The model charter will allow non-governmental organizations to register faster and waste less time on bureaucratic procedures.
Ukrainian civil society today plays a key role in confronting the challenges of war and the country's reconstruction efforts. The public sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience, cohesion, and willingness to act in these unprecedented circumstances.
According to an analytical report by the Center for Policy Formation, as of 2024, more than 104,000 NGOs were registered in Ukraine, and their number is constantly growing. These organizations are focused on helping and supporting the military, people affected by the war, volunteer and humanitarian assistance, and responding to crises. They also care for veterans' rehabilitation, anti-corruption work, solve social problems, and promote human rights activities.
Currently, representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Ukraine often face difficulties that impede their effective work: complicated registration procedures, lack of common standards for effective governance, and lack of trust. These issues pose a serious obstacle for many activists and make it difficult for small organizations to operate in under-resourced communities.
The model charter for CSOs developed as part of a pilot project of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is intended to solve these problems.
This tool will simplify the registration process, reduce the administrative burden, and increase the trust of the public sector. The Government Resolution "On the Implementation of a Pilot Project to Enable the Operation of a Non-Governmental Organization based on a Model Charter" aligns with Ukraine's strategic priorities in the context of European integration. In its Ukraine 2024 report, the European Commission focuses on developing civil society as one of the key reforms for democratic governance. The document pays special attention to the following issues: simplifying non-governmental organizations' registration, increasing their work's transparency, and expanding people's participation in decision-making processes.
New opportunities for the public sector
The model charter offers several advantages for public sector representatives. Thanks to a unified approach to establishing CSOs, the administrative burden is significantly reduced. This allows activists to save time and focus on programmatic work instead of overcoming bureaucratic barriers.
The document contains clearly spelled-out provisions that comply with the law and are understandable to state registrars. This reduces the risk of registration being denied due to formal inaccuracies or legal errors that often occur when drafting a charter on your own.
Another important advantage is the speed of decision-making and acquisition of legal entity status. A non-governmental organization registered based on the model charter can start working quickly, apply for grant programs, enter into contracts, and legally interact with partners and donors.
This opportunity is especially valuable for activists from the temporarily occupied territories. Thanks to digital tools, they can register an NGO remotely without leaving their safe residence.
It is also important that the model charter provides flexibility in the organization's future work. If necessary, an NGO can develop an individual charter and re-register. The model document covers the most common needs and structures, so it is suitable for various activities, from humanitarian initiatives to human rights organizations.
In addition, a standardized approach helps to increase trust in organizations, both among participants and government institutions, partners, and donors. This is especially true for small or newly established initiatives that seek to act openly and responsibly.
The model charter also stimulates community development in regions lacking resources or legal support. It is not just a simplification of the procedure but a full-fledged tool for expanding participation and strengthening civil society even in areas where its development has been hampered.
Expected results from the implementation of the model charter
This step forms the basis for the sustainable development of civil society. Thus, thanks to a unified approach to management, CSOs can optimize financial and material resources and use them effectively. In addition, new organizations will create new projects.
The model charter is also important for increasing investment attractiveness, as clear rules and transparent procedures will increase the trust of international donors and grantors.
Such changes also aim to support internally displaced persons, low-income people, and youth, who receive tools to protect their rights and implement their initiatives.
Ultimately, this will help strengthen social cohesion, as creating organizations around common interests will help unite the community and establish a dialogue.
Who can participate in the pilot project?
- Adult Ukrainians who have been assigned taxpayer registration numbers and unique record numbers in the Unified State Demographic Register;
- Public organizations that have the status of a legal entity;
- The Ministry of Digital Transformation;
- The Ministry of Justice and its territorial bodies.
The involvement of these parties ensures proper technical, legal, and organizational support for the process and allows the project to be scaled up to all levels in the future.
Next steps for successful implementation
In 2025-2027, the pilot project will evaluate the effectiveness of the model charter, adapt it to the public sector's needs, and, based on the experience gained, decide on the scale of this important initiative. The project is scheduled to be launched on November 1, 2025.
The following steps should be taken to ensure that the model charter is fully operational:
- Develop an additional registration option in Diia. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Digital Transformation should create an accessible algorithm that will allow everyone to apply online.
- Conduct an information campaign. It is important to inform the public how the model charter works, its benefits, and how to take advantage of this opportunity.
- Implement educational programs. Training for activists and potential NGOs' founders will help them understand the new rules.
- Provide monitoring and feedback. During the pilot project's implementation, it is necessary to regularly evaluate its effectiveness and collect suggestions and comments for further improvement.
In general, the introduction of the model charter is not just a technical change but a significant step towards strengthening civil society. This tool's simplicity, transparency, and accessibility create new conditions for people to participate in solving socially essential issues. Thanks to this solution, activists can focus on implementing their initiatives, which will contribute to developing individual communities and the country.
Dmytro Yaprakh, expert on legal support for freedom of association, UCIPR
The article was published in Detector Media.
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