On 16 April in Kyiv, the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities brought together key partners, donors, and representatives of international technical assistance projects and programmes to discuss the initiative to establish a Coalition of Partners: a new platform for coordinating international support for communities.

The meeting marked the first step in forming a common vision for the concept of the Coalition and the process for its establishment.

The participants focused on key issues:

• the role of the Coalition as a coordinating platform;
• the principles of cooperation between partners and communities;
• formats for joint work.

The initiative aims to create a platform that will enable partners to synchronise their efforts, improve project effectiveness, align areas of work, and develop a shared vision of priorities to support communities in the processes of recovery, development, and capacity building.

‘We are convinced that this platform will bring together efforts, enhance the effectiveness of international support for communities, and foster coordinated approaches to addressing the pressing challenges of local self-government. We hope that the Coalition of Partners will become an effective tool for open dialogue, the exchange of experience, and the formation of joint decisions aimed to strengthen the capacity of communities and improve the quality of life for residents,’ said Oleksandr Korinnyi, Chair of the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities.

The next step is to continue work on the concept of the Coalition and its founding documents. Over the course of the month, the Association will collect proposals from partners, which will be summarised and taken into account during the finalisation process. The final approval of the draft Regulations, the formation of the membership roster, and the roadmap for joint partnership activities will takes place at the inaugural meeting of the Coalition.

International support today plays a significant role in the recovery and development of communities, helping them to respond to the challenges of war and strengthen their resilience. Therefore, enhancing cooperation and coordination between partners is a key prerequisite for its effectiveness.