Agency for Legislative Initiatives 2021-2023

The Final Report for the project "Agency for Legislative Initiatives 2021 2023" provides a detailed overview of the results and accomplishments achieved during the reporting period from 01 April 2021 to 31 March 2024. An intervention, financed by Sweden, covered several strategic areas, including good governance, justice and security, civics and political culture, and the institutional capacity of the organization. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key results and accomplishments across these strategic areas: Strategic Area 1: Good Governance Parliamentary Reform and Support During Martial Law - Parliamentary Monitoring: Produced multiple semi-annual parliamentary monitoring reports, capturing legislative activities, draft law processes, committee work, and procedural violations. - Parliamentary Obstruction Study: Conducted a comprehensive study on "Parliamentary Obstruction: International and Domestic Practices," resulting in a detailed report and public dissemination. - Quality Criteria for Draft Laws: Prepared and advocated for criteria to improve draft laws' quality in the Ukrainian Parliament. Public Administration Reform - Support for Public Administration Reform: Provided expertise and recommendations to enhance public administration during martial law and post-war periods. - EU Integration: Supported Ukraine's integration into the European Union by conducting legal impact assessments and ensuring compliance with EU acquis. Public Policy Improvement - Youth Policy: Developed and implemented policies targeting youth, addressing their needs and challenges in the post-war context. - Refugee Return Policy: Designed and discussed policies to facilitate the return of Ukrainian refugees, including comprehensive studies and sociological surveys on refugees' motivations. - Healthcare System Restoration: Contributed to policies aimed at restoring and improving the healthcare system in liberated territories. Strategic Area 2: Justice and Security Prosecutor General's Office Reform - Supported reforms within the Office of the Prosecutor General to enhance efficiency and accountability. Ministry of Internal Affairs Reform - Assisted in the reform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, focusing on improving operational effectiveness and transparency. Documentation of War Crimes - Engaged in the documentation of war crimes and covered socially significant cases to support justice and accountability processes. Strategic Area 3: Civics and Political Culture Ukrainian School of Political Studies - Enhanced the curriculum and activities of the Ukrainian School of Political Studies, fostering political education and civic engagement. Social Audit Instrument - Introduced and promoted the use of social audit instruments to increase transparency and public accountability. Dissemination of Innovative Knowledge - Promoted innovative knowledge and approaches in humanitarian and socio-political spheres through research, publications, and events. Strategic Area 4: Institutional Capacity of the Organization Communication Capacity - Improved the organization's communication strategies and capacities to better engage stakeholders and disseminate information. NCG Verification Audit Report Recommendations - Implemented recommendations from the Nordic Consulting Groups Verification Audit Report to enhance internal procedures and strategic planning. Staff Professional Development - Invested in professional development programs for staff to build skills and improve performance. Infrastructure and Working Conditions - Developed infrastructure and improved working conditions to support the organization's operations, especially during the challenging periods of martial law and the pandemic. Additional Accomplishments Adaptation to Challenges - Successfully adapted to significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the russian federation, by relocating personnel, adopting online work practices, and adjusting project activities. Judicial Impact Study - Conducted a study on judicial influence on reforms, resulting in a policy paper with 19 recommendations and significant media coverage. Refugee Monitoring - Developed methodologies and econometric models to monitor refugee movements, collaborating with the M. V. Ptukha Institute of Demography and Social Research. Advocacy and Public Engagement - Engaged in advocacy and public communication activities to disseminate research findings and promote policy recommendations. This comprehensive summary highlights the multifaceted efforts and achievements of the "Agency for Legislative Initiatives 2021 2023" project, reflecting its impact on good governance, justice, civic education, and institutional development amid significant external challenges.

The intervention’s objective is two-fold. FIrstly, Sweden will support the ALI's mission, vision, and activities in its statutory and strategic areas and, secondly, further strengthen organization’s operational capacity and sustainability.   ALI realizes its mission by promoting democratic values in Ukrainian society, forming an adequate and balanced public policy in Ukraine, and developing citizens' and politicians' political and legal culture.   The project is directly aimed at supporting the vision of the organization in a 3 years’ perspective: Agency for Legislative Initiatives is a prominent think tank making an impact throughout the political process and at all stages of the policy cycle in the interests of Ukraine's citizens and the advancement of democratic values. The main strategic areas of ALI's intervention include but are not restricted to i) good governance (improvement of quality of the decision-making process), ii) justice and security (promoting institution building in the security sector and fair justice), iii) civics and political culture, as well as iv) ALI's institutional capacity. Consequently, the intervention aims at continuing the organizational development journey embarked on by the organization during the preparatory phase (pre-core) when the bulk of priority and key System-Based Audit recommendations have been successfully introduced, as part of the introductory work to align the CSO with Sida core support requirements and eligibility criteria. Implementation of the remainder of recommendations yielded by the follow-up Verification Audit as well as their internalization will significantly strengthen the institutional capacity of the Agency for Legislative Initiatives and will help achieve the mission and goals of the organization more effectively.