Gender Audit in Educational Institutions: Training and Advisory Support for Hromadas

Gender Audit in Educational Institutions: Training and Advisory Support for Hromadas

The assessment procedure includes surveys, individual interviews, document analysis, as well as a review of the institution’s internal and external spaces.
Gender Audit in Schools as a Tool for Systemic Change: The Pilot Experience of the Polaris Programme

Gender Audit in Schools as a Tool for Systemic Change: The Pilot Experience of the Polaris Programme

A gender audit in the education sector is a tool for assessing the gender sensitivity of an institution’s policies, management decisions, practices, and communication. It helps identify strengths and development potential, while contributing to improved management quality, a safer educational enviro ...
Visit of Polaris Programme Experts to the Hoshcha Hromada: Dialogue on Upper Secondary School Reform and Readiness for Change

Visit of Polaris Programme Experts to the Hoshcha Hromada: Dialogue on Upper Secondary School Reform and Readiness for Change

On 21–22 January 2026, the Hoshcha settlement territorial hromada hosted a comprehensive expert visit by representatives of the Polaris Programme.
Career Guidance as a Strategy for Self-Realisation: Obukhiv and Lubny Hromadas are Building a System of Professional Choice for Students

Career Guidance as a Strategy for Self-Realisation: Obukhiv and Lubny Hromadas are Building a System of Professional Choice for Students

On 23 January, Obukhiv Lyceum No. 5 (Kyiv oblast) hosted the conference “Career Guidance – an Effective Tool for Student Self-Realisation”, organised within the framework of the Polaris Programme.
240 Hromadas Apply for Support to Preserve and Improve Access to Public Services

240 Hromadas Apply for Support to Preserve and Improve Access to Public Services

276 applications were received from 240 hromadas across all 13 oblasts eligible under the selection criteria
Synergy of Education and Gender Policy at the Local Level: How the Polaris Programme Strengthens the Role of Educational Institutions in Preventing Violence

Synergy of Education and Gender Policy at the Local Level: How the Polaris Programme Strengthens the Role of Educational Institutions in Preventing Violence

On 21 January, the first cluster training for partner hromadas of the Polaris Programme took place at “PROSVIT” Gymnasium in the Lubny hromada, Poltava oblast. The event aimed to strengthen the capacity of educational institutions in preventing and responding to cases of gender-based violence (GBV). ...
Vacancy: Communication Specialist

Vacancy: Communication Specialist

The role is aimed at ensuring that communication activities are aligned with the communication strategy, enhancing Programme visibility and achieving good coverage among the target groups. Deadline: 1 February 2026
Open Call: Partnership in Preserving and Improving Access to Public Services

Open Call: Partnership in Preserving and Improving Access to Public Services

Hromadas supported under the call will be able to receive computer equipment as well as expert and mentoring support related to the type of service/initiative specified in the application. An online information session for hromadas is scheduled for 12 January 2026 at 14:00
The Polaris Programme supported multilevel dialogue in Lviv on strengthening starosta institution

The Polaris Programme supported multilevel dialogue in Lviv on strengthening starosta institution

The forum aimed to strengthen the leadership capacity of starostas, facilitate the exchange of best practices in territorial development, and shape a shared vision of the role of starostas in post-war recovery processes in hromadas
Vacancy: Programme Assistant

Vacancy: Programme Assistant

The Programme Assistant provides administrative support in Kyiv and works closely with two programme teams. Applications are accepted until January 9, 2026
Locally-led Recovery Planning: How Polaris Strategic Sessions Work

Locally-led Recovery Planning: How Polaris Strategic Sessions Work

The Polaris Programme continues to provide systematic support to hromadas under its Locally-led Recovery sphere
Polaris and the Ministry of Digital Transformation defined priorities for developing the administrative service delivery system

Polaris and the Ministry of Digital Transformation defined priorities for developing the administrative service delivery system

During the meeting, the parties discussed the results of cooperation between Polaris and the Ministry in strengthening the capacity of hromadas and the resilience of the administrative service delivery system, as well as the Ministry’s further priorities
Coordinating Education Governance Levels: a Polaris Working Visit to Berezhany Hromada

Coordinating Education Governance Levels: a Polaris Working Visit to Berezhany Hromada

On 17–18 December, Olena Rusnachenko, an education expert of the Polaris Programme, paid a working visit to the Berezhany urban hromada in Ternopil oblast.
Vacancy: Team Leader for the Component on Capacity Strengthening of Local Self-Government Associations (LGA) in Ukraine

Vacancy: Team Leader for the Component on Capacity Strengthening of Local Self-Government Associations (LGA) in Ukraine

The Team Leader provides strategic leadership, coordination, and quality assurance for the experts working on LGA capacity development. Applications are accepted until January 15, 2026
Practice Residency on the Prevention of and Response to Domestic Violence at the Hromada Level: a Final Event for Eight Partner Hromadas

Practice Residency on the Prevention of and Response to Domestic Violence at the Hromada Level: a Final Event for Eight Partner Hromadas

On 11–12 December, Kyiv hosted the final Practice Residency for eight partner hromadas working to strengthen systems for the prevention of and response to domestic violence within the Swedish–Ukrainian Polaris Programme.
Polaris Educators in Hromadas: How Expert Visits Help Students, Parents and Schools Move Towards Quality Upper Secondary Education

Polaris Educators in Hromadas: How Expert Visits Help Students, Parents and Schools Move Towards Quality Upper Secondary Education

In December, the education area team of the Polaris Programme continued its systematic cooperation with partner hromadas, visiting the Khotyn hromada in Chernivtsi oblast, the city of Chernivtsi, and the Rava-Ruska hromada in Lviv oblast.
Without Breaks or Burnout: National Conference on the Professional Development of Administrative Service Centre Staff

Without Breaks or Burnout: National Conference on the Professional Development of Administrative Service Centre Staff

On 9 December, the Polaris Programme brought together practitioners from Administrative Service Centres across Ukraine for a national dialogue in Kyiv focused on developing effective models of professional growth for ASC staff
In Memory of Ayder Seiytosmanov

In Memory of Ayder Seiytosmanov

6 December 2025 our beloved friend and colleague Ayder Seiytosmanov passed away. Like many of his compatriots born in exile, he was a member of the Mejlis, an outstanding civil society leader, a dedicated trainer of a new generation of leaders, a devoted husband and father. Throughout his life, he s ...
Educational Partnership: How the Lubny and Novoorzhytsia Hromadas Created the First Cooperation Memorandum with Support from the Polaris Programme

Educational Partnership: How the Lubny and Novoorzhytsia Hromadas Created the First Cooperation Memorandum with Support from the Polaris Programme

On 5 December, the Lubny and Novoorzhytsia hromadas signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of education — the first such document in the region, prepared with the support of the Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris Programme.
Polaris Partner Hromadas Finalise Updated Statutes: Summary Meeting in Lviv

Polaris Partner Hromadas Finalise Updated Statutes: Summary Meeting in Lviv

On 4–5 December, Lviv hosted the final meeting of ten partner hromadas of the Polaris Programme’s “Citizen Engagement at the Local Level” area — the concluding stage of a nine-month joint effort to develop updated community Statutes
Decentralisation as a Pillar of Ukraine in Wartime – Results of Polaris’ Participation in the “Kyiv Dialogue” in Berlin

Decentralisation as a Pillar of Ukraine in Wartime – Results of Polaris’ Participation in the “Kyiv Dialogue” in Berlin

Експерт шведсько-української Програми Polaris Ігор Онищук взяв участь у 20-й щорічній конференції «Київський діалог», що відбулася у Берліні
Multilevel Governance in Practice: Highlights from the Polaris Regional Forum

Multilevel Governance in Practice: Highlights from the Polaris Regional Forum

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 ...
Strategic Session of Polaris: A Shared Vision for 2026–2028

Strategic Session of Polaris: A Shared Vision for 2026–2028

On 1–2 December, the Polaris Programme team gathered in Kyiv for a strategic session to jointly plan the first half of 2026.
STEM Laboratories for Quality Education: Polaris Delivers Modern Equipment to Schools in Nine Partner Hromadas

STEM Laboratories for Quality Education: Polaris Delivers Modern Equipment to Schools in Nine Partner Hromadas

During the conference “Quality Education – Effective Hromada”, the Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris Programme “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine” announced nine hromadas that received STEM laboratories — equipment sets for teaching natural sciences and technology. This support is part of the br ...
The Polaris Education Team Supported Hromadas in Ternopil and Khmelnytskyi Oblasts in Preparing for the Launch of the Specialised Upper Secondary School

The Polaris Education Team Supported Hromadas in Ternopil and Khmelnytskyi Oblasts in Preparing for the Launch of the Specialised Upper Secondary School

On 27–28 November, the expert team of the Education Area of the Polaris Programme carried out two important working visits — to Ternopil and to the Slavuta hromada in Khmelnytskyi oblast. The purpose of the visits was to support education departments and communities as they prepare for the launch of ...
SALAR International Marks 25 Years of Activity

SALAR International Marks 25 Years of Activity

In November, SALAR International – the organisation representing the interests of the Swedish Association of Local and Regional Authorities (SALAR) in international development – celebrates 25 years of work dedicated to strengthening effective local governance and supporting democracy across vario ...
Education Subvention, Funding Priorities for 2026, and STEM Equipment for Hromadas: Key Takeaways from the Joint Conference of Polaris and MoES

Education Subvention, Funding Priorities for 2026, and STEM Equipment for Hromadas: Key Takeaways from the Joint Conference of Polaris and MoES

On 25 November in Kyiv, the Polaris Programme, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, held the conference “Quality Education – Effective Hromada”. The event brought together representatives of the Government, education department specialists from hromadas and oblasts, ...
Projects, Grants and Change-Making Teams: How the Polaris Webinar on Developing a Modern Educational Institution Went

Projects, Grants and Change-Making Teams: How the Polaris Webinar on Developing a Modern Educational Institution Went

On 20 November, the Swedish–Ukrainian Programme Polaris held a webinar entitled “Project Management and Educational Grant Writing — Tools for Developing a Modern Educational Institution”.
The Hoshchia Hromada Begins Developing its Own Education Strategy Together with the Polaris Team

The Hoshchia Hromada Begins Developing its Own Education Strategy Together with the Polaris Team

On 19 November, the Hoshchia hromada in Rivne oblast became the starting point for in-depth analytical and strategic work in the field of education with the help of Polaris experts.

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