The project Central European Initiative for Ukraine’s Future. Empowering Ukrainian Municipalities through Polish Expertise in Fund Management and Project Practices for Pre-Accession Readiness of Ukraine has successfully concluded after one year of implementation (March 2025 – February 2026). Co‑financed by Italy through the CEI Know‑how Exchange Programme (KEP), the initiative was implemented by the Leaders of Change Foundation (LCF) in partnership with the Podil Agency for Regional Development (PARD), combining Polish know‑how with the strong local outreach of a Ukrainian regional development actor.
Developed in response to the concrete needs of Ukrainian local governments, the project strengthened their capacity to plan, prepare and implement development initiatives and to access future EU pre‑accession funds. More than 250 representatives of municipalities from the Chernihiv, Poltava, Sumy and Vinnytsia regions took part, confirming the strong demand for practical guidance on international funding and professional project management.
Through thematic webinars, expert consultations, hands‑on workshops and study visits, participants received structured support to develop high‑quality project proposals aligned with EU standards. Working directly on their own project ideas, they improved problem analysis, logical frameworks, budgeting, risk assessment and indicator planning. Study visits in Ukraine and Poland provided a first‑hand understanding of how EU‑funded initiatives are designed and implemented, while fostering peer learning and cooperation between Ukrainian and Polish local administrations.
By the end of the project, participating local government representatives had strengthened their skills, expanded their professional networks and gained practical tools to apply in their daily work. The competencies developed through this initiative are expected to support the preparation of tangible development projects and enhance the readiness of Ukrainian municipalities to effectively access EU funds in the coming years.
Beyond its immediate results, the project demonstrates the added value of CEI‑supported partnerships: it brings together Italian financial support, Polish expertise and Ukrainian institutional needs in a coherent framework that contributes to Ukraine’s European path. By empowering local authorities - key actors in reconstruction and long‑term development - the initiative reinforces local resilience, supports alignment with EU standards and strengthens cooperation within the CEI region.
More info: dovier@cei.int
