On 13-17 March, the “U-LEAD with Europe” (Ukraine: Local Empowerment, Accountability and Development) Programme held a workshop on strategic planning of regional and local development for regional development experts. The training was organised with the extensive support of experts of the former “EU Support to Implementation of State Regional Policy” project, which came to an end in early 2017 after successful implementation. 

The workshop was attended by finalists of the competitive selection of highly qualified professionals to the Pool of Experts on regional development to support the implementation of the decentralisation and regional development policy reforms in 24 oblasts of Ukraine. These experts were selected to provide advisory support regarding the implementation of the new state regional policy, the reform of local self-government and territorial organisation of power. They will be deployed in 24 Regional Centres established in all oblasts of Ukraine. The Regional Centres support the implementation of the regional policy and decentralisation reform by providing trainings, consultations and expertise to the state and local self-government bodies. 

During the workshop the trainees learned about the current state of reforming the State Regional Development Policy and its interrelation with the process of decentralisation, specifics of the State Fund for Regional Development as the main financial instrument of the State Regional Policy and peculiarities of spatial planning for amalgamated hromadas.

They were also taught the methodology of preparation of strategic plans for amalgamated hromadas and oblasts, as well as plans for implementation of local and regional strategies. The workshop participants gained skills in carrying of strategic analysis, selecting a strategic option, conducting open meetings of regional expert groups to select terms of reference for regional development projects. 

U-LEAD plans to select and train additional experts to provide hands-on support to amalgamated hromadas in the near future. The next training for the regional development experts will be dedicated to project-cycle management.  

The “U-LEAD with Europe” Programme is financed by the European Union and its member states (Denmark, Еstonia, Germany, Poland and Sweden) and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).