To evaluate the effectiveness of local government in Rivne, Civic Network OPORA conducted an expert poll from 12 to 20 December.

The poll participated 30 local experts. Between them were: representatives of NGOs, mass media, entrepreneurs and employees in humanitarian sphere. The poll consisted of questions for determination of expert opinion on achievements of Rivne city council, executive committee and the mayor in socio-economic and humanitarian spheres; to determine the level of transparency and openness of the government, the degree of community involvement in the development and implementation of local policy.

Special attention was paid to the work of Rivne mayor Volodymyr Khomko. It’s connected to the fact that the mayor is responsible for the leadership and control over all administrative activity; he also submits proposals on the structure of local government. We may say, that the mayor is personally responsible for social and political processes in the city, achievements and failures of all units under his control.

Social and economic sphere

The results of the poll showed that 37% of experts consider government activities in solving problems of social and economic sphere “rather ineffective”. 33% of experts consider government activities “rather effective”, 10% - “effective”, 7% - “ineffective”. 13% of respondents couldn‘t give answer to this question.

Experts were also asked to evaluate the effectiveness of local government in solving urgent problems of the city development in socio-economic sphere. In particular, concerning assistance of small business development; building infrastructure; improving the system of municipal transport, etc.

Expert opinions were divided in the following way:

No.	Issue of socio-economic sphere	Effective activity	Rather effective activity	Rather ineffective activity	Ineffective activity	It’s difficult to answer
		(%)
1	Assistance in small business development	7	20	33	23	17
2	Building and operation of local roads	3	54	23	20	0
3	Building and maintenance of infrastructure (heating system, parking)	3	33	41	20	3
4	Improving the system of municipal transport	7	30	37	20	6
5	Attraction of private investments to the economical community development	7	20	43	20	10
6	Solving issues of collection, transportation, recycling and disposal of waste	23	44	17	13	3
7	Support and development of parks and green areas in the city	6	37	37	20	0
8	Reforming the housing and communal services (Condominium development, improving the quality of service)	10	17	43	23	7
9	Fighting unemployment in the community	3	7	27	43	20

Social and humanitarian sphere

The activity of local government in humanitarian sphere is “rather ineffective" according to 38% of inquired experts. “rather effective” – 33%, “ineffective” – 13, “effective” – 3%. 13% of respondents couldn‘t answer this question.

Experts were also asked to evaluate the effectiveness of local government in solving urgent problems of the city development in socio-humanitarian sphere: improving the level of school education, providing out-of-school entertainment, taking measures on the social protection of children etc.

Expert opinions were divided in the following way:

No.	Issue of socio-humanitarian sphere	Effective activity	Rather effective activity	Rather ineffective activity	Ineffective activity	It’s difficult to answer
		(%)
1	Improving the level of school education, modernization of schools, computerization, development of the material and technical base	7	30	47	10	6
2	Providing preschool education, functioning of nursery schools, development their meterial and technical base	17	13	33	27	10
3	Providing out-of-school entertainment for the youth (opening study circles, municipal clubs)	10	20	30	27	13
4	Implementation of measures on social protection and welfare of children, youth, women, families and other groups of people (social programs)	7	13	30	23	27
5	Improving the level of special medical attendance, upgrade material and technical base of medical health care institutions that belong to the common property of the community	6	10	27	47	10
6	Realization of cultural programs and other municipal actions	27	40	13	7	13
7	Support and development of libraries (special regional, for children and youth)	17	17	27	2	37
8	Support and development of physical culture and sports in the city	13	10	44	13	20

The transparency and openness of the government activities

A policy, conducted by the Rivne city council, according to 43% of inquired experts, is “rather intransparent”. 27% of experts think the policy of the city council is “partly transparent”. 17% - “transparent”. 13% of respondents couldn’t give answer to this question. When answering the questions, experts took into consideration the number of conducted Mayor consultations in the sphere of municipal development; determination and solution of local issues.

In the third section, experts were asked to estimate the level of transparency and openness of the local government. Was conducted an analysis of the level of public hearings’ organization and conduction; publication of bills, regulations, publication of reports on the activities of government.

It should be noted that personal responsibility for the transparency of the local government carries the mayor of Rivne. According to the statute of the territorial community, he secures implementation and control over all administrative activities and is responsible for bringing this information to the public. Thus, achievements and shortcomings in ensuring the openness of local government indicate the effectiveness of Volodymyr Khomko.  

Expert opinions were divided in the following way:

No.	The issue of transparency and openness of the local government policy	Yes	No	We can only speak about the announcement of intentions	It’s difficult to answer
		(%)
1	Organization and holding of public hearings	13	33	33	21
2	Publishing draft laws and resolutions on the official site	30	10	27	33
3	Conducting regular consultations of the Mayor with civil society organizations and the community concerning city policy in different socially important spheres	17	37	16	30
4	Publishing reports on the activities of the local government	23	37	20	20
5	Initiating public councils or other consultative and advisory structures of the local government	37	20	33	10
6	The inclusion of representatives of civil society organizations to the commissions, working groups that deal with policy development	34	30	23	13
7	Holding press conferences to inform (report) on the activities of the Mayor	13	54	20	13
8	Participation of the Mayor in the activities of civic organizations	37	9	17	37
9	Openness of the local government to the mass media	37	13	30	20

Professionalism of the Mayor in his duties

Experts also estimated the level of Mayor professionalism in the performance of his duties. Exactly half of the experts believe that the Mayor “rather professionally” performs his duties, 20% believe that “rather unprofessional”. 17% of experts think that the Mayor is “professional”. 7% believe that Volodymyr Khomko unprofessionally performs his duties. Difficulties with the answer to this question appeared in 6% of the experts.

Experts also assessed specific professional qualities of the Mayor, which are necessary for the effective implementation of his assigned duties. In particular, the ability to manage, organization of Rivne city council and its executive committee, the ability to resolve conflicts.

Expert opinions were divided in the following way:

No.	Professionalism of the Mayor in his duties	Effective activity	Rather effective activity	Rather ineffective activity	Ineffective activity	It’s difficult to answer
		(%)
1	Managing abilities	27	43	17	0	13
2	Selection of the current staff of the executive bodies of Rivne City Council	13	17	34	13	23
3	The ability to resolve conflicts	13	31	23	3	30
4	Organization of the Rivne city council work	13	30	17	0	40
5	Organization of the executive committee of Rivne city council	17	23	17	3	40

Experts gave general assessment of the effectiveness of Rivne mayor, deputies of Rivne City Council and the Executive Committee.

Thus, 40% of respondents called the work of the mayor “rather effective”. 37% of experts believe the activity of Volodymyr Khomko is rather ineffective, 7% - effective, 4% - ineffective. 11% of survey participants had difficulties when answering this question.

40% of experts believe the activity of deputy corps is rather ineffective, 23 – rather effective, 7% - ineffective, 3% - effective. 27% of survey participants had difficulties when answering this question.

23% of inquired experts think the work of executive committee is rather effective, 34% - rather ineffective, 10% - effective, 3% - ineffective.  30% of survey participants had difficulties when answering this question

Civic Network OPORA is grateful for participating in the poll to:

1. Volkov Serhii, the head of NGO “Professional NGO (Rivne) – Democracy”

2. Kryvosheiev Oleksii, editor of the newspaper “OGO”

3. Horbachuk Mykola, leader of the sports public organization

4. Tymchenko Tymur, stage manager, director

5. Zhuzhelska Oksana, senior editor of RTB

6. Romaniuk Valentyna, own correspondent of the Radio Svoboda (Freedom) in Rivne region

7. Holubiev Vitalii, chief editor of publishing house "OGO"

8. Torbich Volodymyr, chief editor of the Rivne journalistic investigation agency

9. Pinchuk Serhii, the head of "Rivne Center "Social Partnership".

10. Aleksieievych Svitlana, specialist in educational methods

11. Shershen Myroslava, editor of the newspaper "Rivne vechirnie"

12. Liubii Valentyna, teacher-organizer of the Youth Club

13. Kashevskyi Vasyl, President of the NGO "Volyn Resource Center"

14. Kamzol Tamara, kindergarten teacher assistant

15. Kuzmych Oksana, teacher-organizer of the Youth Club

16. Lazarevych Yurii, Head of the board of Rivne Oblast Branch of the All-Ukrainian Charitable Organization “All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV”

17. Martyniuk Andrii, head of MMHO "Ecoclub"

18. Koval Tetiana, a correspondent of “Rivne-1”

19. Nevynna Halyna, Candidate of Historical Sciences

20. Haliabar Vasyl, a doctor

21. Pasochnyk Yurii, project manager of "Volyn Resource Center"

22. Pervushevska Iryna, Director of Rivne Palace of Children and Youth

23. Tsebi Artem, Senior Specialist of the Rivne office of State investments

24. Shynkaruk Anton, Candidate of Political Sciences

25. Hemberh Serhii, Director of "Credit Agricole Bank" in Rivne "

26. Tereshko Yurii, head of the department of Political science and sociology RSHU

27. Terentiev Serhii, pastor, Head of NGO "New level"

28. Horetskii Oleksii, the Head of the board of Rivne regional branch of "Committee of Voters of Ukraine"

29. Malovanyi Ruslan, director of LLC “Zahidenerhoresurs” (“West energy resource”).

30. Kovalchuk Volodymyr, director of Rivne branch of the Bank Khreshchatyk