From 20 to 22 October 2026, public consultations using the updated CivicLab methodology were held in five Ukrainian communities: Varva, Letychiv, Voznesensk, Vyshniv and Shpaniv. The consultations were conducted with the expert and methodological support of the Council of Europe project “Strengthening multilevel governance and local democracy to support Ukraine’s recovery”.
The consultations marked the practical stage of piloting the updated CivicLab methodology, presented by the Council of Europe project in August 2026. Five communities were selected to participate in the pilot, providing them with an opportunity to apply the methodology to discuss pressing local development issues and engage residents in developing proposals for consideration by local authorities.
In the Varva community, Chernihiv region, the consultation focused on developing a Veterans’ Roadmap – a practical tool designed to help veterans and their families navigate the available system of services and support. Twenty participants developed 25 proposals, focusing on access to information, inter-institutional co-operation, individualised support and improving the quality of services.
In the Letychiv community, Khmelnytskyi region, 29 participants, including representatives of the Youth Council, discussed the development of youth infrastructure, the creation of modern youth spaces and partnerships with European communities. The consultation resulted in 29 proposals aimed at expanding opportunities for young people, improving communication, supporting youth initiatives and promoting international exchanges.
In the Voznesensk community, Mykolaiv region, the consultation focused on developing a procedure for providing financial support to people starting their own businesses. 26 representatives of local businesses, civil society organisations, relevant public authorities and active residents identified key barriers to entrepreneurship and developed 76 proposals to address them. Priorities included combining financial support with training and mentoring, developing business communities, and ensuring transparent and accessible funding mechanisms.
In the Vyshniv community, Volyn region, 31 participants, including representatives of local authorities, educational institutions and the parent community, discussed the prospects for establishing an academic lyceum. The consultation resulted in 47 proposals aimed at developing modern, safe and accessible specialised education, improving educational infrastructure and career guidance, and strengthening partnerships with businesses and educational institutions.
In the Shpaniv community, Rivne region, the consultation focused on improving the local programme supporting veterans, defenders of Ukraine and their families. 20 participants developed 46 proposals concerning better access to information on veterans’ rights and social guarantees, stronger co-ordination between institutions, opportunities for dialogue, and the introduction of digital tools facilitating access to relevant information.
The consultations in the Varva and Voznesensk communities were held online, allowing the activities to be adapted to local circumstances and security constraints. In the other three communities, the consultations were conducted in person.
A distinctive feature of the CivicLab methodology is that participants not only identify problems and propose ideas, but also jointly assess possible solutions, including in terms of their feasibility and practical implementation. Following each consultation, local authorities receive a structured report containing concrete and substantiated proposals that can inform the development of local policies, programmes and decisions.
The results of the CivicLab pilot consultations will provide a basis for further work on the respective issues in the abovementioned communities. At the same time, the experience gained will contribute to expanding the practice of structured public consultations, strengthening the capacity of local authorities to engage residents in a meaningful and effective way, and further improving mechanisms for civic participation at the local level.
Support for the implementation of the updated CivicLab methodology is provided within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023-2026 and the project “Strengthening multilevel governance and local democracy to support Ukraine’s recovery”, implemented by the Council of Europe Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.
