Training in Local Economic Development for Specialists of Local Self-Government Completed in Zaporizhzhia

The final offline training session on local economic development (LED) was held for representatives of local self-government authorities in Zaporizhzhia with the support of PLEDDG. The LED training was hosted by the Center for Retraining and Advanced Training of Employees of Public Authorities, Local Self-Government Bodies, State Enterprises, Institutions, and Organizations of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The training program “Professional certification training program for civil servants and local government officials on local economic development” was developed by PLEDDG experts together with professors of the National Academy for Public Administration under the President of Ukraine.

“The program has incorporated the best strategic and tactical tools for local economic development in Ukraine and Canada, and includes almost all the tools for analysis, planning, and development of territories required by a modern local self-government official at any stage,” said the co-developer of the program Oleksandr Ignatenko, PLEDDG’s Senior Expert on Interagency Cooperation and Economic Development.

The program includes 8 modules covering issues of democratic governance, strategic governance practices, investment attraction, business support, branding and communication strategy of cities.

The session commenced online in June, and already in August, the participants consolidated their knowledge during a 3-day workshop in Zaporizhzhia. After the final test, the specialists received their certificates of advanced training.

According to one of the participants in the training program, Tetyana Baranovska, a department head at Velyka Bilozerka village council:

“The program has very successfully combined online and offline formats. It is difficult for us as local self-government officials to dedicate 9 days exclusively to training, and thanks to such a combination we were able to work, study, and talk with our colleagues.”

The program was attended by representatives of local self-governments from more than 15 cities and towns of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast, including Berdyansk, Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia, Polohy, Smyrnove, Chernihivka.

Olha Faydenko, Chief Specialist of Yakymivka Village Council marked the value of the program for the leadership of local self-government bodies:

“Incredibly relevant knowledge gained in the field of investment, economic development, and regulations. I think it’s extremely important to involve community decision-makers in such programs.”

“Very inspiring hand-on tasks given by the program coaches. And the knowledge gained during the training will be used in the development of the ATC budget for 2021”, added Andriy Khavanov, a specialist in project investment of the Berestove Village Council.

All in all, as noted by PLEDDG Regional Coordinator in Zaporizhzhia Oblast Svitlana Kruhliak, the curriculum aroused great interest among civil servants in the communities, cities, and towns of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast and became a good foundation for further enhancement of the competencies of civil servants to effectively promote local economic development in practical terms, think strategically, be flexible in solving management tasks and open to change.