On 3 December, Poltava hosted the Polaris Programme’s regional forum “Building a Multilevel Governance System” – an event that brought together representatives of central government, local self-government, military administrations, sectoral associations, international organisations and civil society. Participants came from Poltava, Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts, underscoring the importance of a strong regional perspective on a reform that continues even during wartime.
In his opening remarks, Oleksii Riabikin, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, highlighted the nationwide progress achieved with Polaris support:
“Polaris is a reliable partner in implementing several key reforms, from the division of powers to the reform of municipal enterprises and public investment management. In 2025, we saw substantial national progress: all regional development strategies were updated in line with the State Strategy for Regional Development; 95% of hromadas have either approved their strategies or are in the final stage; and over a thousand hromadas adopted medium-term public investment plans and formed project portfolios. This is a crucial step, as it links strategic vision with effective resource use – meaning that funds will be spent more efficiently and people will feel real results.”
Martin Åberg, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to Ukraine, emphasised the strategic importance of supporting Ukrainian hromadas.
Olena Shuliak, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Power Organisation and Local Self-Government, highlighted the key legislative initiatives shaping community development:
“The Committee’s agenda includes several important initiatives relevant to every hromada. First, the draft law on administrative fees, currently being developed by a dedicated working group. We are also preparing a draft law on bodies of self-organisation of the population. A third draft concerns housing policy and the development of social housing in hromadas. We are preparing not only for post-war recovery but laying the foundation for a modern European country.”
The regional format made it possible to see the reform in action – to hear the voices of hromadas, understand their pace and observe how national decisions operate in local contexts. As Susanna Dellans, Team Leader of the Polaris Programme and SALAR International Representative in Ukraine, noted:
“Our goal is to strengthen horizontal dialogue across different levels of governance. The regional focus allows us not only to discuss the reform in theory, but to see how it unfolds in hromadas. This is where we can best understand the challenges and identify which models work in the context of war and recovery.”
The forum participants were also greeted by Volodymyr Kohut, Acting Head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration; Oleksandr Bilenkyi, Head of Poltava Regional Council; and Kateryna Yamshchykova, Acting Mayor of Poltava, who all stressed the importance of partnership, knowledge exchange and integration of international practices into local development.
The forum became a major platform for generating shared solutions to advance an effective model of multilevel governance in Ukraine. Discussions centred on decentralisation, financial sustainability, international cooperation, enhancing the role of starostas, strategic planning, education and modernising administrative services.
Participants agreed that the renewed system of powers must be built on the capacity of hromadas, a balanced distribution of roles between state and local levels and compliance with EU integration requirements. Transparent supervisory rules and clearly defined areas of responsibility were highlighted as key elements of the new governance architecture.
One of the central themes was the transition of municipal enterprises to new legislative standards. Hromadas need practical tools and methodological guidance to manage property and land effectively, minimise legal risks and adapt to the new framework. A set of such tools is expected to be presented soon.
Significant attention was devoted to international partnerships as a powerful development resource. Cooperation with European municipalities, participation in international networks and joint projects were highlighted as sources of not only financial support but also new institutional models, safety solutions, social innovations and improvements in public service delivery.
Financial sustainability was another major focus. Participants stressed that budget planning must rely on realistic indicators, strategic vision and strong managerial competencies. Particular emphasis was placed on the role of starostas, who best understand the needs of remote settlements and can ensure fair resource distribution, accurate data collection and effective communication with community leadership. Their involvement in budget processes was identified as one of the forum’s key conclusions.
Education, administrative service delivery and recovery planning were also part of the comprehensive dialogue. Discussions included examples of district-level involvement in education management, approaches to modernising services at Administrative Services Centres (ASC), and tools for strategic territorial development. Recovery of war-affected areas, as noted by participants, requires coordinated efforts between the region and hromada, systematic data collection and cooperation with international partners.
In summarising the discussions, participants emphasised a central idea: the strength of governance is born in hromadas. This is where the initiatives shaping the future of modern Ukraine originate. The Poltava forum demonstrated that collaborative reform efforts, cross-level cooperation and the willingness of hromadas to take on greater responsibility form a solid foundation for meaningful regional transformation.
