One of the tasks of the UCORD project is to facilitate strategic planning in pilot regions. As part of this activity, Khmelnytskyi and Ternopil regions receive methodological assistance from strategic planning experts engaged by UCORD.
It is worth noting that 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. This is what Maryna Bryl, the UCORD project leader, says about the role of agencies in the process of strategic planning:
“In European countries, Regional Development Agencies are the discussion platforms that involve various partners in planning the future of regions: the public, business, authorities at various levels, and local self-government bodies. And such work gives a practical result. We are strengthening the capacity of Ukrainian APRs so that they also perform this important function”.
In particular, the team of the Regional Development Agency of the Khmelnytskyi region took on the important role of coordinator in the process of involving as many stakeholders as possible in planning. Together with an expert and with the support of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Military Administration, the agency held a series of meetings of sectoral groups, discussing the future strategy with people representing different industries and spheres of activity.
“We have already met with representatives of the region’s leading medical and educational institutions, professional and technical education institutions, the energy sector, business, the hospitality industry, and the public. The result of these meetings was the proposals of the participants regarding changes that must be made to the Khmelnytskyi Development Strategy for 2025-2027 in order to improve the living conditions of the region’s residents,” says Kateryna Savchuk, director of the Regional Development Agency of the Khmelnytskyi Region.
The process of updating the Ternopil Oblast Development Strategy for 2021-2027 and the development of the Action Plan for its implementation in 2024-2027 is also underway. A survey of residents, businesses, and IDPs has already been conducted, the trends and main problems of the socio-economic development of the region have been analyzed, the SWOT analysis has been updated, strategic and operational goals and objectives have been defined, a collection of project ideas has been announced, and it is also planned to hold three strategic sessions with territorial communities
“Even in the face of current challenges, it is important to understand the importance of Regional Development Agencies and promote their potential. After all, only organizationally strong institutions are able to perform their main function – to systematically develop mechanisms for stability, ensuring the development of the region, and post-war recovery. The update of the Development Strategy of the Ternopil Region and the Action Plan for its implementation will allow us to identify the most priority areas of activity and allow us to focus on the main thing,” commented Iryna Skuratko, director of the Regional Development Agency of the Ternopil Region.
For reference: In August of last year, the Government approved changes to the State Regional Development Strategy for 2021-2027, which brings Ukraine’s state regional policy as close as possible to the cohesion policy of the European Union. It is important to update the strategic planning documents of all levels in view of the effects of the war and European integration processes. After the State Regional Development Strategy was updated, all regions of Ukraine were tasked with updating their strategies in accordance with it. The upgrade process should be completed by February 13, 2025.
The next stage will be the updating of local strategies in accordance with national and regional strategies. And here, Regional Development Agencies should show leadership and be actively involved with their consulting and expert support in the process of community preparation of quality planning documents.
The Swiss-Ukrainian project “Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development”, UCORD is implemented with the support of Switzerland via the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Swiss Development & Cooperation by NIRAS Sweden AB.