http://interns.org.ua

The Parliamentary Internship Program was founded in 1995 by the United States Association of Former Members of Congress in conjunction with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. From 2000, the program was administered by the Parliamentary Development Project through a cooperative agreement with USAID. Since September 2008 has been administered by the Ohio State University

The aim of the Program is to provide young Ukrainian professionals with a chance to take direct part in the law-making process that will become a start of their future political, legislative and public careers and promote democratic principles in the Ukrainian parliament and central government offices. The program is now in its 14^th year. Over this period, more than 923 Ukrainian students, postgraduates, and young political leaders have had a chance to work in different parliamentary Committees and departments and now offices of the central executive.

Interns are selected for the program through a stringent competition and may serve full-time, part-time or as volunteers. Full- and part-time interns are provided a modest living allowance currently funded by USAID.

In 2008 the Internship Program was expanded to include work in the policy-making institutions of ministries and the Presidential Secretariat.

Parliamentary Internship Program Activities:

1. Internship

The participants of the Program are selected for full-time and part-time internship. In September they start performing their duties in various parliamentary committees and departments of the VR Secretariat.

During the period of internship, the participants of the Program work as permanent parliamentary staff, i.e.:

• prepare short memorandums on different issues for committee chairs, staff and national deputies within the committee's competence;
• draw up brief analytical reports on current legislative problem areas;
• participate in law-drafting process preparing draft laws for the first reading and compiling comparative tables that contain proposals for the second and third readings;
• provide assistance to committee members and staff in order to ensure efficient functioning.

Interns submit monthly reports to the PDP on their activities in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

2. Training

In order to enhance interns' educational level, the program arranges various training sessions. Since 2001 interns have participated in Policy Analysis course, and seminars on the Theory of Law, Gender Policy and Analysis, and Procedures of the Verkhovna Rada.

3. Developing Leadership Potential

One of the Program's objectives is to raise the level of interns' political culture and prepare them for future leadership. To that end, the Leadership Sessions are organized where they meet with well-known Ukrainian politicians and public figures.

4. Social activities