June 2009
Press-conference in Kalush
Press-conference in KalushMay 20, 2008 Kalush hosted a press-conference that discussed proposals and recommendations on improving the housing and utilities sector, fighting the corruption in this area, and drawing the conclusion for the project. The participants included NGO representatives, local decision makers, and the media. The final press-conference was 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 was implemented by the Association for Economic Development of Ivano-Frankivsk in partnership with the USAID and Counterpart Creative Centre.
The goal of the press-conference was to share the proposals and recommendation on improving the housing and utilities sector and to tell about the project results: involving the citizens to the decision-making process, strengthening the links between the local governments and the community in developing corruption-fighting mechanisms in the housing and utilities sector.
The participants included representatives from NGOs, local businesses, the City Executive Board, the Department on Housing and Utilities, and the mass media.
The questions were 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.
The press-conference participants learned about the project progress and its outcomes; familiarized themselves with the proposals and recommendations on improving the housing and utilities sector and developing corruption-fighting mechanisms.
Project partners evaluated the results obtained during the project implementation and identified opportunities for further cooperation in reforming the city’s housing and utilities.
The press-conference participants noted that the project gave the opportunity to:
- Raise public awareness about the local government activities and the operation of communal utility companies;
- Implement on-going monitoring of the housing and utilities services;
- Create opportunities for involving the community into the decision-making process on the local level;
- Improve the transparency and accountability of the local government.
It was also noted that the project outcomes and experience need to be used both in Kalush and in other communities of Ivano-Frankivsk Region when reforming housing and utilities sector and building partnerships between the community and the government.
Information on the project.
The goal of the project “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” 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.
Project activities included:
- 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 raised the awareness of Kalush citizens about the activities of local governments and utility companies; introduced on-going monitoring of these services; created new opportunities for community involvement into the decision-making process on the local level; helped to improve the transparency and accountability of the local government. The most active citizens and NGOs, as well as business and government representatives helped to disseminate the information about the project and its activities and outcomes not only in Kalush, but also in other districts and communities. Information was shared though meetings, round tables, a regional conference, and mass media.
