Despite the war with Russia since 2014 and the large-scale invasion of the Russian Federation in 2022, Ukraine has made significant progress in digital transformation. They are digital solutions that help implement the reforms required by EU accession candidate status, based on the principles of openness, transparency, accountability and participatory democracy.

Examples of such solutions include Trembita system, Action Portal, PROZORRO system, Expenditure system, etc. is located.

Decentralization reform is no exception. The main digital tools implemented by the Ministry of Communities, Regions and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine are:

• DREAM ecosystem;

• GIS of regional development;

• updated “CENTRAL GOVERNMENT” portal;

• Urban cadastre at the state level.

In addition, the ministry is also working on digital solutions for the management of local finances and digital tools for the implementation of local democracy.

HOW DOES THE DREAM ECOSYSTEM CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINE?

The DREAM ecosystem will contribute to the restoration of real estate, construction and infrastructure destroyed and damaged as a result of Russian aggression.

The only digitally integrated information and analytical system for managing these processes is designed to assist in high-quality planning, preparation for implementation, participation and coordination of financing for tens of thousands of restoration and development projects.

Ministry of Health started to implement DREAM ecosystem Since November 2022 and currently has the following results:

• the main functionality for the submission of restoration and development projects has been launched;

• The current public interface for obtaining data (Application Programming Interface, АРИ) is presented, which provides access to the open data of the DREAM ecosystem. Thanks to ARI, all project data was made available to professional users working with analytical tools;

• the total number of projects by regions, districts and communities, the planned budget for them, the amount of funds approved, etc. A public analysis module has been introduced that allows you to learn. The module is open to all users;

• regional communities, regional military administrations, central executive bodies, state institutions, etc. More than 500 administrative bodies are involved in working with the ecosystem, including;

• More than 1,500 reconstruction and development projects with funding approval have already been established, in particular projects financed from the Fund to Eliminate the Consequences of Armed Aggression;

• More than 500 regional communities were trained and received support in implementing the projects.

Complete functions of the DREAM ecosystem It is planned to be implemented by the end of 2025.

The ecosystem will include the following key components:

• electronic locker and central database;

• public portal – for the publication of public information on the implementation of restoration projects;

• analytics module – available to all portal visitors for real-time data mining;

• e-democracy module (eDem) – for active public participation in the process of restoration and development of territories, reducing the risk of misuse of funds, increasing the level of trust of citizens;

• An interactive map – ensuring the continuous operation and updating of the interactive working map on the restoration of Ukraine, containing information on tenders, contracts, contractors and the actual progress of construction throughout the country;

• chatbot – to provide consultancy to individuals and legal entities regarding the functioning of the DREAM ecosystem;

• The DREAM ACADEMY training platform is a competence center that includes various training options for working with the ecosystem.

We expect from the implementation of the DREAM ecosystem the creation of a single digital tool adapted to the needs of the state and society, which will help implement, monitor and prioritize restoration and development projects in accordance with best global practices.

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT GIS: HOW TO PROMOTE THE DIGITALIZATION OF COMMUNITIES

A unified geographic information system to monitor and evaluate the development of regions and regional communities (GIS of regional development) It aims to overcome the insufficient level of digitalization of regional communities and regions.

It will also allow to overcome problems such as duplication, lack of data or difficulty in accessing information regarding socio-economic processes in communities as presented in paper reports.

The Ministry of Construction began to actively work on the implementation of GIS on regional development following the amendments to the Law on Principles of State Regional Policy of Ukraine and the approval by the Government of the relevant decision of May 23, 2023 (No. 522). .

With the support of development partners, technical requirements were developed and the development of the software required to implement the system began.

Experimental commissioning of regional development GIS is planned By the end of 2024.

Regional development GIS will include the following key components:

• main functional module for:

– planning measures for the implementation of the state’s regional development strategy;

– creation and implementation (implementation) of regional development programs and projects;

– Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the development of regions and communities.

• integration module – various information sources, electronic records, information systems, etc. to exchange data with;

• document creation module – to create documents in a standard form based on data entered into the system;

• complex central database;

• electronic cabinet;

• public portal (geoportal) – to search, manage and share geographic data and services.

The application of regional development GIS will enable the integration of external information sources, including statistical, administrative information and geographical data, in the field of development of regions and regional communities.

In addition, it will allow creating a data repository of socio-economic and budget-financial indicators and providing access to open data in the field of development of regions and territorial communities.

UPDATED “CENTRALIZATION” PORTAL

Comprehensive modernization of the “Decentralization” portal will contribute to the creation of a sustainable tool for supporting reform and will make it possible to solve the problem of insufficient awareness and understanding of citizens about the goals, directions and main tools of the reform. Local self-government and regional power organization in Ukraine.

In addition, it should create an effective system for sharing experiences and best practices among local governments, improve communication between central and local executive authorities, local governments, development partners and civil society, and ensure that communities are provided with the means of support available to improve and develop health issues . regions.

The updated portal will include the following key components:

• communication component (conducting educational, explanatory and other activities, creating a space for communication between local self-government bodies/development partners/officials);

• news component (news from communities, expert columns, cases where reform principles have been successfully implemented, etc.);

• educational component (video courses, consultations, library, archive of infographic materials, etc.);

• online consultant for local self-government bodies – consultation of communities based on basic artificial intelligence, library of materials;

• Registration of decisions of local self-government bodies.

The updated portal is expected to be implemented In 2025.

URBAN PLANNING CADASTRE AT STATE LEVEL

The urban cadastre at the state level is an integrated information and communication system that provides:

• creation, collection, receipt, storage, use, dissemination, preservation and preservation of information regarding the planning, development and other use of the territory for the possibility of making informed management decisions, forecasting and planning;

• digitalization of the procedure for creating, updating, amending, accepting and approving urban planning documents according to uniform standards;

• improving the quality of urban planning documents, turning them into unified geographical databases;

• increasing transparency in decision-making processes of state authorities and local self-government bodies, reducing corruption risks;

• ensuring transparent, equal and rapid access to urban planning documents, in particular comprehensive plans for the spatial development of territories of regional communities.

The urban cadastre at the state level will include the following basic components:

• Registration of urban planning documents;

• Unified state registration of administrative-territorial units and territories of territorial communities;

• Unified state address register;

• Unified state register of buildings and structures.

The purpose of cadastre is to eliminate data contradictions thanks to the development of information interaction and, accordingly, to eliminate complaints, disputes, claims, refusal to provide administrative services, etc., which are caused by data inconsistency. to reduce the number. .

Commissioning of the work vehicle is planned In 2025.

T.S.IFRO SOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL FINANCE AND LOCAL DEMOCRACY

Monitoring, inventory and management of financial resources, thanks to digital solutions, should increase the financial resources of local budgets, contribute to the implementation of accountability and independence of local self-government, contribute to the synchronization of strategic and financial planning, as well as improve the effectiveness of tax and fee collection of local governments.

In addition, digitalization of processes that will ensure active public participation in the restoration and development of Ukraine should provide the authorities with a convenient tool to involve citizens in the discussion of socially important issues, including local polls and votes.

Additionally, digital solutions should provide broader and more useful tools for citizens to propose reconstruction and development projects and participate in the distribution of finance for such projects.

In addition, citizens accept the monitoring of performance indicators of projects in the implementation process, including current improvements, housing and social space, infrastructure, etc. will be able to quickly inform local governments about problems.

The integration of digital solutions in different sectors, compatible with EU standards in terms of digital sustainability, will accelerate sustainable development, promote the spread of circular economy practices and stimulate economic growth, as well as promote inclusion and ensure equal access to digital opportunities.

Vitaly Protsenko, Deputy Head of the Department of Regional Development and Restructuring of the Department of Strategic Planning and Regional Policy of the Ministry of Social Development, Regions and Infrastructure of Ukraine

* The author’s perspective may not coincide with the agency’s position