The Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine hosted a meeting on the further development of the ‘Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Cohesive Communities!’ national project.

Deputy Minister Oleksii Riabykin, together with community representatives and the project team, discussed the results of the implementation of the initiative and the next steps for its development in 2026.

 

‘The “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” project has already proven its effectiveness. The next stage is to strengthen partnerships, ensure more systematic interaction between communities, and develop the international component. “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” is not just a project. It is a philosophy of mutual support among communities that come together for the sake of the restoration and development of the country,’ noted Oleksii Riabykin.

Since its launch, the project has brought together over 1,100 partnerships between communities across Ukraine. Such cooperation enables communities to support one another, exchange experiences, and jointly find solutions to shared challenges.

In 2026, the initiative will enter a new phase of development. In particular, there are plans to expand cooperation not only between individual communities but also at the regional level, which will enable the implementation of larger-scale projects.

 

 

There are also plans to establish inter-regional clusters, within which several outpost communities and partner communities will join forces to implement joint projects and tackle complex challenges.

‘We are moving towards a cluster-based approach in order to improve the efficiency of consolidating resources, implement larger-scale projects, access a wider range of funding sources, and enhance the investment potential of initiatives and projects,’ explained Oleksandr Vakhovskyi, coordinator of the ‘Shoulder-to-Shoulder: Cohesive Communities!’ project.

The Ministry for Development also plans to launch a state programme to support cluster projects.

Expanding international cooperation of communities will be a separate focus area. In particular, this week five Ukrainian communities signed a memorandum of partnership with the Polish town of Grybów. This is a new format of cooperation, where a single European town works directly with several Ukrainian communities – from Zakarpattia to frontline territories.

To further develop the project, a Coordination Council is to be established, comprising representatives from the Ministry, associations, regions, and communities. The Council's task will be to involve communities, regions, and local government associations in the strategic management of the project and the development of effective solutions.

The communities have also already begun preparations for the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), which will be held in Gdańsk this year. The participation of around 500 community representatives from Ukraine and other European countries is expected.