Kyiv, 11 November 2022 – The digitalization of Ukraine’s public administration and services took center stage this past week (from November 1 to 11) at events across eight oblasts, bringing together representatives of state and local authorities, business and IT companies, academia and the media. The hot topic at each session was the state of progress of a process that began before the full-scale war started and how to keep moving forward despite the challenges. Eight concurrent forums were held in Kyiv, Cherkasy, Zakarpattia, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk and Zhytomyr oblasts.

At all the forums, participants discussed key issues of the development of digitalization in communities and cities, the creation of new electronic tools, digital literacy, accessibility and digital economy, and cyber security. In addition, the forum in Ternopil featured the presentation of the Smart Region project, which West Ukraine Digital has created together with partners and the local data center.

Valeriia Ionan, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration, welcomed forum participants at the start of the week of regional digital transformation in Bucha on November 1. Opening the forum, she said regional transformation was one of the most important priorities for the Ministry of Digital Transformation. “Digital transformation is important in all areas: medicine, education, economy, and infrastructure,” she said. “It saves time, financial and human resources, and gives freedom of action for further development.”

Tobias Thyberg, Ambassador of Sweden to Ukraine, emphasized the importance of the development of regional digital transformation, which he said would simplify the provision of a significant number of local services to citizens. “Digital transformation in the country will be complete only when it is implemented on the ground,” he said. “That is why Sweden consistently cooperates with government partners and supports the field of digitalisation in Ukraine – and will continue to do so – so that it succeeds at all levels.”

Christophoros Politis, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative to Ukraine, said it is important to ensure digitalized public services are accessible to everyone – so all citizens can use the new tools that are being created in the state.

“The digitalization of public administration helps increase the transparency, efficiency and quality of the provision of public services to citizens,” Politis said. “That is why the UN Development Programme in Ukraine, with the support of Sweden, is continuing to support the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine in the development of new electronic services, ensuring their accessibility, so all Ukrainians can use the assets of digital transformation – and no one is left behind.”

The forums in Kyiv, Ternopil, and Zhytomyr oblasts were organized by the Diia.Business Center in Bucha, Diia.Business Entrepreneur Support Centers in Ternopil, the West Ukraine Digital Project Office, the Kyiv Regional Civil-Military Administration, the Zhytomyr Regional Civil-Military Administration and the Zhytomyr Polytechnic State University.

Background

UNDP’s Digital, Inclusive, Accessible: Support to Digitalisation of Public Services in Ukraine Project (DIA Support Project) is being implemented by UNDP in Ukraine with funding from Sweden. The project was launched in 2021 and aims to bridge the digital divide between generations and various social groups. Its main goal is to increase the accessibility of new digital solutions, so that everyone in Ukraine can use electronic services, and no one is left behind.

Media inquiries

Yuliia Samus, Communications Team Leader, UNDP in Ukraine, yuliia.samus@undp.org