Expert discussion on the implementation of the effective models of knowledge management in the area of decentralization was held in Kyiv on April 15, 2010.
The discussion was elicited by the need of taking into account the views of national experts and partners, as well as identifying approaches, concepts and methods of management DESPRO’s knowledge and experience.
 
Development and integration of the efficient knowledge management models into the local government systems constitute one of the main tasks of the second phase of DESPRO project. In this dimension the project aims at enhancing the capacity of local authorities by developing mechanisms for exchange of experience and information on the local, regional and national levels and provision of access to the free use of this information by the DESPRO target groups. Databases, resource centers, workshops, glossaries, libraries, publications, web-portals, training of trainers, training courses for public servants, e-learning courses etc. present some of the knowledge management tools in the area of decentralization. Combining these tools into single entity can result into a powerful center for knowledge management.

 In the course of discussion experts concluded that elaboration and application of the best practices of advanced training for local self-governance servants, as well as dubbing analytical materials could become valuable factors in strengthening the public servants’ capacities. According to Anatoliy Tkachuk, Chairman of the Management Board of the Civil Society Institute, development of the stable and capable knowledge management system in the country requires the elaboration of a clear strategy and algorithms for solving this issue by effective costs. Executive Director Deputy of the Association of cities of Ukraine Anatoly Chemerys is convinced that government order should be issued for the creation of such a system.
 All experts agreed with the fact that it is of utmost importance to raise awareness among the population about decentralization issues, particularly in the rural areas; village councils should be computerized to establish effective information flow.
 
This discussion was the first one in the series of similar meetings.

The experts: Bertha Camacho (Swiss Resource Centre and Consultancies for Development - skat), Anatoliy Chemerys (Association of cities of Ukraine), Anatoliy Tkachuk (Civil Society Institute), Oleksander Goncharuk (Institute of Sociology of NASU), Vyacheslav Kozak (Ministry of Housing Maintenance and Utilities), Nataliya Protasova (National Academy of Public Administration), Oksana Garnets (Senior Project Coordinator, Swiss-Ukrainian Decentralization Support Project in Ukraine DESPRO), as well as DESPRO specialists.