Draft bill #11424-1 of August 8, 2024 

Sponsor: MP Halyna Tretiakova from the Servant of the People faction 

Status: sent for review to the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy 

Who is affected: all residents of Ukraine, migrants, and the diaspora 

Summary: 

  • the bill will define key concepts of state demographic policy 
  • the National Demographic Agency (hereinafter — Agency) will be created 
  • the Agency will be controlled by the Cabinet and accountable to the Verkhovna Rada 
  • the head of the Agency will be elected via a competition. The Verkhovna Rada will appoint them for five years based on the Prime Minister’s recommendation with the option of reappointment 
  • the Agency will consist of a governing committee and departments of: 
    • strategic planning and analysis 
    • income and expenditure assessment for families of various compositions 
    • program and project implementation 
    • regulation of migration processes 
    • communications and public relations 
    • administration 
  • the staff of the Agency will comprise 250 individuals 
  • the primary functions of the Agency will include: 
    • development and implementation of state demographic development strategy 
    • defining goals and priorities of demographic policy, their implementation and realization 
    • coordination of activities among central and local authorities on demographic issues 
    • monitoring the implementation of demographic policy at the local level 
    • cooperation among authorities at different levels for the effective fulfillment of tasks 
    • organization and funding of projects focused on demographic development 
    • developing and supporting projects that promote the improvement of the demographic situation 
    • attracting state and international financial resources for project implementation 
    • conducting demographic research and analysis 
    • collecting, analyzing, and publishing data on demographic processes 
  • the sources of funding of the Agency will include government and local budgets, international grants and donations, special funds and programs, and voluntary donations 
  • the head of the Agency will report to the Verkhovna Rada on the demographic situation annually. 

What is wrong: some of the Agency’s powers concerning demographic development overlap with the mandate of the Ministry of Social Policy. 

Moreover, the establishment of new executive bodies is not an effective solution to address the demographic crisis for several reasons: 

  • demographic crises usually depend on various social and economic factors, including not only low birth rates but also an aging population, distorted age pyramid, migration, and uneven resource distribution. In Ukraine, war and its consequences exacerbate the situation 
  • war has caused significant internal and external migration. Establishing new government agencies cannot immediately reverse these processes or halt migration 
  • the war has severely worsened the economic situation. It hinders the implementation of effective social policies aimed at increasing birth rates and support for families. The lack of resources to fund such programs makes the creation of new agencies futile, as their operations will be ineffective without adequate funding 
  • demographic problems cannot be solved quickly. For instance, increasing birth rates or reducing mortality requires long-term investments in quality of life, education, and healthcare. New agencies may create additional bureaucracy but will not provide the immediate effect 
  • existing government institutions often struggle to adapt to new challenges. Creating new bodies may only exacerbate institutional inertia rather than solve the issue. It is more crucial to reform and enhance the effectiveness of the existing institutions 
  • demographic crises are also dependent on changes in societal values, such as attitudes towards family and children. Despite apparent child-centricity, Ukrainian society is not tolerant of children and mothers, and the state does not provide sufficient opportunities for childcare assistance (daycares, kindergartens). Thus, women risk their position in the labor market, and families lose a significant share of their income after the arrival of a child. 

Alternative solution: 

  • to develop and implement a comprehensive demographic policy that will have an impact on all aspects of social and economic life for Ukrainians 
  • to create an environment supportive of families and motherhood, implement state programs to make it easier to combine parenthood and work 
  • to create new jobs to improve living standards 
  • to simplify the procedure for obtaining work permits for highly qualified specialists, create programs to attract foreign students 
  • support repatriation, establish assistance programs for citizens returning to their homeland. 

How to help the legislator: proposals concerning the draft bill can be sent to the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada on Humanitarian and Information Policy. 

Additional information: 

  • Ok, So What? podcast, exclusive episode: Demographic strategy is not about having children.