Promoting Ukraine’s EU association through innovations

Project description

Title: Innovation Lab for EU Association of Ukraine
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Ukraine
Lead executing agency: The Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
Overall term: 2021 to 2023

Context

In terms of area, Ukraine is the second largest state in Europe. At the same time, it is one of the continent’s poorest countries. In a bid to improve living conditions, the Ukrainian Government and population are seeking closer ties with the European Union (EU).

Since Ukraine signed the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU in 2014, the country has made enormous progress in implementing the digital agenda and modernising public services. However, in other areas the reform process remains challenging. The main reason for this is inefficient coordination and implementation. Officials often lack the knowledge or a suitable operational framework to be able to both perform EU-related tasks in a citizen-oriented manner and coordinate the European integration.

Objective

The Ukrainian Government achieves strategic reform goals for EU association and, in doing so, implements the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in a citizen-oriented and efficient way.

Approach

The project supports the Ukrainian Government in implementing the Association Agreement. With this objective in view, the Innovation lab has been set up to serve the digital transformation of public services, where it organises technical support for the Chief Digital Transformation Officers (CDTOs) of the line ministries. This aims to improve the methods and knowledge management for digital innovations. The programme is being developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

The project also provides support with short-term needs of the Association Agreement via the Flexible fund. It also integrates participants and graduates of previous training courses.

Newly mainstreamed training courses, processes and methods strengthen the relevant government agencies such as the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. They are transformed into competent actors and negotiation partners for the EU association.

Last update: September 2021