Project: Equal preparedness and civil defense – Strengthened resilience in Poltava and Kalmar
The partnership between Kalmar and Poltava focuses on enhancing public health by making it more accessible and building sustainable communities, aligning their efforts with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Despite the immense challenges posed by the ongoing war in Ukraine the collaboration has resulted in tangible development and improved local preparedness in Poltava.
A defining feature of the partnership is its strong civil society perspective. The NGO Power Up Ukraine plays an active role, and the collaboration is further reinforced by academic input from Malmö University, ensuring that the work is grounded in research. The partnership is characterized by mutual exchange, peer learning, and the integration of civil society actors into project implementation.
In terms of organisational readiness, the focus is primarily on staffing and cross-boundary collaboration and community participation. Educational initiatives within the project involve all residents, and a key aim is to develop innovative models for cooperation. The Kalmar–Poltava partnership has been highlighted within the network as a strong example of how local experiences can be transformed into shared insights.
An especially noteworthy aspect of the collaboration is Poltava’s work with democratic tools such as participatory school budgets for social projects. Although not formally part of the ICLD-supported project, these initiatives have sparked interest from other municipalities in the network.
The partnership is part of the Network for Democratic Resilience.
The Kalmar-Poltava delegation during a partner visit in Kalmar