At the heart of the Democratic Resilience Network are three pillars: the municipal partnerships themselves, ICLD’s proven project planning methods, and research on democratic resilience conducted by the Kyiv School of Economics. Together, these elements provide a solid foundation for meaningful, long-term impact.
The DR Network enables municipalities to carry out projects that go beyond temporary solutions, aiming for structural changes that strengthen both local democracy and societal resilience. ICLD supports this work with a project planning approach that prioritises organisational readiness, ensuring that the results last long after the project period ends. All projects are guided by ICLD’s core values—equity, participation, transparency, and accountability.
Supports Ukraine’s EU-accession
The Network actively supports Ukraine’s EU-accession by promoting implementation of EU principles at the local level. Through study visits to the EU Parliament and Commission in Brussels and seminars with EU representatives like MEP Karin Karlsbro, Swedish EU Minister Jessica Rosencrantz or diplomat and former Chief Negotiator for Estonia’s EU accession Alar Streimann the partnerships deepened their understanding of how EU principles can be incorporated in their projects. These activities help municipalities align with EU standards in transparency, democracy, and institutional capacity.
Peer learning lies at the heart of the network. Municipalities exchange experiences, insights, and strategies both within each partnership and across the network. Through this interregional collaboration, knowledge is shared, capacities are strengthened, and democratic practices are reinforced.
Between 2024 and 2026, the partnerships will focus on strengthening democratic initiatives, promoting social cohesion, and ensuring inclusive governance. Four network meetings have already been held, and the next meeting will focus on institutionalising project results and spreading the lessons learned beyond individual partnerships.