In mid-May, the Democratic Resilience Network gathered in Stockholm for its final meeting. The meeting marked the end of ICLD’s large partnership network connecting Swedish and Ukrainian municipalities – but hopefully not the end of the cooperation, relationships andlearning that have emerged from it.
Over the years, the network has provided a space for municipalities facing very different realities to meet, exchange experiences and learn from one another. Together, participants have explored how local governments can strengthen democratic resilience, build trust, prepare for crises, engage citizens and promote inclusive governance – including in times of war and uncertainty.
For many participants, however, the value of the network goes beyond professional exchange.
“Partnerships between communities can become something deeply personal and truly transformative. What started as cooperation between municipalities turned into real friendships, trust, support, and a feeling that even during the hardest times, we are not alone.”
The network has also helped create new connections between Ukrainian municipalities and European partners. As one participant reflected, the network created “a space for international cooperation based on trust, shared values, and the exchange of practical experience”, while strengthening horizontal ties between communities, institutions and people.
Another participant highlighted the network as a platform for continuous learning and professional support, describing it as “much more than a project framework – it became a space of trust, solidarity, and mutual support.”
As ICLD is now approaching the end of its operations, the final meeting in Stockholm was naturally also a moment of reflection. But it was not only a farewell.
“I truly feel that this is not the end of something – it is the start of a new chapter for all of us.”
The network may be coming to an end in its current form, but the relationships, knowledge and commitment built through the partnerships can continue to shape cooperation between Swedish and Ukrainian municipalities for years to come.
New anthology
Experiences and lessons from the network are now brought together in a new ICLD anthology about the Democratic Resilience Network. The publication brings together stories and reflections from the partnerships and explores the difference that cooperation between municipalities can make – both for local democracy and for the people involved.