Group Policy Analysis

Policy analysis groups are established as temporary creative teams consisting of civil servants that work upon the search for strategy and ways of addressing a specific actual problem in the priority area of a respective government body.

The legislative framework for the functioning of policy analysis groups includes the following documents:

1. The Program of Civil Service Development for 2005-2010 that was approved by a regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine # 746 of 8.06.2004 with the amendments endorsed by a resolution of the CMU from 03.09.08

2. The order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On Ensuring the Functioning of Policy Analysis Groups in Central Executive Power bodies and the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine” of 07.02.2007

3. The order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On Approval of Measures with Regard to Implementation of the EU-Ukraine Action Plan in 2008” from 06.08.08

4. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of Canada on the reform of human resources management system in the Ukraine’s civil service that was signed on 26.05.08.

Policy analysis is a set of practical tools on the preparation of policy decisions that includes comprehensive analysis of existing trends and problems, assessment of their causes and implications, formation of alternative ways of problem solving and selection of optimal options.

Participation of civil servants in the functioning of policy analysis groups is classified as in-service scientific research. Policy analysis groups include 10-12 civil servants of III-IV categories representing various structural departments of the respective executive power body, in particular: heads of structural departments on European integration issues, civil servants participating in the elaboration of budget proposals and inquiries of central executive bodies; civil servants participating in the planning of the activity of executive bodies; civil servants occupied with public relations and mass media, and employees of personnel units. Head and composition of policy analysis groups are endorsed by the leadership of a respective executive power body.

Policy analysis groups represent a mechanism of improving the system of planning, making and coordination of public policy in state authorities. Participation in policy analysis groups promotes the formation of practical skills in the sphere of policy analysis, impact of government decisions, benefits and costs, organizations of effective communications. Policy analysis groups proved their effectiveness during the preparation of state authorities to the application of institution building instruments Twinning and TAIEX.

POLICY ANALYSIS GROUPS IN 2009

In its letter from 07.11.08, the Main Department of the Civil Service of Ukraine addressed the Vice-Prime-Minister of Ukraine with the proposal to form policy analysis groups according to priorities of implementation of the future Association agreement between Ukraine and the EU in the part related to creation of a free trade area. The MDCSU also suggested a tentative list of topics for policy analysis groups.

According to the order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from 18.11.08, the MDCSU received proposals related to eventual content of work and personnel composition of policy analysis groups from the National Bank of Ukraine, Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and seventeen (17) central executive power bodies. As a result, in December 2008, ten intergovernmental policy analysis groups were formed to support the establishment of a free trade area, and three groups – related to civil service reform.

The functioning of policy analysis groups in 2009 is distinguished by the preparation to the implementation of the future Association agreement with the EU in the part related to the creation of a free trade area between Ukraine and the EU. In particular, main tasks of the groups include the following:

• to develop sectoral strategies within the framework of meeting commitments under the future Association agreement with the EU that would clearly define tasks and steps related to the Agreement’s implementation, with the consideration of available documents and requirements in this sector, as well as needs for the strategy’s realization (financial, human and institutional);
• to present draft strategies and to discuss them with representatives of Ukrainian business circles and other stakeholders.

List of policy analysis groups to support the establishment of a free trade area with the European Union:

1. Development of strategy in the sphere of overcoming technical barriers in trade: standardization and assessment of conformity
2. Development of strategy in the sphere of financial services: movement of capital
3. Development of strategy in the sphere of public procurement
4. Development of strategy in the sphere of sanitary and phytosanitary regulation
5. Development of strategy in the sphere of legal protection for intellectual property
6. Preparation of strategic policy documents in the transport sphere with the purpose of implementing a future Association agreement with the EU in the part related to the creation of a free trade area between Ukraine and the EU
7. Development of mechanisms on the gradual implementation of the Chapters “Environment” and “Trade and sustainable development of the agreement on the creation of a free trade zone between Ukraine and the EU” within the Association agreement between Ukraine and the EU
8. Development of strategy in the energy sphere.
9. Development of strategy in the taxation sphere.

List of policy analysis groups related to the implementation of priorities of the civil service reform:

1. Reforming the classification of positions in connection with remuneration system for civil servants
2. Introduction of new approaches to annual assessment of the performance of civil servants
3. Reform of the system of professional training for civil servants on the basis of competency profiles for middle and high rank of civil servants

Training program for policy analysis groups in 2009 includes the review of the following topics:

• "Process of policy development – step by step. Documents related to policy planning. Methods of situation analysis”;
• “Problem identification. Results and outputs. Logical matrix”;
• “Formulation of policy goals. Results and outputs. Logical matrix”;
• “Identification and choice of alternative options of solving problems”;
• “Analysis of the impact of government decisions. Risk analysis and cost evaluation”;
• ”Public consultation. Effective communications with stakeholders”;
• “Planning of policy implementation and monitoring”.

POLICY ANALISYS DOCUMENTS 2009:

1. A policy on Overcoming Technical Trade Barriers: Standartization and Confirmity Assessment

(Participants : State Committee on Technical Regulation and Consumer Policy of Ukraine, Ministry of Economy of Ukraine,
Ministry of Industrial Policy of Ukraine)

2. Consultations on Improving the Investment Climate in the Agriculture Sector of the Ukrainian Economy

(Participants : National Bank of Ukraine, Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, Ministry of Justice of Ukraine)

3. Determination of Optimal Ways to Reduce the Level of Privacy in Ukraine with Respect to Copyright and Related Rights in the Course of Circulation of Copyright Objects on Tangible Mediums

(Participants : Ministry of education and science of Ukraine ( State Department of Intellectual Property of Ukraine),Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine,Ministry of Justice of Ukraine,Ministry of Justice of Ukraine)

4. Development of Water Resource Management Policy under the "Environment" Section of the EU- Ukraine Association Agreement

(Participants : Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine,Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of Ukraine, State Committee on Technical Regulation and Consumer Policy of Ukraine)

5. Dissemination of Information on Public Procurement: Adaptation of Ukrainian Legislation to the acquis communautaire

(Participants : Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, Ministry of Justice of Ukraine)

6. Harmonization of the National Aviation Safety System with European Standarts within the Framework of the Common Aviation area Agreement. Participation of Ukraine in the European Aviation Safety Agency

(Participants : Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine, Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine)

7. Harmonization of Ukrainian Legislation on the Application of Excise Duty on Alcohol and Tobacco Products in the Context of a Future Agreement on Association with the EU

(Participants:Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, State Tax Administration of Ukraine)

8. Improvement of Risk Management in the Financial Services Sphere in Ukraine

(Participants : Ministry of Finance of Ukraine,Ministry of Justice of Ukraine,State Commission for Regulation of Financial Services Markets of Ukraine, Securities and Stock Market State Commission, National Bank of Ukraine)

9. Priority Efforts for the Integration of Unified Power System of Ukraine into Unified Power System of the EU

(Participants : Ministry of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine, Ministry of Justice, National Electricity Regulatory Commission of Ukraine)

10. Strategy for the Improvement of State Sanitary and Phytosanitary Control and Surveillance at State Border Crossings

(Participants : Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Ministry of Agrarian policy of Ukraine, State Committee for Veterinary Medicine of Ukraine, Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, Ministry of Economy of Ukraine)

The action plan for policy analysis groups for 2009 envisages the conduct of public discussion of respective analytical papers with the participation of stakeholders. International experts having practical work experience in government of the EU member states will be involved in the conduct of training sessions and consultative support for the functioning of policy analysis groups.

Organization of the functioning of policy analysis groups, expert and methodological support for their work are components of the scientific research “Development of policy analysis groups in the system of executive bodies in Ukraine” commissioned by the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to standards of the European Union and implemented by the Center for Social Expertise under the Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Science of Ukraine.

Policy analysis groups 2007-2008 info

Attachments:

Policy analysis groups 2007-2008 info

[ ]

58 Kb