachers, and school administrators in the decision-making process for budget allocation. This constitutes a new policy and participatory practice in the education sector.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Action Plan Orzhytsia and Zviahel

3.4 Please select one option that best describes the commitment:

will result in a change of the rules, practices or policies that govern a policy area, public sector and/or relationship between citizens and is binding or institutionalized across government or specific institution(s).

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The commitment introduces a formal participatory budgeting process at the school level, to be coordinated by local government and school administrations. Once implemented and regulated, the SPB becomes a regular component of how school communities allocate resources, encouraging transparency and long-term civic engagement in education governance.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Action Plan Orzhytsia and Zviahel

3.5 Are there any recommended changes to the design of the commitment to help improve its implementation?

To improve implementation, it is recommended to strengthen the pedagogical and technical support for schools participating in the pilot. Teachers and school administrators should receive training not only on procedures but also on the values of participation, transparency, and civic responsibility. The electronic voting system should be user-friendly and accessible to students with disabilities or limited digital skills.

A detailed communication plan is needed to engage parents and school staff and explain the purpose and benefits of the initiative. A potential challenge may be a lack of motivation among students if their ideas are not implemented transparently or meaningfully. Ensuring that student-selected projects are actually funded and executed will be critical to sustaining trust and participation.