Get to know more about the current LDAs’ activities and ALDA Flagship initiative in Ukraine!!
Ukraine has been experiencing an unjust and inhuman invasion from Russian troops since February 2022. Yet, the resistance and resilience of Ukrainian people is heroic and without precedent. It is for those people that are now living under the war, that the Association has strongly worked, as also demonstrated with the campaign #ALDAforUkraine.
Since the very beginning, ALDA has been active in Ukraine, with members and partners developing a series of initiatives aimed to improve people’s lives. Thus, thanks to the Local Democracy Agency Dnipro, established in 2014 with the support of Lower Silesia – Poland; and Democracy Agency Mariupol (funded in 2017 with the support of Gdansk – Poland), the Association is a strategic player in the Country. Specifically, the two above-mentioned LDAs, based on the decentalised cooperation mechanism, work together with civil society to support peace, and community development.
After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, ALDA consolidated its efforts on international advocacy, support to LDAs in Ukraine, and fundraising for humanitarian projects.
As stated in our Flagship Initiative in Ukraine, ALDA has the goal and is opening more LDAs in Ukraine as instruments to promote peace and cohesion, helping to foster understanding, cooperation and ultimately a brighter future for all those affected by the ongoing crisis.
Indeed, on 17 November 2023, ALDA proudly declared the official opening of Local Democracy Agency Odesa in Ukraine, marking not only a historic milestone for Odesa but also coinciding with the celebration of 30 years of Local Democracy Agencies in the Balkans. This landmark event symbolises a significant stride in advancing ALDA’s vision of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities.
LDAs have been implementing several projects since the start of the full-scale invasion to support local communities and the IDPs.
For almost 10 years, ALDA has thus worked and built strong relations with local actors, and communities. After the General Assembly in 2022, ALDA’s commitment has turned into concrete actions. The “Donors Conference” held in July 2022 in Brussels showcased the needs of communities of four cities where ALDA is most active: Dnipro, Odesa, Vinnytsia, and Mariupol. The conference of Wroclaw in November 2022 identified 10 recommendations for local self-governments that would pave the way for more targeted support. The Secretary-General and some members of ALDA’s Governing Board visited Ukraine in May 2023, which was followed by the big “All-partners meeting of Ukraine LDAs” during the General Assembly in June 2023. In July 2023 the Ukraine Flagship Initiative was presented to the delegation of Verkhovna Rada Committee on Local Self-Government, Regional Development, and Urban Planning in Brussels. On 23-24 November 2023 ALDA organised the “International Conference on Decentralised Support for Ukrainian Communities” in Vicenza in cooperation with the Municipality of Vicenza and with the support of U-LEAD with Europe and the Central European Initiative. Italian, European and Ukrainian local authorities took part to discuss the role of medium-sized municipalities and the territorial approach.
ALDA actions in Ukraine are implemented by the Ukraine Task Force comprising teams based in Kyiv, Brussels, Wroclaw, Chisinau, and Vicenza.
In light of this, the Association is now willing to further encourage its network, partners and friends to also take part in this commitment to support people in Ukraine. How?
- By asking for more information on the overall work of ALDA and the LDAs in Ukraine
- By joining and becoming a partner of the LDAs, which soon are going to be open
Let’s work together for Ukraine, and its people!
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For more information you can email the ALDA4Ukraine unit
Read more about the Flagship Initiative in Ukraine here.