June 2009
Regional conference in Kalush
June 18, 2008 Kalush will host a regional conference "Improving Kalush housing and utilities in order to raise the quality of the services, fight corruption in this area and improve the transparency of the local government". Its participants include representatives from the local government, housing and utilities companies, and mass media.
The conference will discuss proposals and recommendations on improving the housing and utilities and mechanisms for fighting corruption, developed by the project experts and members of the expert group. They based their findings on the survey about the state of affairs in housing and utilities.
Representatives from Dolyna and Nadvirna districts and the city of Rohatyn will share their experience in developing condomimiums.
The questions will be answered by: Mariya Kovaliv – Deputy Chair of the Board, Association for Economic Development of Ivano-Frankivsk, project manager;
Mariya Pasichnyk, - Chairperson of the “Centre for Supporting Kalush Economic Development” NGO, local project partner;
Yuriy Rekunov – Director, Department on Housing and Utilities, Kalush, Head of the project’s expert group.
Representatives of the project expert group.
The conference will be held under the framework of “Involving Kalush Citizens to Housing and Utilities Reform by Strengthening Public Control over the Government and Improving the Transparency of Government Activities in this Area” project, which is implemented by the Association for Economic Development of Ivano-Frankivsk in partnership with the USAID and Counterpart Creative Centre.
Conference venue: Kalush, 70, Chornovola Street, “Merkuriy” hotel. Time: 11.00 am.
Information on the project. The goal of the project is to identify the satisfaction level of Kalush citizens with the quality of housing and utilities services in order to fight corruption and improve the transparency of the local government activities.
Envisaged project activities:
- Survey on the quality of housing and utilities services in Kalush;
- Identifying the experience of citizens in dealing with cases of corruption in housing and utilities;
- Analyzing the public opinion about the efficiency of anti-corruption measures taken by the local government and the utility companies;
- Evaluating the readiness of the population to change their living conditions and fight corruption in housing and utilities areas;
- Developing proposals and recommendations to the local governments on improving the situation in housing and utilities;
- Public discussion of the survey results.
The project will help to raise the awareness of Kalush citizens about the activities of local governments and utility companies; introduce on-going monitoring of these services; create new opportunities for community involvement into the decision-making process on the local level; help to improve the transparency and accountability of the local government. The most active citizens and NGOs, as well as business and government representatives will help to disseminate the information about the project and its activities and outcomes not only in Kalush, but also in other districts and communities. Information will be shared though meetings, round tables, and mass media.
