The Consumer Society and Citizen Networks Project

The Consumer Society and Citizen Networks project (CSCN) is a joint initiative of the European Union and UNDP started in 2006. Its goal is to increase civil society role in sound economic governance in Ukraine according to the European standards. Specifically CSCN aims at promoting access of citizens to information on product safety, consumer rights protection, and to results of independent testing, as well as promoting wide public discussion of challenges facing the consumer society in Ukraine.

The project will achieve this by contributing to emergence in Ukraine of a knowledgeable consumer. CSCN works in three interrelated spheres: (1) knowledge transfer, spreading European practices of independent testing and product safety awareness; (2) providing citizens with access to consumer / economic empowerment information; (3) access to consumer education; and (4) capacity building of the judiciary.

Knowledge transfer

The project promotes twinning between European and Ukrainian civil society organizations to help Ukrainian consumer CSOs benefit from experience of their European counterparts; develops and tests methodologies for consumer satisfaction measurement that are common in Europe ; promotes transfer to Ukraine of European independent testing practices. Besides, the project actively discusses consumer-friendly business practices, designs and runs surveys on a wide range of consumer-related issues and shares their results with Ukrainian civil society and relevant public agencies.

Improved access to consumer information

The project maintains the Consumer Portal, one of the most authoritative sources of consumer information in the Ukrainian Internet to provide Ukrainian consumer with up-to-date information on quality and safety of goods and services available on the Ukrainian market, give practical consumer advice, and disseminate information about organizations, both state and non-governmental, where consumers can go for help. CSCN also runs a nationwide consumer awareness campaign, fuels public debate on food safety and nutrition, holds monthly seminars for journalists, publishes and disseminates brochures and leaflets on various consumer issues. In addition, t he project develops a mission and strategy for a consumer information centre.

Development of consumer education

The project, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education of Ukraine, has successfully developed concepts of consumer education for secondary schools and Universities. The project works on detailed syllabus for consumer education courses and on making them part of regular curricula. Besides, CSCN plans holding trainings for trainers to make consumer education more readily available to younger Ukrainians.

Capacity building of the judiciary

The project develops a tip library and guidebook covering class actions and facilitates information exchange between lawyers working for consumer civil society organizations; analyses, consolidates and disseminates information on court practices related to consumer cases; prepares and disseminates brochures on best consumer advocacy practices; develops a handbook for judges hearing and ruling consumer cases.