Vision of Ukraine – 2030. How we see public administration after the Victory

How do we imagine Ukraine in 2030?

The government, politically derived from the parliamentary majority and formed by the Prime Minister, has full constitutional powers to formulate the country’s development policy and ensure its implementation; it consistently adheres to the agreed strategy, but prevents new challenges and threats.

14–16 ministries, among which the responsibility for all state policy is distributed, without exception, are headed by ministers who have 1–3 deputies each — only all of them are political officials. The apparatuses of the ministries, headed by politically neutral state secretaries, by means of their directorates (4–6 in each) systematically analyse the state of affairs, potential threats and challenges in their areas of responsibility, communicate with stakeholders, scientists, public structures, parliamentary committees, and prepare policy documents regarding the development of these areas or their elements. After consultations with people’s deputies-members of the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the ministers determine priorities, choose the best options and, after public consultations, submit policy documents for consideration by the Government, and after their approval, organise the work on their implementation.

The system of central executive bodies (CEBs, i.e. government bodies) is accountable to the Government, and each specific body is accountable to a particular minister. Government bodies enforce legislation (implement policies), namely: organise the provision of administrative services, exercise inspection powers, manage state property, etc. At the same time, they do not interfere in policy-making, do not prepare regulations — this is the task of ministries. CEBs do only what cannot be decentralised to the local or regional level.

In the regions and counties of Ukraine, the Government is represented by officials (prefects) who supervise on its behalf the legality of acts of local self-government bodies and coordinate local executive bodies. Officials are civil servants appointed by the Government.

The civil service, numbering about 150,000 people, is a single corps of integral, patriotic, qualified, politically neutral officials who are selected for positions on a competitive basis. Civil servants have a decent salary at the middle class level. The Civil Service Agency, subordinate to the State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, manages all recruitment and career development processes. The Academy for Public Administration under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is responsible for preparing civil servants for higher positions and their advanced training. The level of public trust in civil servants exceeds 70%.

Internal document management in the executive branch is carried out in digital format; and all administrative services are available and securely protected in this format.

The budget system is organised in such a way that public finances serve the state policy, and not vice versa.

What key changes need to be made to achieve this goal?

In order to implement such plans, it is necessary to have the political will and leadership of the Prime Minister, to adopt the Law on the CMU and CEBs in a new version, and, if possible, improve the constitutional regulation, amend the Law “On Civil Service” and the Budget Code, implement the Public Administration Reform Strategy in accordance with SIGMA recommendations, systematically improve the organisation of public administration and enhance its culture.

What red lines cannot be crossed in this area?

• Management of the Government from the outside.
• Transformation of ministries into executive agencies.
• Transformation of other CEBs (government bodies) into policy-making structures.
• Politicisation and erosion of the civil service.
• Adjusting the policy to last year’s public finances.