On 4-5 February 2025, a working visit of experts from the Polaris Programme, Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine, took place in Adzhamska hromada. The purpose of the visit was to audit the activities of the Administrative Service Centre (ASC) to support its further development and improvement.
Expert Work and Key Audit Issues
The audit was initiated at the request of the head of the hromada, Tetiana Anatoliivna Zaichenko, due to the need to improve service accessibility for different population groups. The assessment focused on gender policy and barrier-free access, particularly ensuring administrative services are accessible to people with limited mobility, providing equal access for all citizens, and implementing gender-sensitive approaches in the ASC's operations.
Over two days, experts worked with the hromada’s leadership, ASC employees, and local elders. The audit included:
- Analysis of service provision procedures and compliance with legal requirements;
- Evaluation of ASC staffing policies and recommendations for improvement;
- Assessment of front-office and back-office interactions;
- Review of local elder activities and remote administrator workstations.
Following the audit, the hromada will receive a detailed report on the current state of the ASC, along with recommendations for its further development.
Training on Inclusion and Gender Policy
One of the key aspects of the visit was the training session "Inclusion, Accessibility, and the Gender Dimension in ASC Operations", conducted by gender expert Yuliia Savelieva. The training was attended by 31 participants (26 women and 5 men), including hromada leadership, ASC employees, and representatives of the village council’s executive bodies.
"The training provided participants with tools for a gender-inclusive approach. In practice, this means that an institution providing services welcomes every person, ensures they feel comfortable, and takes their needs into account. Additionally, in the workplace, employees are evaluated solely based on their competencies and professionalism," said Yuliia Savelieva.
Conclusions and Next Steps
Adzhamska Hromada is a small community in Kirovohrad oblast with a population of about 6,000 people and three administrative districts. As noted by Tetiana Zaichenko, head of the hromada:
"Small communities are often overlooked, even though they need the most attention. Cooperation with the Polaris Programme helps us receive high-quality recommendations and support to improve the network of administrative services for our residents."
Based on the audit results, the hromada will be able to enhance the ASC’s operations, improve service quality, and make administrative services more accessible to all residents.
