The DOBRE Programme in the cycle of Digital Hromadas articles advises AHs on how to successfully develop within the digital space, as well as how to use the online tools to promote the involvement of residents in the development of their hromadas.

An active community is one of the factors shaping a modern strong hromada. Of course, citizens easily find ways to be self-organised, but you, as hromada leaders, can accelerate this process and offer working tools to attract people for making decisions.

Why is this important?

A resident of a certain street often knows about its problems much more than a local official. A public organisation that cares for the development of youth sports, can show how to successfully develop this area in the hromada. The Local Business Association can offer its vision of the local business needs. Hence, the ideas of residents for improving their lives in AHs become tips for the authorities in those moments that have not yet been taken into account.

The participation is a mutually beneficial process. Citizens, on the one hand, receive real levers of influence on changes in the hromada, and the authorities get the ideas of strategic local development. In addition, most activities on hromada’s engagement can be transferred into digital space through online tools, thus, to have an ability to analyse them and get rid of the paper routine.

So, how should the engagement of citizens in hromada’s decision-making process be increased? We offer three mechanisms:

1. Get residents acquainted with hromada leadership.

2. Initiate participatory budget. 

3. Set up a system for receiving appeals from citizens.

More information on official websites of hromadas created on the Dosvit platform are available at the link: http://dosvit.org.ua

The full version is available in Ukrainian – please click HERE