Deputies and Community Interaction Survey Results 2021 Ukraine

INTERACTION OF DEPUTIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS: Sociological survey results February, 2021 June, 2021 USAID RADA Program: Responsible, Accountable, Democratic Assembly in Ukraine USAID RADA Program: Responsible, Accountable, Democratic Assembly in Ukraine

Methodology o The survey was conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in April 2021 commissioned by the East Europe Foundation (USAID funded RADA Program) o The field phase lasted from 16 to 22 April 2021 o Computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) on the basis of random generation of mobile telephone numbers o The sample is representative of the adult population of Ukraine (aged 18 and older). The sample does not include the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions o A total of 2,004 respondents living in all oblasts of Ukraine and in Kyiv (except for the temporarily occupied territories) were interviewed o The statistical error of the sample (with a probability of 0.95 and a design effect of 1.1) does not exceed 2.4%

EXPERIENCE AND WAYS OF INTERACTION WITH MPs

EXPERIENCE OF ADDRESSING MPs Have you ever addressed a deputy ? (respondent could select several response options) Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine 5.3 Oblast Council 4.5 27.5%of respondents have addressed to a deputy Rayon Council 6.4 Local Councils 17.8 Never 72.1 Difficult to answer 0.4 : .

Ways to contact a deputy If you need to contact a deputy, what ways to contact him/her would you use? (The interviewer either noted the first "spontaneously" named answer, or read the list and noted one answer of the respondent) I will search in Internet 27.3 I know where the MP's reception office I will ask the acquiantances (incl. via Facebook) Via local self-government I will search in VRU website 19.4 11.9 10.1 4.3 3.7 1.3 1.0 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.9 3.3 By telephone Via hotline I will look for contact information Personally from the MP Through the reception of the deputy I know the place of residence of the deputy By letter Through government agencies I will look for the deputy's place of work Other I will not look for communication channels Hard to say 13.0 : .

Assessing the convenience of certain ways to contact a deputy What is the most convenient way for you to communicate with a deputy? Evaluate each method on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is the least convenient, 5 is the most convenient Most convenient 4 3 2 Least convenient Hard to say 3.5 8.6 Personal meeting with a deputy (in reception office) 66.0 8.8 7.7 5.4 Participation in the meeting with the voters (public event) 24.1 12.3 20.4 11.2 25.2 6.9 By telephone 22.8 18.1 16.3 8.5 29.8 4.6 Meeting with the deputy's assistant in the reception office 22.7 15.0 20.8 11.3 22.8 7.3 Via viber or other messengers 19.5 12.8 16.4 9.3 35.1 6.9 In social networks (Facebook page), or through the deputy's website 14.6 11.0 16.5 12.3 38.8 6.8 By phone with the deputy's assistant 14.2 10.2 18.2 12.8 39.3 5.3 By e-mail 13.7 10.8 14.6 11.5 43.0 6.5 Paper letter 11.2 9.6 14.1 14.2 45.9 5.0 : .

Assessment of convenience of digital methods of communication with the deputy % consider "convenient" (score 4-5) at least one of the digital ways (messengers, social networks, e-mail) Distribution of answers by age group At least one digital method was rated 4-5 18-29 49.6 50.4 41.2 30-39 48.4 51.6 40-49 46.0 54.0 58.8 50-59 39.4 60.6 No digital method was evaluated at 4-5 60-69 35.6 64.4 70+ 21.6 78.4 : / .

Self-assessment of awareness about issues that can be solved by the deputy Can it be said that you know well what issues a deputy can solve, on which issues and how to address him (her)? Yes, I know very well Do not know 10.6 44.0%of respondents consider that they know very well or rather know 19.7 Rather know 33.6 33.0 Rather do not know 3.2 Hard to say : .

E-SERVICES Electronic Petitions and Public Platform for Draft Laws

Awareness and usage of services Electronic petitions and Public discussion of draft laws Do you know about such an electronic service of the Verkhovna Rada as "Public discussion of draft laws"? / Have you participated in the discussion of draft laws using this tool? Do you know about such an electronic service of the Verkhovna Rada as the "Electronic Petitions" portal? / Have you signed a petition at least once using the e- government tool e-Petitions portal? Know and have used Know and have used 5.2 19.3 33.6 56.7 Do not know Do not know 23.9 Know, but have not used Know, but have not used 61.2 : .

Awareness and usage of services Electronic petitions and Public discussion of draft laws disaggregated by age groups Do you know about such an electronic service of the Verkhovna Rada as "Public discussion of draft laws"? / Have you participated in the discussion of draft laws using this tool? Do you know about such an electronic service of the Verkhovna Rada as the "Electronic Petitions" portal? / Have you signed a petition at least once using the e- government tool e-Petitions portal? Know and have used Know, but have not used Do not know Know and have used Know, but have not used Do not know 18-29 20.2 29.9 49.9 18-29 31.0 30.9 38.1 30-39 24.1 35.7 40.2 30-39 30.4 20.5 49.1 40-49 20.4 28.3 51.3 40-49 23.8 25.2 51.0 50-59 14.4 20.5 65.1 50-59 12.8 23.9 63.4 60-69 9.3 14.9 75.8 60-69 7.8 24.5 67.7 70+ 3.6 9.1 87.3 70+ 2.7 18.3 79.0 : .

PERCEPTION OF INTERACTION WITH MPs IN CONSTITUENCIES

Interaction of Peoples Deputies and Community in Constituency Do you agree with the following statements? Yes No Hard to say Interaction of MPs of Ukraine with the community is a mandatory element of the deputy's work in the community 4.1 89.8 6.1 5.0 Interaction of voters, community with MPs is a mandatory element for community development 87.3 7.6 Interaction of MPs with the community is an optional auxiliary element of the deputy's work in the community Interaction of voters, communities with MPs is an optional, auxiliary element for community development 20.0 71.4 8.6 23.8 67.9 8.3 Interaction with the community is not the task of the People's Deputy of Ukraine 12.9 79.5 7.7 Interaction with the People's Deputy of Ukraine is not the task of the community members 28.7 60.4 10.9 : .

Effective interaction depends on In your opinion, whom does effective and well-established interaction between the community and deputies depend on? On ? (a respondent could select several response options) Teams of MP 37.6 MP 34.6 Local authorities 30.6 Public activists 25.0 Civil society organizations 14.3 Me 13.4 Other 2.5 Hard to say 6.2 : .

MPs AND LOCAL BRANCHES OF PARTIES IN CONSTITUENCIES

Awareness about the MPs in the constituency Do you know where the reception office of the People's Deputy in your constituency is? Do you know who is a People's Deputy in your constituency? Are you familiar with the activities of the People's Deputy in your constituency? Yes No Hard to say 46.5 58.8 67.1 51.7 40.1 30.2 : .

Local branches of parties Have you ever approached a political party (reception, local branch), for example, to resolve an issue? Do you know the location of receptions and local party branches in your constituency? Do you know which parties have local branches in your constituency? Yes No Hard to say 55.2 65.6 87.8 42.1 32.4 11.8 : .

Addressing deputies vs. party branches To solve a question, would you rather apply to a deputy of a certain party (in the constituency) or to the party itself (local branch)? Only to the party Rather to the party Only to the MP 3.0 6.8 44.5%of respondents would address the MP 17.6 10.0%of respondents would address the party branch Hard to say 8.0 26.8 Rather to the MP 37.8 No preference : .

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER PROGRAMMING o Raise citizens' awareness about their rights, opportunities and benefits of interaction with MPs, party branches and local authorities, especially in the context of decentralization reform o Promote citizens proactive participation in solving issues through interaction with MPs o Raise citizens' awareness about the role of party branches o Promote efficient communication channels between MPs and ensure the feedback from the community to MPs o Raise awareness of new opportunities of digital communication (with special focus of middle/older age), share successful cases of using digital channels o Support multilateral partnership between MPs, local authorities, civic activists, community members for solving pressing issues at local level

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT o Assess the effectiveness of communication channels taking into account social-demographic characteristics of the community and support citizens engagement (using existing or developing new (online) platforms) o Active use of digital communication channels o Consider evidence-based conclusion of the survey that personal communication is now a priority for most citizens, continue intensified personal interactions o Educate the citizens about mandate of MP and opportunities for interaction between MPs and community members o Support the community development initiatives that encourage proactive citizens participation o Initiate multilateral partnerships with local authorities, civic activists, CSOs, community members for community development o Highlight contribution of MPs/Parliament to the local development

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