On 27 May, in the city of Lutsk, the Polaris Programme “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine” held a roundtable with political leaders of Ukraine’s national associations of local self-government bodies: the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities, the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities, and the Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils.
Continuing the dialogue series launched under the Polaris Programme, participants discussed new challenges facing hromadas in the delivery of administrative services – particularly the need to ensure high-quality and accessible services for veterans through Administrative Services Centres (ASC).
“Previously, ASCs and local authorities were focused on expanding the range and quality of services. Today, they face a new challenge – making ASCs truly accessible and inclusive, especially for veterans,” noted Hryhorii Nedopad, Head of the Volyn Regional Council and Vice President of the Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils for Regional Policy.
“It is the duty of the state to support every veteran. And ASCs, as mirrors of local government and bridges between people and the state, must deliver that support through high-quality and human-centred services. That is why it’s particularly important for these centres to offer dignified, convenient, and accessible conditions for those who defended Ukraine. This is not only about service delivery – it is an expression of respect: for the experience, the needs, and the dignity of every veteran. It also shows how ready local authorities are to stand by their people and act with understanding and honour,” said Roman Matviichuk, Polaris Programme expert on accessibility of administrative services.
This roundtable continued the strategic dialogue among political leaders of Ukraine’s national local government associations, initiated by the Polaris Programme. The aim is to develop common positions on key issues of hromada development. The discussion once again reinforced that high-quality administrative services are not just about functionality – they are fundamentally about respect for people, their dignity, and their right to accessible, transparent services.
