The Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris Programme “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine” has selected seven new partner hromadas in “Integrating Veterans’ Perspectives into Municipal Work”. The partnership will focus on strengthening local veteran policies.

This year, 48 hromadas from 18 regions of Ukraine applied through the Open Call. The selection process considered existing local veteran policy practices, the motivation of hromada teams, the readiness of local authorities to implement changes, and the alignment of hromadas’ needs with the support offered by the Programme.

Following the open call, the following seven hromadas have been selected to partner with Polaris:

· Yavornytsia settlement hromada (Dnipropetrovsk region)

· Znamianka city hromada (Kirovohrad region)

· Mala Vyska city hromada (Kirovohrad region)

· Rozdilna city hromada (Odesa region)

· Hoshcha settlement hromada (Rivne region)

· Pidhaitsi city hromada (Ternopil region)

· Medzhybizh settlement hromada (Khmelnytskyi region)

As part of the partnership, the Programme team will support hromadas in assessing existing veteran policy practices, identifying the needs of veterans and their families, developing and improving local strategies and programmes, and planning resources for their implementation.

The partnership will also include training for local government representatives, introducing veteran-centred approaches to service delivery, integrating gender perspectives, strengthening interdepartmental cooperation, developing service infrastructure, and improving access to information on available services and support programmes.

“The focus of veteran policy is gradually shifting at both national and local levels. And this is a natural development. The role of veterans in hromadas is changing too. Their integration and engagement at the local level are progressing, alongside a growing desire not only to receive support but also to influence decisions and contribute to the development of their hromadas. Alongside the ‘hromada for veterans’ approach, another is gaining momentum - ‘veterans for the hromada’. This lays the foundation for open communication, sincerity and genuine partnerships, where veteran policy is not shaped solely by a designated specialist or department, but developed together, based on mutual respect,” said Denys Chechel, veteran and expert at the Polaris Programme.

The next steps will include introductory meetings with partner hromadas, establishing working groups, identifying priorities and planning joint activities. The partnership with the selected hromadas will be formalised through signed Memorandum of Cooperation.