16 – Fredliga och inkluderande samhällen
Internally displaced persons integration in Ukraine
With over 4.6 million registered IDPs, Ukraine’s approach provides valuable insights into rapid crisis response, community integration, and participatory governance. Innovative local initiatives offer lessons in empowering displaced people to participate in local decision-making and strengthen societal resilience. Studying these approaches and practices can help in shaping global strategies for managing displacement and fostering social…
The tangible value of local democracy
How collaborative local governance supports crisis response in Ukraine amid the Russian full-scale invasion. This brief highlights how collaborative local governance aids Ukrainian communities in responding to crises caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion and boosts societal resilience. Co-production between local governments, residents, nonprofits, and businesses has led to practical solutions for challenges like internal displacement.…
Vitalii – demokratihjälte från Cherson
Vitalii Bielobrov är biträdande borgmästare i den ukrainska staden Cherson, en av de städer som har drabbats och fortsätter att drabbas hårt av den ryska invasionen. Trots svårigheterna visar invånarna en anmärkningsvärd motståndskraft och solidaritet. Många väljer att stanna, stödja varandra och fortsätta kämpa för sin stad. ”I svåra tider måste du ha ett STORT…
Trollhättan och Fastiv i nytt partnerskap
Trollhättan stad och den ukrainska kommunen Fastiv som ligger i närheten av Kiev har av ICLD beviljats ettårigt demokratisamarbete med fokus på krisberedskap och ungdomsinkludering. Partnerskapet ingår även i ICLD:s nätverk för demokratisk resiliens. ”Detta samarbete är väldigt viktigt för Fastiv! Jag är säker på att detta bara är det första steget i vårt nära…
Västerås – Shatsk, Ukraine
Project: A Safer Future for Children The project ”A safer future for children” seeks to address the problem of insufficient awareness and capacity to protect and fulfill children’s rights in rural and small communities, particularly in the context of war and crises. This issue affects community resilience and children’s access to education, safety, and psychological…
Deciding Together: Citizen Satisfaction and Institutional Design of Participatory Governance in Kenya
This policy brief provides practical insights for local governments on leveraging participatory budgeting (PB) to enhance citizen satisfaction and ownership of development projects. Based on a study in rural Kenya, three PB approaches—consultation, voting, and deliberation—were evaluated. All methods increased satisfaction and willingness to invest in projects, demonstrating their value in strengthening community engagement. Deliberation,…
Växjö – Kalush, Ukraine
This project focuses on increasing youth participation in local governance by addressing a significant gap in democratic awareness among young people. The main ambition is to empower youth aged 17-25 to actively engage in decision-making processes within the Kalush community. This goal aligns with a broader vision of strengthening democratic governance and enhancing critical thinking…
Local Democracy and Resilience in Ukraine: Learning from Communities’ Crisis Response in War
The research report explores the resilience of local self-governments (LSGs) in Ukraine during the Russian invasion, highlighting their crucial role in crisis response despite significant challenges. LSGs have adapted to wartime conditions by relocating operations, managing resource shortages, and engaging with citizens and stakeholders to meet critical needs such as infrastructure repair, IDP support, and…
Umeå and Kherson
Citizen Dialogue for Inclusive Reconstruction The partnership between Umeå and Kherson focuses on advancing democratic processes through inclusive urban planning, with citizen dialogue as a central pillar. A key achievement has been the development of an open-source digital tool that allows citizens to explore city maps and submit feedback directly on planned development initiatives. While…
Ronneby and Ternopil
Sustainable Water Management through Local Expertise and Community Inclusion The partnership between Ronneby and Ternopil focuses on sustainable water management, particularly access to clean water and stormwater handling—critical components of local democratic resilience and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Recognizing the complexity of these issues, both municipalities have involved experts within their local administrations.…
