Ukrainian chapter of the international anti-corruption network Transparency International invites local journalists, activists and representatives of local authorities to a series of seminars dedicated to improving city transparency.

On September 25-26, 2017, the seminar will be held for representatives of the following cities: Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lutsk, Uzhhorod, Drohobych, Volodymyr-Volynskyi, Mukachevo, Chervonohrad, Kovel, Kalush, Kolomyia, Stryi, Novovolynsk, Dubno, Sambir. The event will take place in Lviv, in the Volter hotel at 154B Shevchenka str. The seminar will last two days.

At the seminar, experts will exchange experience and share best practices of increasing city transparency. Special focus will be on those accountability areas of the city authorities where cities in general have gained least points.

In June, TI Ukraine in collaboration with the Institute of Political Education presented the rating of transparency of 100 cities that can be found at /en/. 13 accountability areas of city authorities have been measured, namely, information about the work of municipal authorities, public participation, public procurement policy, housing policy, budgeting and public contracts, grants and funding, social services, human resources, professional ethics and conflict of interests, land use and construction policy, municipal businesses, municipal property and education. Only six out of 100 cities rose beyond 50 points, which clearly indicates that the situation with transparency in Ukraine leaves much to be desired.

30 participants will be selected for the seminar on the basis of their motivation. They will include local officials, representatives of local civic organizations and journalists. The trainers will include TI Ukraine experts as well as invited experts, both local and foreign.

To take part in the seminar, please register at //bit.ly/2vwGLVG. The deadline for registration is September 15, 4PM.

Accommodation, food, transportation and handouts are provided for by the organizers. Activists and journalists who can take part in the seminar will be notified at least three days prior to the event.

To discuss any relevant questions please contact Kateryna Tsybenko, coordinator of the Building Transparent Cities in Ukraine project at +38 (098) 231 08 81.

The seminars will be held as part of the Building Transparent Cities in Ukraine project implemented with the aid of United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF).