The Higher School of Lobbying has developed a concept for advancing lobbying within local government bodies
On June 5, 2026, the Higher School of Lobbying hosted a working meeting of representatives of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, public policy experts, and representatives of local government bodies, dedicated to the development of a new area of professional activity—lobbying in local government bodies.
The event was attended by Oleksiy Shevchuk, Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine; Vadym Vashchenko, member of the UNLA Ethics Council; Ivan Fursenko, an expert on local self-government; Volodymyr Bondarenko, a member of the Kyiv City Council; Ivan Synetar, an expert in municipal management; Violetta Rybachkovska-Sukhanova, a member of the UNLA Ethics Council; lobbyists Yaroslav Kuts and Dmytro Buzanov; as well as other specialists in the fields of law, public policy, and communications.
During the meeting, participants discussed practical mechanisms for interaction between lobbyists and local government bodies and developed a concept for a new area of activity for the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, aimed at establishing clear, transparent, and lawful standards for lobbying at the local level.
The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association continues to bring together professionals from various fields of lobbying. Following the meeting, key areas for developing practical recommendations and professional standards for lobbying in local government were identified; these will soon be refined by a broad group of experts and presented at an open public event.
The participants paid particular attention to the issue of developing a unified approach to cooperation between the business community, the public, and local authorities. It is local governments that make a significant portion of the decisions affecting the development of local communities, the investment attractiveness of regions, support for entrepreneurship, and the implementation of socially important projects.
The discussion focused on developing practical mechanisms for cooperation between lobbyists and local government bodies, which are intended to ensure the legality, professionalism, and maximum transparency of the interest representation process. The upcoming standards are designed to foster a modern culture of open dialogue between citizens, business, and government in line with best European practices.
During the discussion, participants also emphasized the importance of distinguishing between legitimate lobbying and corrupt practices. As lobbyist Yaroslav Kuts noted, lobbying is a legitimate and clearly defined by law means of influencing policy-making, whereas any other forms of informal influence cannot be equated with professional lobbying activities.
The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association is convinced that the institutional foundation for a new profession in Ukraine is currently taking shape. Work on lobbying standards in local government bodies will be an important step toward developing a transparent lobbying market, increasing trust in interest representation mechanisms, and strengthening the country’s democratic institutions.
In the near future, UNLA plans to hold a public presentation of the recommendations and step-by-step guidelines it has developed regarding lobbying efforts within local government bodies.
