Governance and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)
Positioning RDAs as key players in the national recovery architecture – from planning and coordination to supporting implementation.
With UCORD’s support, these institutions have undergone significant transformation. Today, the RDAs are strengthening their foundations and increasingly acting as reliable regional platforms and authoritative coordinators for regional planning, investment mobilization, and inter-municipal cooperation.
- Capacity building for RDAs as regional coordinators, recognised brokers and qualityassurers,
- Support to regional strategies and project pipelines to operationalise Public
Investment Management Reform and create investment-ready projects, - RDAs as credible service providers to hromadas and partners.
Leadership & Institutional Foundations
UCORD strengthens the institutional capacity of regional development agencies (RDAs) to effectively coordinate regional development, attract investment, and implement strategic initiatives.
Under this priority, the Project:
- Provides core funding and supports institutional development of 6 pilot RDAs through mentoring, training, and development of internal management systems, policies, and procedures;
- Involved 5 non-pilot RDAs in the Regional Futures grant programme, which helps regional stakeholders — state authorities, local governments, communities, businesses, and civil society — prepare a portfolio of quality investment projects to implement regional development strategies and enhance regional competitiveness;
- Implements a program to strengthen the institutional capacity of 4 RDAs in frontline regions, aimed at strengthening their role in planning, coordinating, and restoring regional development in wartime;
- Implements individual training programs on project management, EU standards;
- Facilitated mutual learning between RDAs and mentoring by EURADA and other European partners;
- Ensures the participation of the RDA in national forums and policy consultations.
Strategy & Regional Coordination
UCORD supports regions in strategic planning, helping to shape modern development strategies aligned with national priorities and European Union approaches.
- Supported the updating of the Regional Development Strategies of Khmelnytskyi, Odesa and Ternopil regions through an inclusive consultation process with a wide range of stakeholders;
- Contributed to ensuring that the updated strategies became the basis for the formation of portfolios of quality investment projects ready for financing and implementation;
- Supported the development of 6 action plans for the implementation of Regional Development Strategies in pilot regions;
- Provided methodological support in monitoring and implementing regional development strategies;
- Supports the development and use of the Regional Development Geoinformation System (RDGIS) as a tool for planning, monitoring and making management decisions;
- Contributed to strengthening the institutional capacity of the Regional Development Agency of Sumy Region, which independently provided expert support for the updating of the Regional Development Strategy of the region.
Knowledge, Policy & EU Readiness
UCORD promotes the dissemination of modern approaches to regional development, the development of professional competencies, and the integration of Ukrainian regions into the European space of cooperation.
- Supports the exchange of knowledge and best European practices in regional development through training events, research, international visits and expert dialogue;
- In partnership with the Decentralization portal, develops the thematic section “Regional Development“, which serves as a platform for disseminating knowledge, analytics and practical materials on regional development issues;
- Jointly with the British Council, implements an English language learning program for employees of RDAs, strengthening their ability to work with international partners;
- Supports the development of the digital learning platform KROKUS, which helps RDAs, local governments and other stakeholders transform strategic priorities into high-quality project concepts ready for financing;
- Promotes the development of international partnership and integration of Ukrainian regions into European territorial cooperation programs. With UCORD support, pilot RDAs play key roles in the Interreg NEXT, Interreg Europe and URBACT programmes, helping Ukrainian communities to attract EU funding, develop joint projects and expand cooperation with European regions;
- Supports cooperation with EURADA (European Association of Development Agencies), opening up access to European expertise, professional networks and peer learning mechanisms for Ukrainian RDAs.
Competitiveness & Economic Development
UCORD helps regions to develop new tools for economic development, strengthen business competitiveness, and create conditions for sustainable economic growth.
Within this priority, the Project:
- At the request of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, in partnership with the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance, implements the Clusters4Regions initiative aimed at implementing the state policy of cluster development at the regional level and strengthening the economic competitiveness of Ukrainian regions through the development of clusters;
- Introducing the PRODUCE! (“Leadership in economic development through production”), which helps the six pilot regions to reveal their production potential, uniting the RDAs, business, educational institutions, the public sector and authorities around the state policy instruments “Made in Ukraine”;
- Together with the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office is developing the Export Connect initiative, which helps the RDAs, business support organizations, and regional administrations to create effective regional export support systems, expand local business opportunities, and facilitate the entry of Ukrainian manufacturers into international markets.
