Opening of Local Democracy Agency Odesa

It was a great honour to participate as a partner in the opening event of the Local Democracy Agency Odesa on the 17. November 2023, in collaboration with local governments from Ukraine and EU member states to support the reconstruction and development of local communities in the Odesa Rayon.

LDAs serve as locally-based organisations, to encourage long-term cooperation that benefits all stakeholders.

The organizational form for LDA Odesa involves establishing a fresh NGO according to Ukrainian regulations, and maintaining it through a Memorandum of Understanding. Funding and supporting partners are in 2023: Odesa Rayon Council (UA), Foster Europe Foundation (AT), Istria Region (HR), in 2024 are Odesa Rayon Council (UA), Foster Europe Foundation (AT), Istria Region (HR), Friuli Venezia Giulia (IT) and NGOs from Odesa and Odesa Oblast.

Participatory democracy and good governance, outlined in the Lugano Declaration and Principles of 2022, along with the Council of Europe's 2008 Strategy on Innovation and Good Governance at the local level, serve as the foundation for Ukraine's democratic and social revitalization. They enhance citizens' quality of life and serve as crucial factors in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals. The LDA will operate within the Eastern Partnership Process and the European Strategy for the Danube Region, facilitating Ukraine's progress towards eventual membership in the EU.

Effective partnerships are essential for every LDA as their work relies on the innovative method of multilateral decentralised cooperation.

The priority spheres for LDA Odesa are as follows:

1. Good governance

2. Participative Democracy and multi-stakeholder engagement,

3. Partnership and cooperation between local authorities and civil society

4. Fostering decentralization

5. Open, transparent, regular, and accountable structures for participation

6. Establish resilient, sustainable democratic and social structures for participative local development

7. Supporting IDPs and other vulnerable social groups affected by the war.

For more information on opening LDA Odesa please click here