SIGMA (Support for Improvement in Governance and Management) - one of the most prestigious analytical centers of the European Union, which was established in 1992 by a joint initiative of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union.

SIGMA helps countries plan and implement their priority reforms through bilateral technical assistance projects, regional activities and horizontal initiatives to support the European Commission in further developing its focus on public administration reform, including public financial management.

The purpose of SIGMA is:

• strengthening the foundations of public administration;
• promoting socio-economic development by strengthening the institutional capacity of the public sector;
• strengthening horizontal governance;
• improvement of elaboration process and implementation of the public administration reform.

Technical assistance of SIGMA Programme provided in the framework of six areas:

SIGMA assistance in the field of public administration reform provided by:

• analysis of administrative structures;
• elaboration and implementation of administrative system reforms;
• analysis of proposed draft legislations and programs;
• organization of training and information exchange;
• preparation of technical assistance plans.

Building on all its experience and working with senior advisers working in relevant national authorities, the SIGMA Programme has worked closely with the European Commission to develop the Principles of Public Administration, and also to give countries a tangible basis for what good governance should look like and what it should strive for in order to better serve its citizens and businesses.

Moreover, for SIGMA partners they has prepared Toolkit for preparation, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of public administration reform and sector strategies.

Legislation base:

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ukraine and the OECD on deepening cooperation, signed on October 7, 2014

Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine "On the procedure for participation of central executive bodies in the activities of international organizations of which Ukraine is a member" of September 13, 2002 № 1371

SIGMA Work Programme for December 2022 – March 2024, elaborated jointly with the interested state authorities of Ukraine.

According to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of September 13, 2002 № 1371 "On the procedure for participation of central executive bodies in the activities of international organizations of which Ukraine is a member" NAUCS is the central executive body responsible for membership of Ukraine in the OECD Committee on Public Administration (hereinafter - the Committee). Since 2008, the NAUCS has been participating in the Committee as a permanent observer. The purpose of the Committee activities is to assist countries in building and strengthening the capacity to elaborate and implement unbiased, citizen-centered public policies, strengthen the capacity of public institutions, and assess current and new strategic challenges to government in the context of the global economy. Participation in its work provides both OECD and non-OECD countries with many opportunities, including:

• contributes to identify and address today's strategic problems, which arise in front of governments, in particular increasing the trust to the government authorities and taking an effective approach to responding to the challenges facing governments;
• contributes to conduct the balanced and efficient public policy, increase transparency, quality and effectiveness in functioning of government authorities and service provision;
• disseminates the best elements of good governance and contributes to improving the efficiency, transparency, responsibility and accountability of government agencies.

The main results of cooperation with SIGMA

In 2006, an evaluation of six areas of public administration in Ukraine based on the basic indicators of the SIGMA Programme was initiated. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted Order № 196-r “On Signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ukraine, the UK Ministry of International Development, the Swedish International Development Agency and the European Commission Delegation to Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus on the evaluation of public administration in Ukraine according to the basic indicators of the OECD / SIGMA program"  and № 186-r “On the Establishment of the Coordinating Council for the Organization of Public Administration Assessment on SIGMA Basic Indicators”.

The report of the SIGMA Programme on the evaluation of the governance system in Ukraine was published at the international conference "Administrative Reform Strategy: Recommendations of the SIGMA Programme to the Government of Ukraine", which took place on July 5, 2006.

In addition, NAUCS cooperated with the SIGMA Programme on the Law of Ukraine “On Civil Service” of December 10, 2016 № 889-VIII, the draft Law of Ukraine “On Service in Local Self-Government Bodies”, the Public Administration Reform Strategy for 2016–2020, approved by the decree Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of June 24, 2016 № 474-r "Some issues of public administration reform in Ukraine".

From January 31 to February 2, 2017, the NAUCS were provided consultations with the EU Advisory Group as part of the fifth working visit of the EU Advisory Group to Ukraine in the area of reforming the Civil Service and Human Resources Management. The issues of public administration reform and implementation of the Strategy were discussed during the meetings. Therewith, the experts of the EU Advisory Group were presented the results of work in the field of civil service reform, implementation of the Concept of introduction of reform specialists and competitive selection for civil service positions (based on recent practical experience and evaluation by the EU Advisory Group and SIGMA). During the event also presented a report on the analysis of the number of civil servants in the EU and Ukraine, as well as recommendations of the EU Advisory Group on monitoring the number of civil servants in Ukraine, which will increase transparency in the civil service.

In the second half of 2017, the NAUCS together with the SIGMA Programme also implemented a number of measures in preparation for a comprehensive assessment of the state of affairs in the public administration system of Ukraine, as provided by the Strategy. In particular, the Conference "Public administration reform in Ukraine: assessment of the state of affairs, achievements and challenges" was held, in order to discuss the progress in public administration reform in Ukraine, and also the main tasks and challenges, which arise behind the Ukrainian side in this process. The Conference became the formal beginning of implementation full and in-depth assessment of state of affairs in public administration system with the participation of the SIGMA Programme.

In the framework of panel discussion, the participants of conference have discussed the achievements and challenges in implementation of public administration reform in Ukraine. Moreover, the Principles of Public Administration of SIGMA were presented, the main approaches and technical aspects of the future assessment of public administration in Ukraine were outlined.

In 2018, the SIGMA program presented the results of the assessment of the state of affairs in the public administration system of Ukraine. The results of this assessment were aimed at assisting the Government of Ukraine in planning and implementing further reforms in key directions of public administration reform and in revising the appropriate Strategy. More details can be found at: Baseline Measurement Report: The Principles of Public Administration. Ukraine (2018)

During 2019 were provided coordination of drafts SIGMA terms of reference with stakeholders, namely: “Support of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine to ensure reporting and updating the Strategy for reforming the public finance management system for 2017-2020”, “Support for Civil Service Reform for 2018-2019”.

In addition, taking into account the results of the SIGMA program's comprehensive assessment of the state of affairs in the public administration system in 2018, the overall coordination of which was provided by the NAUCS together with the Center for Adaptation of the Civil Service to the standards of the European Union, the Government approved a new version of the Public Administration Reform Strategy until 2021. In addition, relevant changes were made to the Concept of optimizing the system of central executive bodies, approved by the order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of December 27, 2017 № 1013-r.

The implementation of the Public Administration Reform Strategy until 2021 should result in a more efficient and accountable public administration system that works in the public interest, ensures sustainable development of the country and provides quality public services.

For the time being, the implementation of the SIGMA Work Programme for December 2022 – March 2024, which was elaborated jointly with interested government authorities of Ukraine, is being provided. The Plan, in the sphere of public service reform and human resource management, provides the priority of cooperation with Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service concerning to support the implementation civil service reform, in particular remuneration system according to the Action Plan for the implementation of the Concept of reforming the system of civil servants remuneration; the institutional structure of the central government; as well as support for the Law on Service in Local Self-Government.

Also, in accordance with item 344 of the Government’s priority action plan for 2023, approved by the Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated March 14, 2023 No. 221, in April 2023, the SIGMA Programme began conducting a monitoring assessment of public administration of Ukraine in six areas defined by the Principles of Public Administration. The assessment will determine the current state of public administration and improvements needed within the framework of the recovery process of Ukraine and the European integration process.

European integration is the main and invariable foreign policy priority of Ukraine, and further development and deepening of relations between Ukraine and the EU is carried out on the principles of political association and economic integration.