Reform Description

The Shakhtarske City Territorial Community will implement and sustain a Mobile Civic Space for Public Participation and Community Dialogue aimed at strengthening inclusive civic engagement, transparency, and access to information at the local level.

The initiative establishes a mobile, fully equipped community space that enables the municipality to conduct public consultations, civic dialogues, educational sessions, and participatory events in different locations of the community, including spaces for internally displaced persons (IDPs), youth, and vulnerable groups.

Through this project, the local government will institutionalize regular civic engagement practices by ensuring that citizens can actively participate in discussions on local development, recovery processes, and community priorities. The mobile civic space is equipped with digital tools that support hybrid and interactive formats, increasing accessibility and inclusiveness.

The action also strengthens digital governance by integrating modern communication tools and promoting digital literacy during community events. In addition, it improves access to information by facilitating public awareness sessions on topics relevant to citizens, including social protection mechanisms and international damage compensation systems.

The initiative is currently operational and continues beyond the initial grant-funded phase through the Youth Council of the Shakhtarske community, which organizes ongoing civic, educational, and participatory activities using the established infrastructure.

Overall, this reform transforms civic engagement from occasional consultations into a continuous, structured, and accessible process embedded in local governance practices.

Problem(s) Addressed by Reform

The action addresses several interconnected public challenges in the Shakhtarske City Territorial Community.

First, there is limited and uneven access to inclusive public participation opportunities, particularly for internally displaced persons (IDPs), youth, elderly people, and other vulnerable groups. Traditional formats of public engagement are often centralized and not easily accessible for all residents.

Second, there is a lack of flexible and mobile civic infrastructure that would allow the local government to bring public dialogue and services closer to different parts of the community. This reduces opportunities for continuous communication between citizens and local authorities.

Third, the community faces challenges related to civic engagement and trust in local decision-making processes. Residents are not always sufficiently informed or involved in discussions on local development, recovery, and social priorities.

Fourth, there is a need to improve access to public information and digital literacy, especially among adults and vulnerable groups, in order to ensure equal participation in modern governance processes.

Finally, in the context of war and recovery, there is an increased demand for safe, inclusive, and adaptable community spaces that support social cohesion, dialogue, and resilience.

The initiative directly responds to these challenges by creating a mobile civic space that enables regular, inclusive, and decentralized public participation across the community.

This action represents a significant step forward because it moves the Shakhtarske City Territorial Community from irregular and centralized forms of civic engagement to a structured, continuous, and mobile model of public participation.

By introducing a Mobile Civic Space, the local government directly removes key barriers to participation, such as geographical inaccessibility, lack of infrastructure, and limited opportunities for vulnerable groups to engage in decision-making processes. This allows public consultations, dialogue sessions, and informational events to be conducted in different locations across the community, including areas hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The initiative also strengthens trust in local governance by creating regular and visible opportunities for residents to interact with local authorities, express their views, and contribute to community development and recovery priorities. This shifts civic engagement from occasional consultations to an ongoing participatory process.

In addition, the integration of digital tools and equipment enhances accessibility and inclusiveness, enabling hybrid and interactive formats that improve communication and access to information. This is particularly important for groups with limited mobility or digital skills, as it ensures broader and more equal participation.

Finally, the initiative institutionalizes civic participation practices through the involvement of the Youth Council and other local stakeholders, ensuring sustainability beyond the initial project phase. As a result, it creates a long-term mechanism for inclusive governance, directly addressing the identified gaps in participation, access to information, and civic trust.

Relevance to OGP Values

This action is directly aligned with the core open government values of civic participation, transparency, and public accountability by creating a practical and continuous mechanism for citizen engagement in local governance.

First, the initiative significantly strengthens civic participation by enabling residents, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), youth, and other vulnerable groups, to actively engage in public discussions, consultations, and community events. The Mobile Civic Space removes geographic and institutional barriers, ensuring that participation is more inclusive, decentralized, and accessible.

Second, it enhances transparency by facilitating regular public information sessions and dialogue between local authorities and residents. Through these activities, community members gain better access to information on local development, recovery processes, and socially important topics, which increases openness in decision-making.

Third, the action contributes to public accountability by creating structured opportunities for citizens to interact directly with local government representatives, express feedback, and monitor community initiatives. This ongoing dialogue strengthens trust and encourages more responsive and responsible governance.

Finally, by institutionalizing participatory practices through the involvement of the Youth Council and local stakeholders, the initiative embeds open government principles into everyday municipal practice, ensuring that civic engagement becomes a sustained and integral part of local governance rather than a one-time activity.

Intended Results

By the end of the implementation period, the Shakhtarske City Territorial Community expects to have an established and fully functional system for mobile, inclusive, and continuous civic engagement that is integrated into local governance practices.
The Mobile Civic Space will be regularly used across different locations of the community, enabling systematic public consultations, dialogue sessions, and community events that are accessible to all residents, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), youth, veterans, and persons with disabilities.
As a result, the level of civic participation is expected to increase through more frequent and structured interaction between citizens and local authorities, leading to improved inclusiveness in decision-making processes and stronger community involvement in local development and recovery priorities.
The initiative will also enhance access to public information and digital engagement tools, contributing to greater transparency and improved civic awareness among residents.
In addition, local institutions, including the Youth Council and partner organizations, will be actively involved in sustaining the use of the civic space, ensuring its long-term operation beyond the project cycle.
Overall, the expected outcome is the institutionalization of a mobile, inclusive, and participatory governance model that strengthens trust between citizens and local authorities and serves as a scalable good practice for other communities.

Milestones

Within the implementation period, the action will be carried out through a sequence of key milestones designed to ensure the establishment, operationalization, and institutionalization of a mobile and inclusive civic participation system in the Shakhtarske City Territorial Community.

1. Establishment and setup of the Mobile Civic Space
Procurement and deployment of technical equipment and mobile furniture
Formation of the operational model for the mobile civic space
Assignment of responsible municipal units and partner organizations for implementation
2. Launch of civic engagement activities
Organization of pilot public events in different locations of the community
Conducting educational, informational, and participatory sessions for residents
Testing of mobile and hybrid formats for civic engagement, including outreach to IDPs and vulnerable groups
3. Institutionalization of public participation mechanisms
Integration of the mobile civic space into regular activities of the local government
Engagement of the Youth Council and community stakeholders in planning and delivery of events
Establishment of recurring formats for public consultations and community dialogues
4. Expansion of inclusiveness and accessibility
Adaptation of activities for vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, veterans, and IDPs
Strengthening of digital and informational accessibility through the use of technical equipment
Introduction of more flexible and decentralized participation formats
5. Sustainability and scaling
Embedding the initiative into community development and governance practices
Ensuring continued use of the civic space beyond the project cycle
Development of the model as a replicable practice for other communities

Is Civil Society Involved?

Yes, civil society organizations and community-based structures are actively involved in both the implementation and ongoing development of the action.

The project was implemented by the civil society organization “Space of Public Initiatives”, which played a key role in the design, logistical support, and operational setup of the Mobile Civic Space.

During implementation, civil society representatives contributed to organizing and facilitating public events, ensuring community outreach, and supporting the use of mobile equipment in different locations of the community.

In addition, the Youth Council of the Shakhtarske City Territorial Community serves as a permanent civic partner in the continuation of the initiative. It actively organizes events, engages residents, and helps define thematic priorities for community activities based on local needs.

Civil society actors, including local initiatives and community partners, also participate in identifying target groups, shaping event formats, and ensuring that activities remain inclusive and responsive to the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs), youth, and other vulnerable groups.

As a result, civil society is not only involved in implementation but also plays a continuous role in shaping the content and direction of civic engagement activities within the mobile civic space.