Shoulder to Shoulder Public Dialogue – Shaping the Future Together

On 20 November 2025, the Shoulder to Shoulder Dialogue will take place in Kyiv, bringing together community leaders, Ukrainian authorities, international partners, and civil-society actors to reflect on local resilience, reconstruction, and cooperation. The Shoulder to Shoulder Dialogue is organised by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, as part of the national project “Shoulder to Shoulder: United Communities”.

Held during a crucial moment for Ukraine’s recovery, the event provides an open platform to exchange expertise and design practical steps for strengthening communities amid wartime challenges. Representatives from public authorities, UNDP, the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Ukrainian municipalities, donor organisations, and project ambassadors will take part in thematic panels, presentations, and interactive discussions.

The programme features three central sessions:

• Panel I – Results of the National Project “Shoulder to Shoulder: United Communities 2025”, highlighting success stories and lessons learned from frontline and liberated communities.

• Panel II – Space of Unity: Community Recovery and Interaction Practices, focusing on local mobilisation, sociocultural practices, digital tools, and community–partner cooperation.

• Panel III – Vision for 2026, where Ukrainian authorities, UNDP, and ALDA Secretary General Antonella Valmorbida (online) will discuss strategic perspectives for the next phase of recovery.

The event will also include a photo exhibition, a networking lunch, and a ceremony for the signing of cooperation memoranda among municipalities participating in the fourth wave of the national partnership programme. These agreements aim to strengthen ties between frontline communities and their partner cities across Ukraine.

Organised within the broader framework of the EU4Recovery: Empowering Communities in Ukraine initiative implemented by UNDP and funded by the European Union, the event contributes to enhancing local resilience and reinforcing the role of communities as key actors in reconstruction.

Learn more about ALDA’s work supporting Ukrainian communities here.

For additional details about the EU4Recovery initiative, visit the EU4Recovery official page.