At the local level, within the Regional Development Priority, UCORD will contribute to recovery and strategic planning through capacity building and knowledge sharing and coordination of planning under the leadership of the Regional Development Agencies.
At the regional level, work to strengthen the management and operational capabilities of the Regional Development Agencies and to form partnerships.
At the national level, contributes to a dialogue platform for the development, implementation and monitoring of national regional development policies and sub-national recovery plans will be promoted.
Development of regional policy in Ukraine through institutional support of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)
The UCORD project focuses on Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) leading and facilitating recovery and development, identifying priorities, and building partnerships to design and deliver projects enabling regions to reach their potential. The UCORD project contributes to coordinated policymaking for regional development, strengthens RDAs institutionally and supports RDAs in developing recovery plans and strategies.
RDAs in six pilot regions – Sumy, Volyn, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, Ternopil and Odesa – receive grant support from the project for their institutional development and implementation of projects aimed at the development of their regions. It is also planned that the institutional support for the development of agencies from the project will not be limited to the pilot regions. The project plans to further expand the geography of agencies that it will support institutionally.
UCORD seeks to transform RDAs into capable institutions that can become drivers of regional recovery and development.
The results and activities of the Regional Development Ptiority form the “heart” of UCORD. Most of the project’s resources will be directed to it. The work of other areas – improvement of water supply, sanitation and waste management (WASAW) services and social cohesion through culture – are aimed at strengthening RDA model and its practical application.
UCORD is the only project in Ukraine that provides comprehensive support to regional development agencies and regional development reform.
Opportunities provided by UCORD to pilot RDAs:
- mentoring from European experts in the field of regional development and RDA activities;
- improvement of communications and English language skills;
- increasing capacity to develop local and regional development strategies;
- support in developing RDA policies and strategies;
- training in project design, in particular through training programs and the KROKUS training platform created within the project;
- implementation of regional economic development tools, in particular through the Clusters4Regions initiative;
- training and exchange of experience through joint training programs and visits with European partners.
Support for strategic planning in partner regions
In partnership with The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, UCORD will support the pilot RDAs in their use of the latest data analysis solutions and facilitate strategic planning processes in partner regions. In particular, as part of this activity, Khmelnytskyi and Ternopil regions receive methodological assistance from strategic planning experts engaged by UCORD. Regional development agencies (RDAs), which are key regional players in the process of creating and effectively implementing strategies for their regions, are actively involved in strategic planning.
UCORD is a platform for dialogue between national, regional and local stakeholders
Given the importance of the regional development agenda in the context of recovery and preparations for EU accession, it is imperative that all RDAs and their regional and local stakeholders are heard at the national level. The project will facilitate consultations between national, regional and local stakeholders in partnership with the Parliamentary Committee on the Organization of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning, which will serve as a common and inclusive platform for dialogue. The platform will facilitate regular discussions, including round tables, seminars and conferences.
UCORD’s mission is to provide a variety of learning opportunities, including self-assessment, training, seminars, coaching, mentoring and networking. In spreading knowledge, the project relies on international experience and EU best practices. The knowledge gained during the implementation of the project will become the basis for the future policy of regional development in Ukraine and will contribute to other RDAs in the implementation of their tasks in the development and implementation of regional plans, strategies and recovery projects.
