The Government of Ukraine continues to implement the Public Investment Management (PIM) reform, aimed not only at ensuring a unified approach to the allocation of budget funds but also at creating conditions for sustainable and effective development of communities and regions based on sound strategic planning and prioritization.
The digital foundation of the reform is the DREAM system — a “single window” for managing public investment projects and programs. All stages of implementation — from the formation of the medium-term plan, preparation, and appraisal, to the development of sectoral pipelines and the Single Project Pipeline (SPP) at national, regional, and local levels, as well as funding decisions, execution, and monitoring — are carried out through DREAM in a transparent and accountable manner.
The Head of the Project Office shares his vision of the reform’s implementation, the future of the system, and the strength of the DREAM team.
- Our mission is simple: we are transforming the public investment management system to improve the quality of life in Ukraine. Public investments, like public procurements, influence all sectors of the economy and society. Today, Ukraine is facing extremely challenging circumstances, and to some, working on reform may seem illogical. However, transforming the public investment system is especially crucial right now, given the enormous needs for recovery and development projects.
Resources of the state and individual communities must be used transparently, accountably, and efficiently. In addition, we are already preparing to engage the funds of our international partners — including European funds — based on clear and understandable rules and conditions. A modern, transparent, and well-structured PIM system is a key prerequisite for attracting international funds to support Ukraine’s recovery and development.
How do you see the development of DREAM over the next few years? What should remain unchanged, and what should evolve?
- What must remain unchanged is DREAM’s people-centered approach — from process logic to our approaches in training, client service, and system interface design. Our slogan is “make the community fall in love with DREAM,” because first and foremost, we aim to create value for every community and its residents.
There is still a lot of transformation ahead — many elements of the reform are not yet finalized or integrated into the system. We have a significant amount of work ahead in digitally transforming all stages of investment project implementation. We are also looking forward to deep integration with the Ministry of Finance’s budget systems — our teams are actively working on this now. We’re expanding our data analytics capabilities and building a robust risk management system. We are developing tools for citizen engagement through DREAM, along with many other features and services.
And of course, artificial intelligence: developing and integrating large language models into PIM processes via DREAM is one of our priorities.
Does DREAM influence the culture of public investment management — not just the processes, but also the mindset of those in the system?
- Our team has a manifesto — outlining what we aim for, why, and how. I’ll quote it as my answer to this question: “Together, we are building a new culture of interaction and thinking, where every action matters, every person makes an impact, and the future begins with the decisions we make today. We do this by rethinking approaches to public investment management and creating equal opportunities for every participant in the ecosystem. This helps shape and implement the vision of Ukraine — a country we are proud of, a country we want to return to and invest in.”
How can you tell that the reform is moving in the right direction? What signals indicate this to you?
- It’s important to track progress and compare each reform cycle to the previous one. If we look back at 2024 — considering the rules for forming the first pilot EPP and the coverage of processes through DREAM — and compare it to where we are now, we’ve made a significant leap forward. We already have state-level SPs and SPPs in place. Over 600 communities are registering their SPIs in DREAM, and nearly 6,000 PIPs have been entered into the system using the new methodology. There’s strong demand for training and support — every day we unlock new opportunities and move forward. So overall, we are on the right track.
But we must not become complacent, thinking “everything is already working perfectly” — many aspects, from regulatory support to implementation of specific DREAM functionalities, still have room for improvement.
Our team, together with our partners, constantly gathers feedback from communities, regions, ministries, and international partners, analyzes data, and studies the real challenges people face — where theory “misses the mark,” and therefore the approach needs to be revised. It’s encouraging that all members of the broader reform team are willing to keep improving the process with every step. What matters most is not a snapshot evaluation, but continuous movement in the right direction. That’s how each cycle brings us closer to sustained improvement.
What personally motivates you to work on such a large and complex project?
- First of all, it’s the people. Starting with our team of DREAM believers who truly live this reform and are fully dedicated to its implementation. These are people who care deeply and genuinely believe in Ukraine’s future. And of course, the partners we work with — ministries, regions, communities, international partners, civil society organizations — all of them form one large PIM reform team. Today, that’s hundreds, maybe even thousands of like-minded individuals who contribute every day to these critical changes. Then, the vision of Ukraine’s future is embedded in our manifesto. This reform directly impacts the quality of life in Ukraine and helps gradually shift the paradigm we use when planning positive change at the local level.
And finally — the ambition of the PIM reform itself, as well as DREAM as its digital foundation. I genuinely believe that Ukraine’s success in this reform will inspire other countries, just as Prozorro and Diia once did. We haven’t seen this kind of comprehensive approach to managing public investments — with digital tools, broad stakeholder coordination, and engagement at every level — in any other country. That’s why we’re confident we’re not only contributing to building the future of Ukraine but also opening new opportunities for the world.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” So we keep doing our work every day — until we can finally celebrate that “done.” :)
