News

At the end of August, the Polaris Programme held a two-day workshop in Lviv on education financing and the distribution of the education subvention from the state budget to local budgets in 2027

On 27–28 August, a meeting of the Women in Governance Network of political leaders who are women in local self-government took place in Pirnove, Kyiv Oblast

The Polaris Programme invites territorial hromadas to partner in developing and implementing effective veteran policies and creating high-quality services for veterans and their families

At the end of August, the Polaris Programme held training sessions “From Information to Joint Decisions: Communication and Participation Tools for Starostas” in Rivne and Zhytomyr Oblasts

The Polaris Programme, together with the Kirovohrad Regional Military Administration, held the regional event “Veteran Policy at Administrative Services Centres: From Challenges to Effective Solutions”, which brought together around 70 representatives from 24 hromadas

The 10 participants, representing 10 oblasts of Ukraine, were selected from 107 applications. The new partners include rural, settlement and urban hromadas with between 5,000 and 34,000 residents

The role includes providing periodic security analysis and updates on developments in infrastructure disruptions, security risks, and emerging threats affecting operations, as well as advice on security measures for travel to partner hromadas, etc. Deadline: 11 September 2026

The Polaris Education Team held Management Practicums in Pivdenne hromada (Odesa Oblast) and Kobleve hromada (Mykolaiv Oblast)

Participants in the training seminar discussed how regional associations and regional branches of all-Ukrainian associations can collaborate more effectively, allocate roles, and jointly represent the interests of hromadas

Polaris wishes Ukraine a dignified peace, and local governments the strength, resilience, and opportunities to move forward. Happy Independence Day of Ukraine!

How can starostas maintain regular communication with residents, better understand their needs, and involve them in addressing issues in their hromadas? These topics were the focus of a series of Polaris trainings for starostas from partner hromadas

The Polaris Programme is expanding its support for municipal enterprise reform and invites hromadas to become partners

The Polaris Programme invites hromadas from the Volyn, Zhytomyr, Odesa, Ternopil, Chernivtsi, and Cherkasy oblasts to become partners in Fiscal Decentralisation 

Participants of the networking event “Inclusive Education in Upper Secondary School” discussed how to ensure the right of students with special educational needs to access upper secondary education and create opportunities for them to fully pursue their individual educational pathways within the lea ...

The role includes refinement of the existing methodological approach, further elaboration of the current task, comprehensive consultancy support to Municipalities in the development of strategic and urban planning documents, needs assessment etc. Deadline: September 7th 2026

The Polaris education team continues to conduct Management Practicums — a format of practical support for hromada education management teams and heads of educational institutions in addressing specific management challenges. This time, the practicums took place in Chernivtsi Oblast

From 1 January 2027, adopting a Hromada Charter will become mandatory for every territorial hromada. With support from Polaris, 19 hromadas from 13 oblasts of Ukraine will receive expert assistance in developing a draft Charter.

The Polaris Programme invites Administrative Service Centers Heads to participate in The Training Platform. Seven previous training cohorts have already brought together 207 ASCs Heads, forming a strong professional community

Polaris Programme experts conducted an audit of the ASC in the Uman Hromada and proposed several options for further improving the delivery of services to residents. They also discussed veterans’ policy and gender equality with representatives of the city council

The Polaris Programme is expanding its cooperation: two more oblasts have joined the comprehensive planning of ASC network development. Six oblasts are now involved in the initiative

The role includes carrying out tasks aimed at strengthening the financial capacity of hromadas, improving approaches to local finance management in light of changes in the public investment management system, supporting hromadas recovery and development processes. Deadline: 25 August 2026 ...

The goal of the initiative is to test a new partnership model, in which regional and local associations of local self-government serve as active participants in the professional development of local government officials and as platforms for the exchange of experiences among hromadas

The Polaris Programme expert team held a webinar for the Kolomyia urban territorial hromada “Engaging Starostas in the Development of the Hromada Development Strategy”

The Polaris Programme’s education team piloted the Education Practicum in the Drohobych hromada — a new format of hands-on support for school leaders and local education management teams in preparing for the new school year

One of the Programme’s top priorities is to support hromadas’ capacity to identify needs and ensure the provision of high-quality public services at the level of starosta districts and to define the role of the starosta in the hromada

The role includes project coordination and implementation support across thematic areas that engage with territorial hromadas. Deadline: 15 August 2026

Modern standards for administrative service delivery, digital tools, accessibility, and effective communication were the key focus areas of the "Skills for a Modern Administrative Service Centre Professional" training held on 15–17 July in Kropyvnytskyi

The Polaris Programme held a study visit and training session “The Role of Starostas in Preventing and Responding to Domestic Violence.” The event brought together around 30 starostas and other representatives of the Mena, Kozelets, and Bobrovytsia hromadas in Chernihiv region

On 15 June, Ukraine opened accession negotiations on the ‘Fundamentals’ cluster, and on 14 July, on the ‘External Relations’ cluster. This marks not only an important stage in the negotiation process with the EU, but also the start of practical preparations for the implementation of European legisla ...

The role includes providing advisory and expert analytical support to hromadas in identifying the needs of local residents in starosta districts, and developing ways for them to participate in resolving issues of local importance. Deadline: 5 August 2026