The Swedish-Ukrainian Polaris Programme ‘Support for Multilevel Governance in Ukraine’ (2024–2028), that is funded by the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), invites rural hromadas for partnership in “Strengthening the Starosta Institution”.

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One of the Programme’s top priorities is to support hromadas’ capacity to identify needs and ensure the provision of high-quality public services at the level of starosta districts, to define the role of the starosta in the hromada, and to identify tools for engaging residents in addressing issues of local importance.

Partner hromadas will have the opportunity to:

• conduct an expert analysis of documents/decisions regulating the work of starostas and to provide of public services in starosta districts;
• define the role of the starosta in the development of starosta district territories;
• develop of relevant models for the delivery of public services;
• develop recommendations for improving governance at the level of starosta districts;
• provide institutional support, advisory assistance, and guidance on implementing changes to the governance structure, particularly regarding the delivery of public services in starosta districts;
• monitor the effectiveness of decisions made for residents of starosta districts;
• provide training sessions (as part of a professional development program) for starostas and relevant local self-government officials;
• facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices among the Programme’s partner hromadas (study visits);
• provide technical support to some starosta districts.

A Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed with selected partner hromadas.

Applications may be submitted by officials from the local government leadership (including hromada heads, acting hromada heads, deputy hromada heads, and heads of military administrations).

Applications must be submitted via the link.

Applications will be accepted from July 27 through August 12, 2026.

The selection process will include:

• review of submitted applications;
• online interviews with shortlisted applicants.

Selection criteria for partner hromadas:

• rural territorial hromada;
• existence of starosta districts;
• the presence of starostas;
• total population in starosta districts;
• number of starosta districts;
• negative impact of the war;
• mountainous terrain status;
• motivation to cooperate with the Programme and readiness to implement changes.

The selection results will be published in September 2026 on the website of the Programme Polaris.

An information session on the competitive selection process will take place via Zoom on 6 August, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.(registration via the link).

For inquiries, please contact us through email (no later than 10 of August 2026):
andrii.matsokin@polaris.org.ua