Parliament will make an electronic declaration mandatory again.
According to the VRU First Deputy Speaker, Oleksandr Korniyenko, Ukraine has fulfilled European Commission recommendations to start the negotiation process on Ukraine’s membership in the EU. In addition, he emphasized that in order to fulfill all requirements, it is necessary to return the anti-corruption infrastructure to full operation. "In simple words, this is the return of electronic declaration and responsibility for it," Kornienko clarified.
Program assisted the VRU Secretariat and Model Committees enhance their communication and writing skills
On May 25, 2023, USAID RADA: Next Generation organized the second training session on writing rules and storytelling trends for the employees of Ukraine’s Parliament. Seventeen participants took part in the event; all of them are responsible for SMM and communications activities in their day-to-day work at VRU structural units and departments. RANG experts share their knowledge on the use of storytelling techniques to create engaging content for the website and social media platforms of the Ukrainian parliament. This training aims to bolster the parliament’s external communication capacity and improve communication with target audiences through digital communication channels. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the training for the participants, they completed a short online survey before and after the event. The survey demonstrated a 36% increase in the level of knowledge.
USAID RADA: Next Generation supports public consultations to increase MP-constituent engagement and public participation in the legislative process
On May 24, RANG helped MP Natalia Pipa arrange a public consultation in Lviv on education reforms. The event brought together many stakeholders, including Education Minister Oksen Lisovyi, Serhiy Babak, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Education, local authorities, professionals from the NGO sector, and teachers and students. Such consultations help ensure greater constituent participation in legislative processes and more frequent engagement between MPs and their constituents, specifically individuals, civil society, and business associations, and ensure that stakeholder opinions are a part of the law-making process.
USAID RADA: Next Generation helped VRU Parliamentary Education Center hold a parliamentary lesson.
On May 23, VRU Parliamentary Education Center, together with an online lesson for school children, “Israel in Support of Ukraine,” from the series of sessions, “Parliaments of the World Stand with Ukraine.” Part of the lesson was dedicated to communication with the Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Olena Kondratyuk, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the State of Israel, Yevhen Korniychuk. During the session, the audience also learned how the Israeli parliamentary and government systems work, as well as several highly intriguing facts about this country, its people, and customs. Misha Avrutis, of Ukrainian descent, the Knesset employee responsible for the excursion direction, also offered his experience and knowledge with young people. In total, 160 persons attended the lesson via Zoom, and 218 people watched the broadcast on the page of the Educational Center on Facebook.
USAID RANG helped VRU Parliamentary Education (PEC) expand its regional activities.
On May 24, the VRU Parliamentary Education Center, in collaboration with AC, held an offline lesson for university students at Donetsk National University named after Vasyl Stus in Vinnytsia. Students had a chance to meet and communicate with MP, Iryna Borzova, member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on youth and sports and chairman of the Subcommittee on State Youth Policy. Following the Q&A session, the PEC continued an interactive session for almost 200 students discussing the VRU's functions and powers, the distribution of power in Ukraine, parliamentary processes, legislative stages, and the activities of the Ukrainian Parliament throughout the war.
Program helped the Parliamentary Research Service (PRS) arrange comprehensive training on policy analysis for PRS interns.
On May 22-25, USAID RADA: Next Generation Program conducted a four-day online training on the basics of state policy analysis for interns of the Research Service of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. RANG supports an internship program within the PRS, providing young researchers with an opportunity to conduct research to gain practical experience working in the Parliament.
RANG grantees launched an online forum dedicated to Parliament-citizens cooperation.
NGO “Institut Respublica” started its online forum “Parliament and citizens: how to make the interaction better”. It will be a four-day school, which will end on May 31. The activity brought together 40 participants, including civil society experts, MP aids. During the school, participants deepen their knowledge about the structure of state power and the interaction of its branches. Participants will learn about the tools through which citizens can influence the activities of the VRU during the wartime period, particularly public consultations. They will also discuss methods of conducting communication campaigns at the national and local levels.