Published 4 October 2024

Polaris Programme Launched in Ukraine to Strengthen Decentralisation and Multilevel Governance

On October 3, 2024, SALAR International officially launched the Polaris Programme, aimed at supporting Ukraine's multilevel governance, decentralisation, and recovery from 2024 to 2028. The event in Kyiv brought together Ukrainian and Swedish officials, municipal leaders, local government associations, experts, and representatives of various international aid programs.

Building on the impactful work of SALAR Internationals previous projects in Ukraine a new larger programme, along with new compontens of recovery and reconstruction, have been designed. On October 3, 2024, SALAR International officially launched the Polaris Programme, aimed at supporting Ukraine's multilevel governance, decentralisation, and recovery from 2024 to 2028. The event in Kyiv brought together Ukrainian and Swedish officials, municipal leaders, local government associations, experts, and representatives of various international aid programs.

“Sweden has been a reliable strategic partner for Ukraine for many years. The new programme will provide systematic support and assistance in shaping and implementing regional policy and local self-governance development. It will also help strengthen the capacity of Ukrainian hromadas to cope with the numerous challenges they face due to the war” said Nataliia Kozlovska, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine during her welcoming remarks.

At the event, participants learned more about the programme's main focus: supporting local governance reforms, strengthening public services, and enhancing the capacity of Ukrainian communities to recover and rebuild amidst the challenges of war. Polaris will also help improve financial decentralisation, education management, and collaboration between national and local authorities to foster sustainable development as well as intermunicipal cooperation on both local and international levels.

Ryan Knox, Managing Director of SALAR International, highlighted the importance of empowering local governments during his inspirational talk on the long-term support of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities for Ukraine:

"The decision to grant local governments broad responsibilities makes them directly accountable to citizens as both service providers and administrators of public resources. Polaris aims to strengthen municipalities' ability to organize services, innovate, and meet local needs, ensuring better governance and recovery. With Sida’s visionary support, the program will also provide parallel financing to recovery priorities identified by pilot municipalities"

Several voices emphasised Sweden's continued support for Ukraine

During the launch several voices emphasises the continued support from Sweden to Ukraine. Swedish Ambassador Martin Åberg, during his Ambassador's Guiding Remark, underscored Sweden's commitment to Ukraine's recovery and future integration into the European Union, stating that the Polaris is a flagship part of Sweden’s long-term support for Ukraine in the field of reforms. Malin Perhult, head of Sida's Ukraine unit, addressed the participants, emphasizing the agency's ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine's recovery and decentralisation efforts. Jakob Granit, Director General of Sida highlighted Sweden's dedication to long-term cooperation through the Polaris Program to strengthen local governance and community resilience in Ukraine. Lastly, Anders Henriksson, President of SALAR, expressed SALAR’s unwavering support for Ukraine:

"This time, our new Programme starts under very different conditions. Adapted to this reality, Polaris is mainly designed to strengthen local self-governance and increase municipal capacities. We know that this is vital for maintaining Ukraine’s resilience”

The event also featured overview of Polaris activity by Ieva Kalniņa and Susanna Dellans, Polaris' component leaders. The program concluded with a panel discussion “From Resilient Society to Resilient Governance”, featuring local mayors and associations representatives.

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