City Democracy Index. 2018
Year of publication: 2018
Type: Analytical Report
Topic: local democracy

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City Democracy Index. 2018

Report prepared by:

Ivanna Fedynchuk, Mykola Yatskov, Taras Sluchyk, Maksym Latsyba, Maksym Lukiniuk

About publication

This report presents the results of the "City Democracy Index - 2018" study, conducted within the framework of the USAID "Citizens in Action" project. The document analyzes the quality of the regulatory framework for local democracy, in particular, procedures for engaging citizens in governance, transparency, and the accountability of local self-government bodies. The study encompasses an analysis of 12 key instruments, including community charters, council regulations, and other local normative acts of 24 major cities in the country.

Who will benefit?

  • Local authorities
  • Activists
  • Journalists

Key findings:

The overall quality of legal regulation regarding local democracy procedures in regional centers increased by 17% compared to 2016, reaching 55%. The rating leaders were Chernivtsi (90%), Kyiv (76%), and Khmelnytskyi (75%), while the lowest indicators were recorded in Zhytomyr (29%) and Kharkiv (38%). Digital tools - electronic petitions (94%) and participatory budgets (85%) proved to be the best regulated, while the regulations of executive committees and general assembly procedures remain the most problematic, often containing artificial barriers to community participation, such as requirements for an excessive number of signatures for initiatives.