On 13 May, Mykolaiv hosted the first training session for hromada leaders from Mykolaiv Oblast who do not yet have an Administrative Services Centre (ASC). The event was led by experts from the Swedish–Ukrainian Polaris – Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine programme, which is funded by the Government of Sweden through Sida and implemented by SALAR International.
The training gathered hromada heads, their deputies, and key officials responsible for organising public service delivery in their localities. The programme covered both an overview of national policy on administrative services and a practical segment focused on building a proper ASC from the ground up.
In her welcome address, Susanna Dellans, Team Leader of the Polaris programme in Ukraine, emphasised that access to public services is critically important during the country’s recovery and transformation.
A Practical Approach to Solving Challenges in Difficult Conditions
The training module was led by Petro Makarenko and Roman Matviichuk – Polaris experts on improving access to administrative services. The session combined an overview of legal frameworks with myth-busting, real case studies and practical solutions.
The discussions focused on how to establish ASC with limited resources, how to identify a responsible leader within the hromada, how to select and zone a premises, and how many and what type of professionals to involve.
“Our main message is that ASC is not a luxury – it is a basic tool for building trust between the hromada and the authorities. We train leaders not only to set up a centre, but to create a space where residents can resolve their issues quickly, conveniently, and free from bureaucracy,” said Petro Makarenko.
Special attention was paid to financial aspects – how to estimate the cost of establishing ASC, what income might be generated from paid services, and how to measure the centre’s success.
Moving Forward – Building Partnerships
At the end of the event, participants were given a “home assignment” – to conduct an initial assessment in their hromadas and identify the resources and tools needed to begin the ASC development process. The Polaris programme, in turn, offered advisory support, participation in future staff training, and partnership-based assistance.
The session concluded with feedback forms and a brief reflection activity. Organisers highlighted the high level of engagement and interest among participants – a clear indicator that the hromadas of Mykolaiv Oblast are ready to advance towards quality service provision, even under challenging conditions.
