At the Bucha Forum ‘Reforms. Decentralisation. European Integration’, Valentyna Poltorak, Swiss-Ukrainian Decentralisation for Improved Democratic Education (DECIDE) Project Manager, spoke during the panel ‘Successful practices of international projects for sustainable development of communities and regions’

‘We officially started the second five-year phase in September, and today I would like to describe what this phase will focus on and how we will continue to support communities across Ukraine to develop education and implement reforms. The second phase will last until September 2030, and we hope to provide high-quality support for a variety of processes in Ukraine. This includes, in particular, local self-government reform, as well as reconstruction, revival and restoration processes for our communities to ensure that children have access to quality education,’ said Valentyna Poltorak.

DECIDE Phase II activities will include:

• Geographical expansion: 9 partner regions and 40 local communities.
• Support for the preparation of development and recovery strategies with a focus on education.
• Implementation of 10 support tools in communities: grant infrastructure projects, creation of democratic institutions (such as boards of trustees for educational institutions), training for local government bodies and civil servants in education sector.
• Support for communities in implementing key reforms in education sector: the third stage of the New Ukrainian School reform – creation of academic lyceums and introduction of a new career guidance system for schoolchildren. As well as expert support in strategic planning.
• National pilot project to implement a career guidance system: 400 communities where career coordinators will work in local councils and career advisors will work in schools. Communities also received expert support in establishing cooperation with businesses, in partnership with businesses, vocational and higher education institutions, and will participate in a grant programme to create career guidance spaces.

‘DECIDE is a large-scale support for communities in developing the education system with a focus on improving life in communities and involving the youth in decision-making, as well as in the economy of their regions. I invite everyone to cooperate – together we will be able to support, rebuild and restore the democratic country through quality education for our young people,’ concluded Valentyna Poltorak.

The Bucha Forum ‘Reforms. Decentralisation. European integration’ was organised by the Committee on State Administration, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning.

The event was held with the assistance and support of the U-LEAD with Europe, the Swiss-Ukrainian ‘Decentralisation for Improved Democratic Education’ (DECIDE) Project, implemented with the support of Switzerland, the ‘E-Governance for Accountability and Participation’ (EGAP) Programme, implemented by the East Europe Foundation, the Swiss-Ukrainian ‘Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development’ (UCORD) Project, the Swedish-Ukrainian ‘Support for Multilevel Governance in Ukraine’ (Polaris) Programme, the RELEVE Project, implemented by Expertise France, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, and the DESPRO public organisation.