The Polaris Programme, “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine,” has launched a new partnership with 10 hromadas under the “Local Engagement” direction, following an inaugural meeting held in Kyiv on 22–23 May. During the event, memorandums of cooperation were signed between the programme and the partner hromadas.
The event brought together 30 representatives from partner hromadas to share their experiences and discuss the challenges of involving residents in solving issues of local importance. Led by Polaris citizen engagement expert Pavlo Pushchenko and trainer Nataliia Chuiko, participants explored the implementation of the Law on People’s Power at the local self-government level, as well as the development and application of territorial hromada charters. They reviewed both formal and informal practices for engaging residents in decision-making processes. The meeting concluded with joint planning of the next steps in the cooperation between each hromada and the Polaris Programme through the development of tailored “roadmaps.”
“This cooperation is another powerful vector for the development of our hromada. We deeply value the opportunity to work with professional partners in building an effective, transparent, and truly democratic hromada where every voice matters,” said Mykhailo Kopeiko, Head of the Solone settlement hromada in Dnipropetrovsk oblast.
Earlier this year, the Polaris Programme announced the selection of 10 hromadas from 8 oblasts of Ukraine to participate in the “Local Engagement” direction:
- Bar urban hromada – Vinnytsia oblast
- Boryslav urban hromada – Lviv oblast
- Dobroslav settlement hromada – Odesa oblast
- Korets urban hromada – Rivne oblast
- Krynychky settlement hromada – Dnipropetrovsk oblast
- Kuyalnyk rural hromada – Odesa oblast
- Lokachyn settlement hromada – Volyn oblast
- Solone settlement hromada – Dnipropetrovsk oblast
- Khotyn urban hromada – Chernivtsi oblast
- Shumsk urban hromada – Ternopil oblast
Within the partnership, each hromada will receive expert support in developing and implementing new or improved forms of citizen participation in addressing local issues.
