On September 17, 2024, a successful round table titled “Self-Organisation of Population as a Driving Force of Local Democracy for Ukraine’s Sustainable Recovery” took place in Dnipro (Ukraine). Organised by ALDA and local partners, the event gathered representatives from local self-government, international partners, and civil society organisations. The discussions focused on the pivotal role of self-organisation, both in peacetime and wartime, as a mechanism to strengthen community resilience and foster local democracy.
The event’s objectives were centered around sharing best practices for self-organisation, promoting inter-municipal cooperation, and encouraging partnerships between regional leaders of Dnipropetrovsk oblast and international stakeholders. Participants discussed the importance of creating effective bodies of self-organisation, such as associations of co-owners of apartment buildings (condominiums), as vital components for engaging citizens in the decision-making process and ensuring their well-being in times of peace and conflict.
A significant highlight of the round table was the official opening of the ALDA Center in Dnipro
The center aims to serve as a platform for cooperation between local authorities, civil society, and international partners. Through this initiative, ALDA seeks to promote dialogue and collaboration, providing tools and methodologies to enhance regional policies and community development efforts. The discussions also included potential memorandums of cooperation between Dnipropetrovsk communities and foreign partners, laying the groundwork for future projects.
In addition to formal presentations, the event featured interactive sessions where participants exchanged experiences, identified shared challenges, and explored innovative solutions for regional development. The presence of representatives from the Zelenodolsk, Novomoskovsk, Pavlograd and Mykolaivka rural communities (Ukraine) contributed to a dynamic conversation about local governance and the role of self-organisation in sustainable recovery.
The round table concluded with a commitment to continue building these partnerships, strengthening community ties, and leveraging the knowledge gained during the event to support Ukraine’s recovery. The opening of the ALDA Center in Dnipro marks a significant step toward fostering local democracy and enhancing cooperation between Ukrainian communities and the international community. The event was organised in the framework of the project ‘Local Democracy Agencies (LDAs): Instrument for Cooperation, Community Cohesion, and Development in Ukraine’ and funded by U-LEAD with Europe program under The Bridges of Trust initiative.
