On 3–4 June 2025, an expert visit from the Polaris Programme took place in the Avanhardivska hromada of Odesa oblast.
The hromada submitted an application for an ASC audit and was selected to participate in the Programme. This reflects Avanhardivska hromada’s proactive approach to implementing modern governance solutions and strengthening the capacity of local self-government.
As part of the visit, Polaris Programme expert Olha Kalinichenko familiarised herself with the operations of the Administrative Services Centre (ASC) of the Avanhardivska settlement council, visited starosta districts, and held a series of meetings with the hromada leadership and structural units. The central focus was conducting an audit of the ASC as a tool to assess service quality and identify areas for improvement.
“The purpose of our audit is not only to assess how administrative services are organised in the hromada, but also to work with the local team to see how these services can become even more accessible and user-friendly. We operate as partners, and this partnership from day one shows a strong commitment to open dialogue and constructive change,” said Olha Kalinichenko, expert of the Polaris Programme.
Over the course of two days, the expert analysed the ASC’s internal procedures, assessed the organisation of front and back office work, HR processes, interdepartmental cooperation, and technical conditions for providing services to residents.
The head of the hromada, Serhii Khrustovskyi, expressed his gratitude to the Polaris Programme for the opportunity and confirmed his readiness to cooperate in implementing the audit findings. He emphasised that the recommendations would form the basis for planning further steps to improve service delivery in the hromada.
Cooperation with the Polaris Programme opens new opportunities for Avanhardivska hromada – both in the area of administrative services and more broadly in advancing multilevel governance and sustainable local development.
