On 11–12 February, Kyiv hosted the "Mayors Leading Transformational Change" seminar. This event is a key component of a specialized leadership programme designed to equip leaders from 20 Eastern Partnership communities with the skills needed to manage systemic urban transformations. 

The seminar was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with support from the European Union via the Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG) Facility, and the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic through the City Experiment Fund (CEF). 

The event brought together mayors, deputy mayors, and economic department heads from six Ukrainian cities: Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Bucha, Slavutych, Nizhyn, and Kovel. 

Over the two-day session, participants tackled the complex challenges of modern urban governance using the Harvard Kennedy School’s adaptive leadership model. This framework provides leaders with the tools to navigate high-pressure situations and convert social, environmental, and economic obstacles into sustainable development opportunities.

During the seminar, the attendees used their own cities as examples to:  

• Diagnose complex challenges for urban development  
• Develop strategies for interacting with stakeholders  
• Learn to manage process dynamics  
• Exchange experiences with representatives of other cities in the Eastern Partnership countries. 

In March, the seminar’s graduates will engage in individual mentoring sessions and consultations to address specific challenges faced by city leaders.