“e-Opinions” in “Action”: The government is testing a new channel of communication with local authorities
21 April 14:45
The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine is preparing to launch a new service in the app
Diya — “eDumky, “ reports "Komersant Ukrainian".
This is an experimental tool designed to simplify communication between citizens and local government bodies and military administrations.
A draft government resolution has already been published.
What is the issue
In its explanatory note, the Ministry of Digital Transformation outlines the main challenges:
- local authorities spend significant resources processing requests
- outdated formats prevail:
- paper applications
- in-person visits
- phone inquiries
- Access to these mechanisms is uneven
This is particularly true for:
- people with disabilities
- older adults
- residents of remote communities
How the “eDumky” service will work
The service offers several key features:
- submitting requests online
- tracking the status of requests
- participating in surveys
- expressing support or disagreement
Important restriction:
- Users are strictly tied to their community
- this is intended to prevent manipulation and “spam” from other cities
Where it will be launched
The pilot project will last two years and cover five regions:
- Vinnytsia
- Volyn
- Zaporizhzhia
- Ternopil
- Kharkiv
This choice allows the system to be tested in different regions with varying levels of security and digitalization
Who is funding it
The Ministry of Digital Transformation states:
- the project does not require additional budget funds
- Funding comes from international technical assistance
- Administration will be carried out within the scope of already allocated resources
This is a typical approach for digital reforms in Ukraine.
Potential benefits
- Faster feedback between citizens and the government
- reduced bureaucracy
- expanded access to participation in local governance
- Digitization of local processes
Potential risks
- Limiting participation to one’s “own” community may narrow the impact
- issues of trust in digital surveys
- Risk of formalization—when requests are made but there is no response
- Dependence on the population’s digital literacy
Ukraine has been developing government digital services through “Diyu” for several years:
- documents
- services
- interaction with the government
“eDumky” is an attempt to move from services to elements of digital democracy.
