The Power of Local Leadership: Training for Starostas of Polaris Partner Hromadas Held in Chernihiv

The Power of Local Leadership: Training for Starostas of Polaris Partner Hromadas Held in Chernihiv

On 12–13 June, the inspiring atmosphere of Chernihiv’s Art Museum was filled with the energy of professional development. These days were dedicated to the training of local self-government officials who represent the closest level of government to residents – the starostas. Fifty starostas from Bobr ...
Polaris and the Ministry of Finance Discuss Improvements to Education Data Quality and Approaches to Subsidy Allocation

Polaris and the Ministry of Finance Discuss Improvements to Education Data Quality and Approaches to Subsidy Allocation

On 12 June, Deputy Minister of Finance Roman Yermolychev met with Alexander Mazurkin, Polaris Programme Manager, Susanna Dellans, Polaris Team Leader in Ukraine, and programme experts. The parties discussed the enhancement of the automated education management system "AIKOM" and the improvement of ...
Emotional Intelligence and Burnout Prevention: Two-Day Online Training for ASC Employees

Emotional Intelligence and Burnout Prevention: Two-Day Online Training for ASC Employees

On 12–13 June, the Polaris Programme conducted a two-day online training session titled “Development of Emotional Intelligence and Prevention of Professional Burnout for Administrative Services Centre (ASC) Employees”. The event brought together 35 ASC representatives from various regions of Ukraine ...
Polaris Strategic Session in Kyiv: Initial Results and Development Vectors

Polaris Strategic Session in Kyiv: Initial Results and Development Vectors

On 10–11 June, the Polaris Programme “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine” held a strategic session in Kyiv. Over two days, team members from various regions of Ukraine, together with international experts, gathered to review the progress made during the first half of 2025 and to chart the w ...
UADRC Strengthens Institutional Capacity with the Support of the Polaris Programme

UADRC Strengthens Institutional Capacity with the Support of the Polaris Programme

Special attention during the meeting was given to discussing the next steps under the memorandum of cooperation between Polaris and UADRC.
Tender: Supply of Vehicles to Territorial Hromadas in Ukraine

Tender: Supply of Vehicles to Territorial Hromadas in Ukraine

SALAR International – the organisation representing the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) in international development cooperation – has been working in Ukraine since 2014, supporting decentralisation processes and building the capacity of local self-government. Since 20 ...
Multilevel Dialogue to Improve Education in Frontline, De-occupied and Occupied Territories: Hromadas and the Ministry of Education Work Together to Refine Legislation

Multilevel Dialogue to Improve Education in Frontline, De-occupied and Occupied Territories: Hromadas and the Ministry of Education Work Together to Refine Legislation

On 3 June, a working meeting was held in Kyiv to discuss improving the regulatory framework for organising the educational process for learners from occupied, de-occupied, and frontline territories of Ukraine. The event brought together representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukr ...
Grant support for Swedish–Ukrainian partnerships

Grant support for Swedish–Ukrainian partnerships

The Polaris Programme announces an open call "Grant Support for Swedish–Ukrainian Partnerships" for hromadas that have established or are planning to establish cooperation with Swedish municipalities..
Monitoring Visit of the Polaris Programme Education Experts Held in the Kobleve Hromada

Monitoring Visit of the Polaris Programme Education Experts Held in the Kobleve Hromada

From 3 to 5 June 2025, a working visit of the expert group from the “Local-Level Education” component of the Polaris Programme took place in the Kobleve rural territorial hromada, Mykolaiv oblast. The visit was carried out at the invitation of the Kobleve Village Council with the aim of monitoring ...
Professional Development Centres as Beacons of Educational Change: Summary of Polaris Programme Focus Group

Professional Development Centres as Beacons of Educational Change: Summary of Polaris Programme Focus Group

On 5 June, an online focus group titled “Professional Development Centres for Teachers as a Key Tool for Advancing Professional Excellence” was held on the initiative of the Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris Programme. The event brought together 15 participants from Professional Development Centres (PDCs) r ...
Avanhardivska Hromada Srarts Cooperation with Polaris

Avanhardivska Hromada Srarts Cooperation with Polaris

On 3–4 June 2025, an expert visit from the Polaris Programme took place in the Avanhardivska hromada of Odesa oblast. The hromada submitted an application for an ASC audit and was selected to participate in the Programme. This reflects Avanhardivska hromada’s proactive approach to implementing mode ...
Ways of Understanding the Veterans – Training for ASC Workers

Ways of Understanding the Veterans – Training for ASC Workers

On 30 May and 2 June, the Polaris Programme “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine” organised a two-day online training titled “Ethics of Interaction and Communication with Veterans in the Provision of Administrative Services at ASCs”. The training gathered 30 participants – staff members of A ...
More Than an Official: In Ternopil, Polaris Experts Trained Starostas to Act Effectively

More Than an Official: In Ternopil, Polaris Experts Trained Starostas to Act Effectively

On 28–29 May in Ternopil, the Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris Programme hosted a two-day training titled “The Role of the Starosta in a Hromada: Tools for Strengthening Institutional Capacity”. The event brought together nearly 50 representatives of partner hromadas from across Ukraine – including starost ...
Polaris Programme Presents Policy Proposals for Integrating Tax Administrative Services into ASCs

Polaris Programme Presents Policy Proposals for Integrating Tax Administrative Services into ASCs

The integration of tax-related administrative services into Administrative Services Centres (ASC) is a highly relevant issue, given the significant reduction in the number of territorial offices of the State Tax Service and the growing demand for these services from residents.
Vectors of Gymnasium Education Development: Regional Forum Supported by Polaris

Vectors of Gymnasium Education Development: Regional Forum Supported by Polaris

On 28 May, a regional forum titled “Gymnasium of the Future: Key Vectors of Development” took place in the Velyka Omelyana hromada, Rivne oblast. The event brought together heads of education departments, directors of existing and prospective gymnasiums, educators, and experts from three oblasts – R ...
Local Government Associations Join Forces to Improve Administrative Services for Veterans

Local Government Associations Join Forces to Improve Administrative Services for Veterans

On 27 May, in the city of Lutsk, the Polaris Programme “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine” held a roundtable with political leaders of Ukraine’s national associations of local self-government bodies
Local Engagement: The Polaris Programme Supports 10 Hromadas in Advancing Participatory Democracy

Local Engagement: The Polaris Programme Supports 10 Hromadas in Advancing Participatory Democracy

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.
Key Study “Oversight Functions of Starostas” Presented in Kyiv

Key Study “Oversight Functions of Starostas” Presented in Kyiv

On 26 May, the Committee on State Building, Local Governance, Regional Development and Urban Planning held a presentation of the study “Oversight Functions of Starostas”, prepared at its request by the Swedish-Ukrainian programme Polaris “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine” and the NGO DE ...
Ivano-Frankivsk and Luleå have become partner cities: agreement signed in Sweden

Ivano-Frankivsk and Luleå have become partner cities: agreement signed in Sweden

Within the framework of the Swedish-Ukrainian Municipal Partnership Forum, on May 20, 2025, Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine) and Luleå (Sweden) officially became partner cities. The partnership was made possible by the initiative Cities4Cities, which is part of the Polaris programme. "The part ...
Educational Mosaics of the Lubny Hromada: How the New Ukrainian School Reform Opens New Horizons for Children, Teachers and Hromadas

Educational Mosaics of the Lubny Hromada: How the New Ukrainian School Reform Opens New Horizons for Children, Teachers and Hromadas

On 22 May in Lubny, Poltava region, the forum “New Ukrainian School: Educational Horizons of the Lubny Hromada” brought together nearly 50 participants – educators, representatives of local self-government, experts from the Ministry of Education and Science (MES), the New Ukrainian School Implementa ...
Ukraine and Sweden launch 11 new municipal partnerships

Ukraine and Sweden launch 11 new municipal partnerships

On May 20-21, Sweden hosted the Second Swedish-Ukrainian Forum on Municipal Partnerships
How to Strengthen Local Governance: Polaris Experts Conduct Training for Starostas of Bobrovytsia

How to Strengthen Local Governance: Polaris Experts Conduct Training for Starostas of Bobrovytsia

On 20 May, experts from the Swedish-Ukrainian Programme Polaris “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine” paid a working visit to the Bobrovytsia hromada in Chernihiv oblast. The purpose of the visit was to deepen partnership, exchange experience, and deliver a practical training for community s ...
Public Investments: A Good Idea Drowning in Bureaucracy

Public Investments: A Good Idea Drowning in Bureaucracy

On 14 May, the Ukrainian government published a set of procedures regulating the preparation, submission, and implementation of public investment projects and programmes, approved earlier on 28 February 2025.
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Polaris Programme Present the Updated Education Indicators Dashboard

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Polaris Programme Present the Updated Education Indicators Dashboard

The updated Dashboard consists of six modules, each serving a distinct analytical function.
Emotional Resilience as the Foundation of Strength: Training for ASC Staff Held in Rivne

Emotional Resilience as the Foundation of Strength: Training for ASC Staff Held in Rivne

From 14 to 16 May, the city of Rivne hosted a three-day training titled "Developing Emotional Intelligence and Preventing Burnout for Administrative Services Centre (ASC) Staff."
Sweden’s Experience – an Example for Europe: Cities4Cities Calls on EU Countries to Develop Inter-municipal Cooperation Programmes

Sweden’s Experience – an Example for Europe: Cities4Cities Calls on EU Countries to Develop Inter-municipal Cooperation Programmes

On May 15, the SALAR International initiative Cities4Cities presented a model for effective partnership building at two events at the Committee of the Regions: a political meeting of the European Alliance for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and a Partnership Forum. 
Data Skills for the Ministry of Education and Science: Training for Education Professionals

Data Skills for the Ministry of Education and Science: Training for Education Professionals

The Polaris Programme has launched a three-level MS Excel course (basic and advanced) for 30 staff members of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
Vacancy: Gender Expert

Vacancy: Gender Expert

The Gender Expert is part of the overarching cross-cutting unit to ensure integration of gender equality in all Programme activities. Applications are accepted until June 4, 2025
An ASC From Scratch – It’s Possible: Training for Hromada Leaders in Mykolaiv Oblast

An ASC From Scratch – It’s Possible: Training for Hromada Leaders in Mykolaiv Oblast

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). 
Polaris Continues Cooperation with Mykolaiv Oblast: Focus on ASC Development and Hromada Support

Polaris Continues Cooperation with Mykolaiv Oblast: Focus on ASC Development and Hromada Support

On 13 May, the team of the Swedish–Ukrainian programme Polaris – Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine paid a working visit to Mykolaiv Oblast and met with the team of the Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration and its Head, Vitalii Kim.

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