With EU support, a consortium of several CSOs launches new project to monitor public investment projects

With Ukraine’s reconstruction needs estimated at nearly EUR 500 billion, a new initiative has been launched to ensure that every hryvnya of public investment is spent transparently and effectively. 

Supported by the European Union, the “Public Investment Watchdog” project establishes a comprehensive framework that combines robust civic monitoring with advanced digital solutions to track the management and allocation of funds for public infrastructure and recovery.

The project also contributes to increasing the capacities of hromadas and civil society in the implementation of public investment management (PIM) reform.

The official launch of the project took place on March 3 at the European Union Delegation premises in Kyiv. The event brought together key stakeholders dedicated to Ukraine’s accountable public investment process, including representatives from the European Union, the Government of Ukraine, and three civil society organizations implementing the project: the Centre for Economic Strategy, the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, and Technology of Progress. 

By empowering independent observers to scrutinize government spending, the “Public Investment Watchdog” project aims to identify PIM implementation gaps, ensure improved efficiency of the system and increase awareness of the reform among key stakeholders. 

Beyond oversight, the core pillars of the project are digitalization and capacity building. The three partner civil society organizations will continue their joint work to integrate the Big Recovery Portal with the DREAM ecosystem, providing a verified digital tool for local CSOs to oversee projects in their own communities. 

A key component of the project will be a diagnostic assessment of administrative gaps and needs at the local level in the implementation of the PIM reform. Based on these findings, the project team will provide targeted training to local authorities to help them prepare and implement public investment projects more effectively.

A sub-grant programme will also be launched to support grassroots monitoring of selected public investment projects. Regional civil society organisations are encouraged to apply to the call, which will be announced soon.

“Public investment management is essential for strengthening Ukraine’s economy. It helps to create jobs, attract private investment, balance regional inequalities, and support the country’s resilience and EU integration path. By ensuring that every euro and hryvnia is spent effectively and transparently, Ukraine can build investor confidence and promote long-term prosperity. Therefore, civic oversight is one of the key factors of accountability within public investment management. As the reform enters an important phase, further integration of the Big Recovery Portal into DREAM will boost openness and usability of public investment data,” said Henrik Huitfeldt, Head of Sector for Public Finance, Business Support and Social Policies at the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

Deputy Director of CES and Project Manager Maria Repko emphasized that the project mission is to ensure that every public investment aligns with Ukraine's recovery goals and EU integration commitments. 

“By bridging the gap between civic oversight and government action, we are not just monitoring spending — we are building a lasting culture of transparency. Integrating our digital tools with the state’s DREAM system ensures that accountability is embedded into the entire lifecycle of a project. Ultimately, this project empowers both authorities and citizens to work together toward an efficient, professional, and trusted investment process,” said Maria Repko. 

According to Oleksandra Betliy, Leading research fellow, Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, within just a few years, Ukraine has progressed from developing a PIM reform roadmap to the full-scale launch (though not ideal) of its core elements at both the national and local levels.

“A key challenge of this reform is the need to coordinate efforts and policies among various stakeholders, as well as the critical importance of clear reform ownership. Another significant hurdle is the lack of capacity across all levels to adopt strategies, align them with priorities, and prepare high-quality projects. However, it is vital to continuously analyze the reform's progress and adjust approaches as necessary. This is supported by World Bank findings on similar reforms in other countries: the process typically takes 5 to 10 years and requires multiple iterations of policy changes," said Oleksandra Betliy.

Maryna Denysiuk, the Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, stressed that the PIM reform is a complex, multi-layered process that requires strategic flexibility, especially during its initial years of implementation.

“Our goal is to ensure a legislative framework that allows for the most efficient and transparent use of resources, addressing both the urgent needs of wartime recovery and the strategic development goals of our communities. Today, it is vital to provide local governments with the tools to prepare high-quality projects that will ultimately become part of sectoral recovery strategies. The launch of this project is a significant step toward making the recovery process — at both local and national levels — transparent and effective,” noted Maryna Denysiuk.

Dmytro Samonenko, the Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine stated that the active engagement of civil society in the PIM reaffirms its profound importance and provides us with the necessary impulse to drive this transformation forward. 

“While some may count the years since the reform’s inception, I believe we are currently at the most critical stage: the formation of a new culture and attitude toward public investment. This shift in mindset is the true beginning of the reform, and seeing such strong collaboration between the government and the public gives us the confidence to continue its development,” said Dmytro Samonenko.

The “Public Investment Watchdog” project is implemented by the leading civil society organizations: Centre for Economic Strategy, Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, and Technology of Progress. Supported by the European Union, the initiative serves as a strategic expansion of the “Recovery Spending Watchdog” project (2023–2025), aligning independent civic monitoring with the ongoing institutionalization of Public Investment Management reform in Ukraine. The project will continue its operations throughout 2026–2027, focusing on enhancing transparency and accountability in the nation’s recovery efforts.

Press contact: Olena Shkarpova, shkarpova@ier.kyiv.ua