The DECIDE Project Shared its Experience in Supporting the Odesa Region in Developing its Recovery and Development Strategy
What approaches to forming state regional policy in Ukraine will make it possible to attract investments for recovery and development? This topic was discussed during the «State Regional Policy in Ukraine: Implementation Tools» event organized by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine with the support of U-LEAD with Europe Program.
For over a year, the DECIDE project has been providing methodological and expert support to the development of the Odesa Region Recovery and Development Strategy until 2027 at the request of the Odesa Region State Administration with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine. The strategy is being developed under the leadership of the regional administration in collaboration with the UCORD Project.
This document serves not merely as a formal requirement, but as a roadmap that defines key areas for the region’s recovery and development incorporating resources from EU structural funds, IFIs, the private sector, etc.
The strategy focuses on 3 strategic priorities:
1. economy — attracting investment, stimulating business, developing foreign trade, and promoting innovation;
2. human capital — improving the quality of life, developing education, labor market and healthcare;
3. governance — increasing government transparency, advancing digitalization and developing infrastructure.
«When we started updating the strategic document of the Odesa region in 2023, the region faced not only a challenging demographic situation, but also a significant economic downturn due to the shutdown of key budget-forming enterprises, blocking of logistics routes, infrastructure destruction, and the closing of the tourism sector, which is strategic for the region, among other factors.
The document is based on an inclusive approach, involving more than 80 communities, business representatives, experts, and coordinating efforts with international projects operating in the Odesa Region», — says Valentyna Poltorak, manager of the Swiss-Ukrainian project DECIDE.
The strategy has a comprehensive analytical component. This approach allowed us to form a well-rounded vision that meets the region’s needs, with contributions from over a hundred specialists and dozens of key institutions in the region.
«Developing a strategy for a region like Odesa in the current environment is no easy task. Thanks to the contributions of an expert group led by Myroslav Kosheliuk and Civitta, we have implemented several innovative solutions while complying with the current legislative requirements. Key solutions include three planning horizons: resilience (urgent solutions), recovery (addressing more than just physical needs), and development. Realizing that today's planning until the end of 2027 can hardly be called strategic, the document contains stretch goals that will extend into another 7-year strategic planning cycle», — said Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager.
As a result of developing this strategic document, we have elaborated recommendations for strategic planning at the regional level. Key partners in developing the document include the HOVERLA Program / USAID Project in Ukraine, the Agency for Recovery and Development, and the League of the Strong.