On 22–24 July, representatives from Ukrainian communities that took part in the “Mentoring Programme for the Development and Implementation of Local Economic Development Tools” in March – June 2026 were gathered for the “Summer School of Practices and Tools.”

Over the course of four months, participants strengthened their knowledge of local economic development, explored ways to build on their communities' unique identities, and learned how to attract investment for sustainable growth. The programme brought together representatives from local authorities, civil society organizations, business and educational institutions across 13 oblasts of Ukraine where the “Empowered Partnership for Sustainable Recovery” project is being implemented.

All the communities have been divided into three thematic areas, which have already yielded the following results:

1. In the area of developing investment tools, four communities have created investment passports, whilst a further 11 communities are in the final stages of preparing theirs. One community went a step further by creating its own interactive investment portal — a modern tool for attracting potential investors.

2. Six local authorities, among those that have been working to support small and medium-sized enterprises, have already approved programmes to support local businesses and are ready to begin implementation. Another four local authorities are finalising their programmes — local council meetings are scheduled to take place soon to adopt the documents.

3. Regarding the area of territorial brand development, 13 communities have developed technical specifications that will serve as the foundation for creating their own territorial brands, helping strengthen their identity and visibility. 

The “Summer School of Practices and Tools” served both as the programme’s closing event and as an additional platform for sharing experiences. More than 60 participants presented their work, took part in panel discussions and expert sessions, and explored modern development tools, legislative changes and funding opportunities for communities.

The mentoring programme and the summer school were organized under the “Empowered Partnership for Sustainable Recovery” (EPSR) project, funded by the Government of Sweden, represented by the Swedish Development Agency (Sida) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine.