Our Changes in the Course of 10 Years: TI Ukraine Example

Honestly, I think a lot about my work. No surprise since over the years that I have headed Transparency International Ukraine, it has almost become a part of me. But November 1 was a special day to talk about work. It marked 10 years since the organization so dear to me obtained full accreditation from Transparency International for the first time and was born as it is now known both in Ukraine and around the world. 

So, no matter how selfish it may seem, I will talk about it—about Transparency International Ukraine. 

What have we become? Where are we heading? Let me cover it in 10 points. 

1. Of utter importance today is TI Ukraine’s transformation from a regional civil society organization into a powerful think tank. Over these 10 years, we have built a strong analytical component, and we implement it not pointwise, but systematically. We used to rely on someone else’s research almost every time. Gradually, we strengthened our expertise, started working on deeper analytical materials, which first formed the basis for us and then provided a basis for others. This year alone, we have written and published 20 profound studies and reports on various topics, and we still have two months left of 2024.

We not only focus on shortcomings in the field, but also analyze successful cases, which will allow for our systemic approach to providing proposals for real changes in the future. Without a thorough analysis, it will be difficult to move forward, and we will always face some unexpected requirements or conditions. But it is this comprehensive approach that helps us avoid frustration in such cases, and a thorough analysis enables us to adjust in time to new circumstances. 

2. Thus emerges another of our strengths—a strong expert basis that makes it possible to change if necessary, that is, to be flexible. On the one hand, to be a partner to the authorities, on the other hand, to state that there are problems, to stand our ground.  All because TI Ukraine is always ready to cooperate in the cases that benefit the state. We do not choose between black and white; we understand that everything is gray. And only together can we change something.

3. Although one organization cannot cover all topics and all problems, in these 10 years, we have grown significantly in various focus areas. Over the years, the organization has expanded its expertise because there are still a lot of fields in Ukraine where good governance needs to be improved.

TI Ukraine will definitely answer the question of what its expertise is. Perhaps not immediately because the answer often requires additional study or even research, but it will certainly do so. And the range of such answers is very wide.

4. Over 10 years, the organization has formed a large legal department, which seems to continuously analyze all anti-corruption and other important draft laws or court decisions. This year alone, we have prepared 23 legal analyses of Ukrainian legislation. We develop systemic large reports, where we identify trends and analyze patterns. For instance, we wrote the report Ten Years of Combating Corruption, which we prepared at the request of the Polish Stefan Batory Foundation, and worked on the anti-corruption chapter in the Shadow Report for the European Commission.

5. Today, we also have a strong team of innovators studying procurement, and this activity is expanding. There are too many focus areas in this field. After all, our work with procurement covers monitoring, policies, and legislation matters. We launched the DOZORRO portal with a convenient search and the possibility to leave feedback and developed the most advanced data analytics tool in procurement—BI Prozorro. Simultaneously, we have been teaching the public throughout Ukraine to monitor procurement and report violations to supervisory bodies and law enforcement officers. Over the eight years of DOZORRO’s activity, more than 130 criminal proceedings have already been opened following our appeals. In 2023, 5% of all criminal cases in the field of public procurement were opened based on our appeals.

6. TI Ukraine is the only organization that engages in the regional component, without having regional offices, but working through a network of its partners. Our city transparency and accountability rankings are a true benchmark for dozens of city councils. In the first five years of the Transparent Cities program, the level of transparency of municipalities increased by 62.2%, and this prompted us to develop other important analytical products. This year, the program also entered into a large-scale partnership with the state and Western partners and launched the innovative Open Data Pulse Ranking—a study of the level of open data disclosure in 80 cities.

7. In the course of these 10 years, the organization has developed a powerful international cooperation department. We cooperate with almost every stakeholder engaged in the advocacy of important topics both in the fight against corruption and in other related areas. But, perhaps, this should be covered in the next point.

Our expertise in international cooperation has really seen immense growth over these 10 years, and the development of the Shadow Report for the European Commission is only one of its forms. Above all, TI Ukraine is an international organization, this component is included in our name, in our essence, and in fact is the basis for our activities. We work in Ukraine and for Ukraine, but just those 10 years have shown that only in close cooperation with the European Union, the United States, and other representatives of the progressive West, is a real democratization of our country possible.

Therefore, in the future, the development of TI Ukraine will be associated with the deepening of our expertise in international cooperation, in particular in European integration processes. This is a long-term commitment, which will bring together all future reforms. We used to do everything for the sake of reforms, now everything will be for the sake of European integration. In this regard, we are ready to face the fact that our opinions may differ not only from the position of the Ukrainian authorities, but also from the position of the European Union.

8. In these 10 years, TI Ukraine has established internal processes following the example of best practices for CSOs. In some cases, our practices are better than those of our partners. We have developed a system that does not depend on HR changes within the team. Yes, we have become more bureaucratized, but this was a challenge caused by growth. During this time, we experienced several internal crises, which we dealt with more or less successfully. Our approach to topics and areas for further study is systematic, thorough, and long-term, and is not limited to any campaigns or projects. At the same time, we also sometimes make mistake, but we always analyze and try to correct them.  

9. We clearly adhere to our positions and very rarely change them if we are confident. Indeed, we almost never engage in any major confrontations because conflicts do not bring any benefits for Ukraine. We can always find some common ground. However, if there is no such ground, then it makes no sense to put up with it either.

10.  10 years after receiving full accreditation, TI Ukraine has become one of the largest and most influential organizations in the entire global network. Our voice is heard and relied upon. Our activities are an example for others, and this is in fact a significant incentive to work tirelessly for the next 10 years.

Everything I have listed here would be impossible without the team who, in fact, form this organization. Dozens of people passed through TI Ukraine. Some stay here for years, and there are even those who remember the day of obtaining full accreditation.  

People are our strength, our mind, and our drive for further success. Mind it, there are not ten, but many more such achievements!