On the occasion of the URC2024 preparatory event in Verona, an important in-person meeting was held under the umbrella of the Coalition for Sustainable Municipalities. Initiated and led by ULEAD with Europe, the Coalition brought together representatives of Ukrainian municipalities, international organisations, city networks, and development agencies to confront pressing challenges and accelerate sustainable reconstruction efforts on the ground.
Held alongside the “On the Road to URC2025” event, this coalition meeting became a unique space for direct dialogue with Ukrainian local authorities—many of whom travelled from municipalities deeply impacted by the ongoing war. The aim: to create a coordinated roadmap that puts finance, people, and partnerships at the heart of Ukraine’s local recovery.
Strengthening Local Governance, Together
The participants of the Coalition for Sustainable Municipalities share a joint commitment to good multi-level governance and are united in the belief that the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine must be localised, inclusive, and resilient. The Coalition aligns around key shared principles:
- Supporting decentralisation and the empowerment of local self-government in Ukraine;
- Promoting municipal capacity development, particularly in areas such as damage assessment, urban planning, project management, and fundraising;
- Enhancing access to finance for Ukrainian municipalities to prepare and implement recovery projects;
- Expanding municipal partnerships to facilitate peer learning, secondments, and cross-border collaboration;
- Ensuring no community is left behind, with a focus on smaller and more vulnerable localities.
Tangible Commitments and Coordinated Action
At URC2024, Coalition members announced €1.99 billion in new commitments dedicated to enhancing access to finance, capacity building, and municipal partnerships. This reflects not only the scale of ambition but also a shared recognition that bottom-up, well-coordinated efforts are essential for Ukraine’s successful recovery.
Contributors to the Coalition include a broad alliance of countries and organisations—ranging from the European Union, Germany, and Canada to the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), EIB, OECD, UNICEF, UN-Habitat, and ALDA, among many others.
Looking Ahead: From Dialogue to Action
The Verona meeting served as a catalyst for the months ahead. As Ukraine continues to face unprecedented challenges, this Coalition offers a practical, strategic, and inclusive platform for turning solidarity into results. With the final URC2025 conference in Rome on the horizon, the work of the Coalition—and the partnerships it nurtures—will be critical to shaping a recovery that is sustainable, democratic, and locally driven.
In collaboration with Ukrainian partners and international institutions, ALDA reaffirmed its commitment to advancing long-term partnerships that empower municipalities and strengthen their democratic infrastructure.
ALDA remains deeply committed to walking this path together with Ukrainian communities—because resilient municipalities are the backbone of resilient democracies.
