On 3 December 2025, in the city of Poltava, the Polaris Programme: Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine will hold the first regional forum titled “Building a System of Multilevel Governance.”
The Forum aims to serve as a platform for dialogue among central government bodies, local self-government authorities, military administrations, associations, international partners, and civil society.
The regional focus of the event will enable a deeper consideration of local contexts and specific challenges faced by different levels of governance. Drawing on practical cases, regional challenges, and expert research, participants will discuss the formation of a shared vision for effective multilevel governance and a clear distribution of powers between levels of government – to strengthen democracy, enhance transparency, and prepare Ukraine for EU accession.
Representatives of hromadas from Poltava, Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts are invited to participate. Applications can be submitted via the link until 25 November, 18:00.
Preliminary agenda of the Forum
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9:30 – 10:00 |
Registration and welcome coffee |
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10:00 – 10:20 |
Opening remarks |
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10:20 – 11:20 |
Decentralisation policies and the new architecture of multilevel governance Topic: Presentation and discussion of national-level findings on the division of powers. The balance between authority and responsibility: how decentralisation, state oversight, and European integration shape a new system of governance Moderator: Viktor Tymoshchuk, Polaris Programme expert |
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11:20 – 12:20 |
The role of regional and subregional levels in the development of multilevel governance Topic: The coordination function at the oblast and rayon levels. What does effective coordination mean in good governance? Presentation of Polaris Programme’s best practices Expert presentations: Moderator: Serhii Diatlenko, Polaris Programme expert |
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12:20 – 13:00 |
Municipal enterprises: specific features for hromadas at the basic level |
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13:00 – 14:00 |
Lunch break |
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14:00 – 14:50 |
Financial capacity of hromadas – how to build, measure, and manage it
The regional dimension of fiscal capacity Moderator: Mariia Lukianova, Polaris Programme expert |
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14:50 – 15:40 |
Strategic challenges and priorities in delivering public services at the local level Topic: How to ensure effective cooperation within a hromada in delivering public services (including services for veterans)? Service institutions and service delivery at the hromada level. The ASC as a service institution – how to ensure its sustainability (administrative fees – approaches to defining, using, and ensuring transparency) Moderator: Roman Matviichuk, Polaris Programme expert |
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15:40 – 16:00 |
Fika |
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16:00 – 16:30 |
Poltava – Kalmar: international cooperation for the harmonious development of the hromada |
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16:30 – 17:30 |
Multilevel recovery through effective governance Topic: Coordination of strategic documents (development plans, public investment portfolios, spatial development plans). Specifics of implementing regional recovery projects and possible funding sources. Cooperation in attracting investments for project implementation Moderator: Anatolii Melnychuk, Polaris Programme expert |
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17:30 – 17:45 |
Closing remarks |
