Converging Paths?

Co-creation practices in public services in Poland and Ukraine

Abstract

This study investigates how co-creation is being institutionalized in public service delivery in Poland and Ukraine, focusing on six domains of citizen involvement: legislative frameworks, digital platforms, public consultations, civic monitoring, local initiatives, and civic education. These neighboring countries, connected through shared regional initiatives but shaped by differing political, administrative, and civic trajectories, offer a compelling basis for comparative analysis. While both have made strides in adopting participatory practices, Poland tends to follow a more structured, policy-aligned approach, whereas Ukraine exhibits dynamic, bottom-up developments driven by ongoing decentralization reforms. Our findings indicate that co-creation is becoming more systematically integrated into governance structures, although institutionalization remains uneven across domains and administrative levels. Key challenges include institutional fragmentation, limited translation of public input into policy outcomes, and underdeveloped interdisciplinary competencies, particularly in light of digital transformation and the growing role of AI. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for strengthening co-creation ecosystems in both countries.