Kyiv, 19 July 2024 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine concluded a training course for local self-government representatives from 10 communities participating in a pilot project for local recovery planning.

The course was organised in collaboration with the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine and with financial support from the Government of Japan.

In 2023, the following territorial communities were selected for the pilot project: Bilotserkivska, Bohodukhivska, Valkivska, Vyzhnytska, Kuyalnytska, Novovolynska, Okhtyrska, Prylutska, Khmelivska, and Chernechchynska. As part of the project, the UNDP in Ukraine created a Methodology for Prioritizing Territorial Community Recovery*.

The communities received professional support in developing recovery and development plans, conducting corruption risk assessments, and developing local anti-corruption programmes. These will in turn serve as roadmaps for ensuring transparency and accountability during local recovery and development processes.

Additionally, community representatives participated in thematic training sessions on crisis response and on learning to engage the public and various stakeholders in the development and implementation of recovery and development plans.

The training course, titled “From Development to Implementation of the Community Recovery and Development Plan,” was the next stage of cooperation and support for the pilot communities. It built the capacity of local self-government bodies to carry out inclusive and people-centred recovery and development planning at the local level.

UNDP in Ukraine Democratic Governance Team Leader Olena Ursu noted the importance of local communities being able to independently create high-quality investment projects and seek investors. “Our task is to provide communities with the necessary knowledge and skills, as their initiative and capabilities are crucial for the successful recovery and development of the regions,” Ursu said. “We’re striving to equip communities with the tools that will allow them to effectively plan, implement, and monitor recovery processes, while also involving the public and all interested parties.”

Representatives of the participating communities learned to develop priority recovery projects within local recovery plans based on the needs of their target audiences – vulnerable social groups in particular. They learned to form expected project outcomes, create realistic project budgets, determine project success indicators, ensure project sustainability post-completion, develop partnerships for successful project implementation, and more.

During the 11-day training course, which consisted of three modules, participants not only acquired new practical skills but also developed a portfolio of community recovery and development projects.

Communities become able to present investment-ready projects to donors and potential partners to attract future investments.

*The methodology for prioritizing territorial community recovery was developed by the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, with support from the UNDP in Ukraine and with funding from the Government of Japan.

Media inquiries: Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications at UNDP in Ukraine, yuliia.samus@undp.org