The recovery of Ukraine begins with capable hromadas (communities). This very idea became central during a coordination meeting at the Kyiv Regional State Administration dedicated to the implementation of the VIDNOVA CITIES international program.
The meeting was attended by representatives of territorial hromadas of the Kyiv region, the leadership of the Kyiv Regional State Administration, Vice-President of the Swiss-Ukrainian Association VIDNOVA Viktoriia Velychko, who worked directly in Kyiv, as well as President of the VIDNOVA Association and Director of the foreign representative office of Business Woman Magazine in Switzerland Olesya Tarasenko, who joined the discussion via video link from Switzerland.
On the eve of the Constitution Day of Ukraine, the meeting participants discussed not only today’s challenges but also specific tools that are already helping Ukrainian hromadas prepare for large-scale international cooperation and the future recovery of the country.
Key Areas of the VIDNOVA CITIES Program:
- Implementation of a comprehensive roadmap for hromada development;
- Digitalization of municipal asset management;
- Attraction of international grants, investments, and financial instruments;
- Development of partnerships between Ukrainian municipalities and European cities;
- Enhancement of the institutional capacity of local self-government bodies in accordance with European standards.
Today, international partners are increasingly emphasizing not only financial support for Ukraine but also the readiness of hromadas to effectively implement large-scale projects. The experience of the VIDNOVA team’s participation in international conferences dedicated to the recovery of Ukraine confirms that European institutions expect hromadas to have transparent management mechanisms, professional teams, and well-prepared project solutions.
That is why the VIDNOVA CITIES program is designed to become a platform that connects Ukrainian hromadas with international partners, experts, donors, and investors, helping to shape a modern system of municipal development.
“Strong hromadas are the foundation of a strong state. Our task is to create conditions under which Ukrainian cities and hromadas will become full partners for international institutions, ready to implement large-scale reconstruction and sustainable development projects,” emphasizes Olesya Tarasenko.
The team of the Swiss-Ukrainian Association VIDNOVA expresses its sincere gratitude to the leadership of the Kyiv Regional State Administration and representatives of territorial hromadas for their openness to cooperation, constructive dialogue, and shared vision of the future.
Today, the recovery of Ukraine is no longer just about reconstructing destroyed infrastructure. It is about creating a new model of hromada development based on effective management, international partnership, innovation, and trust.
VIDNOVA CITIES is more than a program. It is an investment in the future of Ukrainian hromadas, their competitiveness, and their successful integration into the European space.
Author: Olesia Tarasenko
Photo: from the author’s archive