The competitive selection process for partner communities in Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Poltava, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions took almost three months.

The Selection Committee received 231 applications from communities in the eight partner regions. Following two selection stages, which included the analysis of applications, interviews, expert evaluations and meetings with the leadership teams of the communities, 40 communities were selected to participate in the implementation of the second phase of the DECIDE Project in 2026–2030.

The selection process was difficult, as every community demonstrated motivation, a vision for development, and a readiness to implement reforms.

Partner communities for Decide Phase 2:

Zhytomyr region

• Korostyshivska urban community;
• Myropilska settlement community;
• Berdychivska urban community;
• Brusylivska settlement community.

Ivano-Frankivsk region

• Halytska urban community;
• Rozhnivska rural community;
• Vorokhtianska settlement community;
• Biloberizka rural community;
• Dubovetska rural community;
• Rohatynska urban community.

Kyiv region

• Brovarska urban community;
• Tarashchanska urban community;
• Bilohorodska rural community;
• Rzhyshchivska urban community.

Lviv region

• Novorozdilska urban community;
• Sheptytska urban community;
• Pustomytivska urban community;
• Novoyavorivska urban community.

Odesa region

• Avanhardivska settlement community;
• Pivdennivska urban community;
• Kiliiska urban community;
• Safianivska rural community;
• Maiakivska rural community;
• Podilska urban community.

Poltava region

• Reshetylivska urban community;
• Tereshkivska rural community;
• Nekhvoroshchanska rural community;
• Shcherbanivska rural community;
• Hrebinkivska urban community;
• Lokhvytska urban community.

Sumy region

• Sumska urban community;
• Shostkynska urban community;
• Trostianetska urban community;
• Krolevetska urban community.

Chernihiv region

• Chernihivska urban community;
• Menska urban community;
• Sukhopolovianska rural community;
• Kulykivska settlement community;
• Bobrovytska urban community;
• Kozeletska settlement community.

We warmly welcome our partner communities!

Four years of joint work lie ahead, dedicated to the development of education and local self-government, and the implementation of reforms.

Each community will receive comprehensive support for the sustainable development of education and the implementation of reforms. The focus will be on systemic changes that the community will continue to develop even after the partnership with DECIDE has ended.

Participation of communities in the Project in 2026–2030 involves:

Reform of specialised senior secondary education

• expert support for the implementation of the reform of specialised senior secondary education;
• professional training programmes for school principals, teachers, school psychologists, and IRC specialists delivered by Ukrainian and Swiss experts.

Development of a career guidance system for children and adolescents in partnership with the business sector

• development of a career guidance system for children and adolescents, creation of career guidance hubs, and development of cooperation with the business sector.

Strategic planning for the development of education and the community as a whole

• support in developing or updating strategies for community development and education development, as well as a portfolio of investment projects for education development;
• support in creating strategies for the development and transformation of ‘Schools of Active Democracy’;
• consultative support, training, and exchange programmes for community leaders, local council education administrators, and councillors;
• support in implementing key educational reforms.

Infrastructure support

• a grant for a community infrastructure project in education in compliance with the strategy for community development (on a co-financing basis).

Development of local democracy and active citizenship among young people

• establishment of a Board of Trustees for educational institutions;
• implementation of participatory community and school budgeting within the “Community Budget for Children’s Dreams” initiative, which includes a grant programme on a co-financing basis;
• the ‘Learning to Live in the Community’ course and mini-grants for student initiatives;
• youth internship programmes in local councils.

We are grateful to all communities for their trust, engagement, and desire to develop together.

We are also grateful to all members of the Selection Committee, which included DECIDE leadership and expert teams, as well as our partners: the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the Poltava Regional State Administration, the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State Administration, the Chernihiv Regional State Administration, the Odesa Regional State Administration, the Sumy Regional Military Administration, the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration, the Lviv Regional Military Administration, the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, and DECIDE Project leadership team.

Strong partnerships and significant results lie ahead!