Together with Polaris experts Nataliia Mamchak, Andrii Matsokin, and Pavlo Pushchenko, participants worked with practical tools that starostas can use in their daily work. The sessions covered effective ways to inform residents, choosing appropriate communication channels and formats, identifying residents’ needs and requests, and organising feedback.
Particular attention was paid to formal and informal tools for resident engagement, as well as to participation mechanisms provided for in hromada statutes.
Supporting the institution of starostas is one of Polaris’ areas of work aimed at strengthening the capacity of local self-government. Starostas play an important role in connecting residents of starosta districts with local self-government bodies. Strengthening their communication and engagement skills helps ensure that residents’ needs are better taken into account in decision-making.
The trainings in Shumsk and Rohatyn marked the start of a series of learning events. The next sessions will take place in Rokytne and Ruzhyn, bringing together starostas from other partner hromadas in Rivne and Zhytomyr oblasts.
