280 local Ukrainian officials complete IMPACT.Zhytomyr course on EU funding and project implementation

With the mandate and support from the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), the Civitta consulting company developed the IMPACT.Zhytomyr programme for local government officials in the Zhytomyr Region in cooperation with the University of Tartu. 

According to Ivanna Didur, associate partner at Civitta Ukraine, the project's primary goal is to provide communities of the Zhytomyr oblast with tools to generate strong grant applications, establish partnerships with donors and effectively implement development projects.

"It was important for us to teach communities to be creative, to design projects that have a broader impact, to think globally and act locally to really make a difference. After all, in the context of the country's post-war recovery, funding from international partners will be a crucial component of regional sustainability and development," said Didur.

The training programme began late last November with workshops and a hackathon. The course participants identified priority development issues in their communities and generated project ideas to address them. Representatives from 65 communities in the region participated in the programme.

Over three months, experts from Civitta and the University of Tartu taught community representatives how to develop successful grant projects. Additional programme components included mentoring and project development from concept creation to fundraising and partner search in the EU. By the end of the programme, 63 teams had finalised project proposals, some of which have been submitted for funding. 

"Together with the University of Tartu, we have developed a comprehensive curriculum consisting of eight modules. By the end of the course, participants clearly understood where to raise funds, how to build partnerships and how to maintain a dialogue with international partners. Before the course, only about 30% of the participants had any experience with projects. We hope that through participation in IMPACT.Zhytomyr, this percentage will increase significantly," said Yaroslav Zhydyk, associate partner at Civitta Ukraine.

The ability of communities to create recovery and development projects and attract funding can be a major impetus for the region's economic growth, said Vitalii Bunechko, head of the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration.

"The development of territorial communities through the attraction of international funding is a strategically important aspect of regional recovery, as an opportunity to implement projects will create new jobs, improve infrastructure and increase people's living standards. Thanks to the IMPACT.Zhytomyr programme, local government leaders from 65 communities in the Zhytomyr region have gained knowledge and skills to make big changes," said Bunechko.

“Development in Estonia extends beyond Tallinn, just as in Ukraine, it shouldn't be limited to Kyiv. While national decisions are important, many critical choices must be made locally. For the Zhytomyr Region to thrive in the European community, it needs to focus on larger projects and secure more funding. This is why we introduced the idea of empowering Zhytomyr's communities to implement projects independently, and we're pleased with the positive response," said Klen Jäärats, ESTDEV’s executive director.

Estonia has supported the recovery of the Zhytomyr Region since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, allotting more than EUR 20 million to help rebuild the region.

Civitta implemented IMPACT.Zhytomyr in cooperation with the University of Tartu with support from the Estonian Government, the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), the Zhytomyr Regional State Administration, and the Zhytomyr Regional Development Agency.

IMPACT.Zhytomyr Graduation Ceremony