On 9–11 September, the expert team of the Polaris Programme “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine” carried out a series of working visits under the direction “Developing the Institutional Capacity of Starostas.”
The focus was on improving governance efficiency in rural areas, defining the role of starostas in community development, and bringing public services closer to residents. These visits launched the second wave of cooperation with 12 new partner hromadas, selected from 87 applications across 20 oblasts, within broader support that already covers 27 hromadas across Ukraine.
As part of the partnership, each hromada will receive comprehensive support that includes:
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expert analysis of documents and decisions regulating the activities of starostas and the organisation of public services;
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defining the role of the starosta in territorial development;
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developing relevant models for the delivery of public services;
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preparing recommendations to improve governance efficiency at the level of starosta districts;
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institutional support and guidance in implementing changes;
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monitoring the impact of adopted decisions on residents of the districts;
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training activities for starostas and local government staff;
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experience-sharing among partner hromadas;
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material and technical support for selected starosta districts.
Storozhynets: Launching Work in Chernivtsi Oblast
On 9 September, experts visited the Storozhynets hromada in Bukovyna. The visit included a meeting with local leadership and discussions on the main challenges faced by starostas, particularly in remote villages. Participants emphasised the need for better coordination between starostas and the executive bodies of the council, highlighting that the starosta is often the first representative of local government for residents.
“We want starostas to become key figures in the development of rural areas. They must serve as conduits of quality services and dialogue with residents,” noted Nataliia Mamchak, Polaris expert.
Rohatyn: An Example of a Comprehensive Approach
The following day, experts visited the Rohatyn hromada in Ivano-Frankivsk oblast, one of the largest in the region with 18 starosta districts, which makes effective governance particularly relevant. The visit included meetings with community leadership, local councillors, executive bodies, a training session “The Role of the Starosta in the Hromada and the Provision of Public Services in Starosta Districts,” as well as a field visit to the Koniushkiv starosta district to observe the work of the starosta and staff.
“The Rohatyn hromada will receive comprehensive support – from analysing documents and developing service delivery models to training starostas and monitoring decisions. Our goal is to make starostas drivers of development and of building trust in government,” emphasised Andrii Matsokin, Team Lead of the Starostas Support Area.
Mykola Shynkar, First Deputy Mayor of Rohatyn, added: “Although all our starostas are different, they share a common spirit, focused on developing their villages and ensuring residents’ well-being. Strengthening the institution of starostas is a step towards a strong hromada. We had the will – and now we have the opportunities. With actions will come results.”
Ivano-Frankivsk: Focusing on the Role of Starostas
On 11 September, experts visited the Ivano-Frankivsk hromada, where a roundtable was held with the city council leadership and starostas of rural areas that became part of the city hromada through decentralisation reform. Discussions addressed the challenges of integrating public services into the rural system, defining the roles of starostas and residents in addressing local issues, and strengthening dialogue between residents and starostas, as well as between starostas and the executive bodies of the council. Starostas also debated organisational models for their work within executive structures, their role in strategic planning for district development, and tools for budget formation and allocation.
Ruslan Martsinkiv, Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, noted: “We discussed the work of starostas and ways to improve their effectiveness. The core role of the starosta is to care for people and the territory, identify needs and priorities, and understand what the village requires.”
Today, strengthening the institution of starostas carries special significance: it is not only about ensuring access to public services in villages, but also about building trust in government and strengthening community resilience.
With Polaris’ comprehensive support, starostas gain the knowledge and tools to become true agents of change — fostering community development and bringing the state closer to every resident. Each successful starosta is a step towards a strong, capable, and united hromada, ready to meet today’s challenges and build Ukraine’s future together.
