Ukrainian communities need to strengthen their capacity to participate in international programmes.
After the start of the full-scale invasion, communities faced challenges that significantly affected their capacity for development and international cooperation. These include infrastructure destruction, a shortage of qualified specialists, cuts in local budgets, and a lack of knowledge about working with international partners. Such challenges are significant obstacles to active participation in European integration processes. At the same time, they can be overcome.
Therefore, the Innovation Development Centre, with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation, is conducting research as part of the joint initiative ‘Joining the EU Together’ to assess the capacity of Ukrainian local communities to participate in international partnerships and programmes.
Analysts will determine the level of capacity of communities in five key areas:
- international cooperation;
- project management;
- participation in EU programmes;
- human resource capacity;
- inter-municipal partnerships.
The study aims to identify the main barriers limiting community participation in international initiatives, as well as to outline current needs in terms of support, training and institutional capacity building.
The survey results will form the basis for developing practical recommendations and training programmes to help communities more effectively attract international funding, form partnerships and participate in European networks.
Based on the results of the study, 50 local communities will be selected to undergo training on inter-municipal partnerships, participation in EU programmes, preparation of applications and implementation of international projects.
International partnerships generally open up opportunities for local communities to develop, modernise and integrate into the European space. At a time when communities are looking for ways to recover, attract investment and improve the quality of services for residents, cooperation with international partners is becoming a powerful tool for change. However, in order to make good use of it, it is important to clearly understand the current needs of communities. The survey will provide answers to this question.
You can take the survey by clicking on the link: https://forms.gle/3ZrzoLd3Aq1xP1Zn8
Deadline: 5 December 2025.
Representatives of local communities responsible for strategic planning, international cooperation, project activities and fundraising are eligible to participate.
In particular, these may be specialists from the departments of economy, investment, digital transformation, and international cooperation who are directly involved in community development and partnerships.
All results will be anonymous.
The research materials will be summarised in an analytical report with visualisation of key data and conclusions. The document will also present a typology of the needs of territorial communities.
Based on the data obtained, the Innovation Development Centre team will also prepare practical recommendations for local authorities on developing international cooperation, attracting funding and participating in EU programmes.
In addition, it is planned to create information materials for wide distribution so that all interested parties can use the results in their activities.
This material has been prepared with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation as part of the joint initiative ‘Joining the EU Together’. The publication reflects the views of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the International Renaissance Foundation.
Source: Decentralisation
