Strategic planning bootcamp for Ukraine’s regional development agencies

This initiative was organised by the OECD Trento Centre for Local Development, the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA), Trentino Sviluppo, Italy and the Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development Project (UCORD).

The five-day capacity building initiative aimed to equip the staff of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy, Oblast Administrations, and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in Ukraine with the skills and knowledge to enhance their role in developing regional development strategies.

Addressing critical aspects of the strategic planning cycle such as data collection and analysis, system mapping and diagnostics, governance, stakeholder engagement, strategy implementation, and monitoring and evaluation, the programme emphasised practical strategies for aligning national development efforts with regional ones. Through dedicated sessions, thematic workshops, and expert exchanges, they explored practices for developing, managing and advancing regional development strategies. This comprehensive approach ensured that participants developed skills for effective planning and management of regional strategic plans in Ukraine's regions.

The capacity building initiative sought to:

• Enhance the capacity of the staff of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy, Oblast Administrations, and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in Ukraine in governance, strategy, stakeholder engagement, data-driven planning, policy implementation, and monitoring.
• Demonstrate European practices in regional strategic planning, emphasising the facilitator and coordinator role of RDAs in fostering effective and collaborative development processes.
• Equip participants with practical tools and methodologies for strategy development, enabling them to tailor initiatives to the specific contexts and needs of Ukrainian regions.
• Highlight the importance of multi-level governance in designing and implementing successful strategies, showcasing how regional, and national collaboration underpins effective policy outcomes.
• Provide practical examples and case studies from international context, illustrating how practices can be adapted to meet the challenges and opportunities of Ukrainian regional development.
• Encourage peer learning and networking among participants, experts, and local stakeholders, stimulating knowledge exchange and fostering an environment for ongoing collaboration and innovation.

This capacity building programme used an interactive, hands-on approach to ensure that participants gained a good understanding of the complexities of regional development. Combining theoretical presentations with practical exercises, it provided a holistic learning experience tailored to the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy, Oblast Administrations, and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in Ukraine.

Participants engaged in case studies, peer-exchange sessions, lectures and keynote presentations by experts to share best practices and insights. Each day included group work, interactive workshops and discussion of real-life examples to encourage ongoing dialogue and peer learning among participants.

The training included:

• Presentations by OECD experts and other professionals: Insights into international and practical approaches that enrich participants' understanding of regional development and RDAs.
• Expert-led discussions on strategic planning, governance, stakeholder engagement, data-driven approaches, strategy implementation and monitoring.
• Case presentations and peer exchange.
• Practical workshops where participants had the opportunity to apply and practice the design of regional development strategies, linking theoretical concepts with real-world challenges.

For further information, please contact:

• OECD Trento Centre: katerina.ciampistancova@oecd.org   
• EURADA: roberta.dallolio@eurada.org