The 2021 Best Practice Programme for local governments in Ukraine has been successfully completed. It was the tenth contest organised by the Centre of Expertise for Good Governance in Ukraine, based on its Best Practice in Local Government Programme.

On 21 December the Council of Europe jointly with the Ministry for Communities and Territories awarded 28 local authorities for their innovations implemented between 2019 and 2021 in the following areas:

• Community cohesion
• Organisation of the health care system at local level in the context of the national health care reform
• Implementation of strategic development projects

In addition to celebrating these practices and presenting some of them, participants of the Award Ceremony exchanged their views on the best ways of sharing experience among peers, and on how to replicate and multiply the best practice across Ukraine for the benefit of all citizens.

During his welcome remarks, Mr Steen NØRLOV, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the coordination of cooperation programmes, stated that innovation is key to progress, and therefore the Council of Europe supports this contest. By using this tool, local authorities and citizens can make a substantial contribution to creating sustainable good governance at local level across Europe.

Minister CHERNYSHOV shared this vision and expressed appreciation of the Council of Europe support to decentralisation reform. He noted that “the role of local authorities has been strengthened, local communities are increasing their capacities and becoming drivers of Ukraine’s development. This is a clear signal of the success of the decentralisation reform”.

The Award Ceremony was organised in the framework of the Council of Europe Programme “Enhancing decentralisation and public administration reform in Ukraine” in partnership with the Ministry of Communities and Territories and the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government.

To follow up on the contest, a series of webinars will be organised, and media articles, brochures, and a promotional video will be produced in 2022.

The Best Practice toolkit remains one of the most popular methodologies of the Centre of Expertise. In 2021 it has been implemented also in Armenia, Hungary, and Moldova.

The award ceremony was organised by the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development in the framework of the Council of Europe Programme “Enhancing decentralisation and public administration reform in Ukraine”.

To view the photo gallery of the award ceremony click here.

To view the video of the award ceremony click here.