On 22 December 2025, the LDA Kharkiv Region hosted the online meeting “Policy Frameworks for Sustainable Development of Communities in War Crisis and Post-War Contexts”, bringing together Ukrainian local authorities, international partners, and experts to reflect on sustainable development pathways for communities affected by war.
The meeting provided a valuable space for exchange on how local governance, urban planning, and community-driven approaches can support resilience, recovery, and long-term development in the context of ongoing conflict and future reconstruction.
The discussion was opened and moderated by Yaroslav Bedenko, Liaison of LDA Kharkiv Region, who underlined the importance of maintaining structured dialogue between local actors and international partners, even under conditions of uncertainty and insecurity.
Introductory remarks were delivered by Yuriy Stepanets, ALDA Representative in Ukraine, who highlighted the crucial role of local authorities and civil society in safeguarding democratic governance.
Institutional representatives from the Kharkiv Oblast Council and from the territorial communities of Merefa, Kupyansk, Izium, alongside representatives from more than ten additional communities in the Kharkiv Region, actively contributed to the exchange. Their interventions focused on the immediate impacts of war on local infrastructure, social cohesion, and service provision, as well as on emerging priorities for medium- and long-term development.
A key thematic contribution was delivered by Fulco Treffers, co-founder of Ro3kvit Urbanist Coalition for Ukraine, who presented approaches to sustainable urban development and recovery-oriented spatial planning. The presentation emphasised the need to align reconstruction efforts with principles of sustainability, inclusiveness, and community participation, ensuring that rebuilding processes strengthen local capacities rather than merely restoring pre-war conditions.
Community representatives shared concrete examples of locally driven solutions developed during wartime, demonstrating the adaptability and resilience of Ukrainian municipalities in responding to complex and rapidly evolving challenges.
Overall, the meeting highlighted the strong commitment of Ukrainian communities to sustainable development, even in times of crisis. It may represent a first step towards establishing a regular platform for dialogue on urban development, post-war reconstruction, and community empowerment in Ukraine, reinforcing the role of local actors as key drivers of democratic and sustainable recovery.