On 30 April 2025, the Polaris Programme held a workshop titled “Ensuring Long-Term Democratic Leadership” for members of the Board of the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities (AAATC).

Polaris experts– Ayder Seiytosmanov, Krzysztof Stanowski, and Magnus Liljeström – facilitated the event and also shared the experience of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) in promoting sustainable development of local government organisations.

Participants worked on strategies to enhance the AAATC’s alignment with European standards. Over the past nine years, the Association has grown from 40 to 850 members, developed thematic platforms, established a professional network of over 2,000 representatives of local self-government bodies, and built a strong network of regional offices.

Oleksandr Korinniy, Chair of the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities, noted: “Polaris initiatives strengthen our Association and support its strategic development. Thanks to the engagement of international experts, we can view the Association’s development from a long-term perspective and study best practices from our European partners.”

The workshop focused on international best practices in long-term democratic leadership, the modern challenges it faces, and approaches to managing potential crises. As a result, participants developed a roadmap for building a sustainable and democratic association, aimed at avoiding crises and promoting democratic progress.

Ayder Seiytosmanov, Polaris Support for Self-Government Associations Team Leader, emphasised: “Local government associations play a crucial role in advancing the decentralisation reform and protecting the interests of hromadas. In partnership with them, we aim to strengthen their institutional and professional capacities to expand their participation in dialogue at both national and regional levels.”

The workshop marked an important step in strengthening the AAATC’s capacity as a national association of local self-government bodies committed to institutional maturity, resilience, and the adoption of the best European standards.