Develop and implement Quality and Good Governance Standards for Civil Society Institutions of Vinnytsia City Territorial Community (hereinafter - Standards) (UAVNT0002)

Commitment ID

UAVNT0002

Commitment Title

Develop and implement Quality and Good Governance Standards for Civil Society Institutions of Vinnytsia City Territorial Community (hereinafter - Standards)

Problem

In order to establish cooperation and partnership with local governments according to the transparency principles and to create equal conditions for all CSOs - both permanent and newly created, transparency, accountability and openness of CSO activities are needed. One of the important elements of establishing a quality dialogue between partners is effective communication - the ability to listen and hear, to exchange information, and disseminate jointly agreed key messages. After all, high-quality cooperation is greatly hindered by stereotypes, especially between the community-government sectors. However, the media is often biased towards NGOs - they are not considered professionals, their activities are considered frivolous or unnecessary. This stereotype exists in part due to the functioning of unscrupulous, irresponsible, "pocket", politically engaged public activists and organizations in the market, which automatically casts a shadow over other CSOs. That is why it is important for civil society institutions to convey information about themselves, their values and goals at the stage of working out agreements. Proper governance of CSOs is first and foremost the sustainability and success of the organization. Insufficient institutional capacity of many CSOs is due to a lack of financial transparency, strategic and operational planning that hinder productive cooperation with local authorities on the basis of openness and transparency.

Status quo

Proper governance and adherence to established quality standards for CSOs is an ongoing practice in European countries. These requirements relate to the need to create equal conditions for all CSOs, and to establish cooperation and partnerships with local governments based on the principles of transparency and good governance. According to the Unified State Register of Enterprises and Organizations of Ukraine, as of January 1, 2021, 1,541 NGOs and 295 charitable organizations were registered in Vinnytsia. There are far fewer active organizations and initiatives, but their exact number is unknown. The unified current database with contacts of organizations operating in Vinnytsia is absent. According to a study of the interaction between CSOs and the local authorities conducted in November-December 2020 by CEDOS Think Tank, VinnytsiaCSOs strengths are a sufficient level of competence and professionalism, activity and focus, openness, innovation and creativity. Organizations have real examples of positive changes in the city through cooperation and interaction. Despite the positive developments in CSOs, there are barriers and challenges to their sustainable development, namely: insufficient institutional capacity of many organizations; a lack of systematic activities among CSOs, the need to increase the level of expertise and professionalism among start-up institutions. According to the study, one of the recommendations is to promote transparency and accountability to CSOs.

Action

As a result of fulfilling the commitment, in response to the requirement to build trust and strengthen legitimacy, a model of Standards of Quality and Good Governance of Civil Society Institutions of Vinnytsia City Territorial Community on Quality and Good Governance and an Institutional Development Tool will be proposed.

1) a Code of Ethics;

2) building a system of good governance;

3) the development of communication and information system.

These Standards are based on the conviction that every CSO, which functions in terms of quality, should be guided by certain values and principles, in addition to those to which it is endowed. These principles are based on the values shared by organizations that are interested in building trust, improving the quality of their activities and civil society institutions of Vinnytsia City Territorial Community. The principles provide for the involvement in the development of the Standards of the Public Union "Network of Civil Society Organizations" “City of Contents" (47 NGOs) and other active CSOs operating in Vinnytsia City Territorial Community. The whole process of fulfilling the commitment will be accompanied by consultations with the coordinators and mentors of the Open Government Partnership - Local Program.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?

Implementation of Quality Standards and Good Governance of Civil Society Institutions of Vinnytsia City Territorial Community will promote public consensus on standards of NGOs functioning, establish parity between public expectations and the level of CSO work, and increase the level of trust in civil society in general and institutional capacity of CSOs, and develop cooperation with local governments. The adoption of CSO Standards will also help build and protect the trust and integrity of CSOs, promote CSO adherence to generally accepted ethical principles and standards of work. It is also to strengthen the capacity of CSOs to establish dialogue and relations with local authorities as legitimate actors in a democratic society, and ensure financial stability taking into consideration the limited access to donor (internal and external) funds.

What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?

The development and implementation of Standards fully complies with the main strategic document of Vinnytsia City Territorial Community - Strategy 3.0. The commitment of the Action Plan will be guided by the strengthening of public participation. The principles of Strategy 3.0 include “Involvement and cooperation – the public is maximally involved in the development of key decisions and their implementation, in particular with the widespread use of various forms of participatory democracy. Active participation of community residents, cooperation of various stakeholders to achieve common goals of the city development contributes to the integration and establishment of Vinnytsia as a strong community.” Also, the development of open government is part of the strategic vision of the Strategy of Partnership Between Civil Society Institutions and Vinnytsia City Council: “CSOs are organizationally capable and institutionally developed, they are professional and expert in their fields of activity. CSOs are reliable partners of VCC in the development and solution of the needs of community and its inhabitants. City Council provides CSOs with financial, resource and information support for the implementation of their activities. CSOs and VCC interact systematically by engaging CSOs in the development and implementation of local policies, through transparent interaction mechanisms. Interaction is based on equality, transparency, voluntary participation and mutual responsibility.”

Primary Policy Area

Inclusion, Right to Information, Social Accountability

Primary Sector

Citizenship & Immigration

What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?