The PAR4UA project - a grant from the Latvian MFA

The project is aimed at supporting Ukraine's public administration reform (PAR) in the context of EU accession negotiations and strengthening the institutional capacity of state bodies.

General information

Duration: June 1, 2025 – October 31, 2026
Budget: €178,976.18
Partners: Providus (Latvia), Professional Government Association of Ukraine (PGA, Ukraine)

Project Goal

To facilitate the implementation of Ukraine’s Public Administration Reform (PAR) within the context of EU accession negotiations and to strengthen the institutional capacity of Ukrainian state bodies.

Context

Progress in PAR reform is crucial for fulfilling Ukraine’s commitments within the “Fundamentals” cluster of EU accession negotiations.
The war has weakened institutions and fragmented civil society, complicating the implementation of reforms.

Problem:
Insufficient capacity of state institutions (particularly NACS, the Ministry of Justice) to implement PAR reform threatens governance effectiveness, resilience, and the European integration process.

Solution:
Strengthen the reform by consolidating civil society expertise, developing institutional capacity, and fostering international partnership with Latvia.

The main objectives of the project

  • Building a coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) for strategic input into PAR 2025–2030 and monitoring its implementation.
  • Providing expert support to NACS and the Ministry of Justice to address urgent needs exacerbated by the war.
  • Utilizing Latvian partnership for knowledge exchange, advocacy, and establishing a PAR ambassadors hub.

Expected results

  • A unified civil society position on the PAR 2025–2030 strategy
  • Strengthened advocacy and international cooperation
  • Enhanced institutional capacity of NACS and the Ministry of Justice
  • Improved quality of training for civil servants
  • Increased public awareness of PAR reform

Task 1. Consolidation of PAR advocacy and civil society input.

Activity 1.1 – Establishment and Operation of the PAR Coordination Coalition

  • Leadership: PGA
  • Participants: 10+ Ukrainian CSOs, PAR Ambassadors, government/parliament representatives
  • Results:
    • A signed Memorandum of Cooperation
    • Prepared recommendations for the PAR strategy
    • Analytical notes / monitoring reports

Activity 1.2 – Formation of a PAR Ambassadors Network (national and international)

  • Partners: PGA, Providus, CPLR, UCEP
  • Up to 45 participants (Ukraine, Latvia, diaspora)
  • 20 online sessions involving Latvian experts
  • 4 networking events
  • Results: established network, training materials, advocacy campaigns

Activity 1.3 – International Advocacy Events

Brussels (Fall 2025): presentation of the coalition’s vision for the PAR strategy

Riga (Fall 2026): demonstration of PAR progress and exchange of experience with Latvia

Task 2. Strengthening the institutional capacity of NACS and the Ministry of Justice.

Activity 2.1 – Expert Support for NACS and the Ministry of Justice

  • 4 experts (12 months, September 2025 – September 2026)
  • Topics: PAR policy, EU requirements, HRM for veterans
  • Result: enhanced capacity of both institutions

Activity 2.2 – Series of International Policy Talks to Improve Civil Servant Training

  • 5 online seminars (2 in 2025, 3 in 2026)
  • Participants: National Academy for Public Administration under the President of Ukraine (NAPA), international and Latvian experts
  • Topics: EU standards, methodology, quality of trainings
  • Results: strengthened connections, improved quality of training