1994, the Parliamentary Development Project for Ukraine (PDP) has been providing deputies and staff of the Verkhovna Rada – Ukraine’s parliament – with compara­tive information, training and consultations on parliamentary institutions, procedures and legislative capacity building.The PDP also provides assistance to the parliament on increasing transparency and public participation in the legis­lative process, especially through cooperation with the lead­ership and committees of the Verkhovna Rada.

Building on PDP’s 14 years of experience, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) extended the project in September 2008 as “PDP II.” Within that project framework, PDP II continues to provide technical assistance to the parliament and now extends assistance also to the Presi­dential Administration, the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Min­isters of Ukraine and individual ministries. PDP II focuses on efficient mechanisms of legislative policy development and respective capacity building of the legislative and executive branches. In 2009, PDP II initiated cooperation with the Verk­hovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (VR ARC). In May 2011 USAID extended PDP II through July 2013.

Through consultations, development of analytical materials, training, and other activities, the project in this period seeks to contribute to these objectives:

• Consultative, transparent legislative processes render executive and legislative policy making more account­able to Ukrainian citizens;
• Ukrainian institutions have the capacity and technical skills necessary to support effective, transparent legis­lative policy making within the legislative and executive branches;
• Ukrainian civil society organizations play an expanded role in the consideration, development and monitoring of legislative and policy making processes;
• The Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea enhances its capacity for intergovernmental dialogue and civic engagement.

PDP II participates in, supports or organizes working groups to improve specific legislation regarding the work of the Ukrainian legislature (e.g., procedures, staff development, and committee operations) as well as legislation addressing various aspects of public policy.PDP has designed and conducts various training programs jointly with MPs and staff of the Verkhovna Rada Secretariat and committees, MP aides, civil servants in executive govern­ment, and civil society on various topics, for example: “Citizen Access to the Legislative Process”, “Integration of Principle of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men”, “New Media and Governance: Current Trends”, “Use of Strategic Methods of Development and Analysis of Draft Legislation.”

Training Seminar for trainers, Simeiz, September 2010

PDP awards small grants to Ukrainian organizations to conduct research, analyses, trainings, publications and special projects – for example – with Ukrainian Library Asso­ciation “The Citizen Access Points Network in Ukrainian Libraries” was established (from 2009) to provide citizens access to government information.

Librarians participate in the Citizen Access Points Network, March 2011

Since 1998, it has become a tradition for the PDP to hold information fairs that showcase the technical and analyti­cal support that different organizations could provide to the Verkhovna Rada. The fifth fair, organized in 2009, featured 40 organizations including Ukrainian NGOs and assistance pro­grams of the United States, Europe and the United Nations. In 2011, the tradition was replicated in the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

First Info-Fair in the VR ARC, June 2011

In 2006, the Par­liamentary Develop­ment Project for Ukraine launched the “Lawmak­ing” series of publica­tions for Ukrainian MPs, their aides and VR staff on various aspects of parliamentary activities. The project has pro­duced 13 handbooks in this series, which, together with other pub­lications, are distributed within the Verkhovna Rada, executive offices, NGOs and to more than 400 libraries through­out Ukraine. All publica­tions are available at the PDP II website: iupdp.org

PDP and PDP II Publications

Since 1995, the Parliamentary Internship Program has been active in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. In 16 years more than 1,100 young Ukrainians have completed the internship Program. Nearly a third of those completing the program go on to work in the parliament or other Ukrainian governance institutions. The Program was founded by the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with USAID funding. From 2000-2011 PDP administered the Program. In 2008 the Intern­ship Program was expanded to the executive branch and in 2010 to the VR ARC. In 2011 the Program administration was transferred to the program alumni association “The Interns’ League” (interns.org.ua).

2010-2011 Parliamentary and Executive Interns, July 2011

The USAID Parliamentary Development Project II is now administered by the John Glenn School of Public Affairs of the Ohio State University under contract with Indiana University.

Project Management:

Dr. Charles Wise Founding Director of the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, Project Executive Director

Dr. Trevor Brown Associate Professor of the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, Project Financial Director

Ms. Eleanor Valentine Director of the PDP II Legislative Policy Development Program in Ukraine

Mr. Edward Rakhimkulov Deputy Director of the PDP II Legislative Policy Development Program in Ukraine

Ukraine Office Contact Information: