We are launching the second wave of the educational program for communities - “Rethinking Cities in Ukraine 2.0

We are launching the second wave of the educational program for communities - “Rethinking Cities in Ukraine 2.0”
“Rethinking Cities in Ukraine” is a practical-oriented capacity-building program for Ukrainian municipalities, that aims to support local-level officials and community leaders in Ukraine in a deeper understanding of the challenges of current and post-war strategic spatial development and to provide methodologies and tools to solve these tasks. 
The program is focused on the following thematic modules that will guide participants through the entire cycle of integrated spatial planning:🔹Integrated development and spatial planning🔹Local economic development (LED) planning and implementation 🔹Participation and Inclusion in Development🔹Financing, Partnerships, and Implementation
The program is organized by Stockholm Business School, Stockholm University, and Ro3kvit Urban Coalition with financial support from the Swedish Institute - Public sector innovation program.
6 months duration / From August 2025 to March 2026, with a Christmas breakThe hybrid learning format / Online webinars, workshops, and consultations plus two three-day offline workshops in LvivPart-time involvement / The schedule includes weekly training with teams according to a pre-formed curriculum, as well as individual teamwork between meetingsTeam participation / The participants have to cooperate within the same community in during- and post-war reconstruction projectsAdaptation of best practices to challenges on the ground / The combination of Ukrainian and foreign expertise through the teaching by practitioners with a deep understanding of the contextLearning by working on their own project in their community / The team works with its own challenges under the guidance of curators and invited expertsResults will be ready for implementation / The findings, project results and recommendations will be formed into road maps for the next stepsThe trip to Stockholm at the end of the program / presentation of work and experience exchange at a conference in Stockholm
Who is this course for?
Medium-sized (50-200 k) Ukrainian municipalities seeking to:● Strengthen economic sustainability● Develop spatial recovery strategies aligned with local economic potential● Implement projects that combine spatial, economic, and social goals● Build resilience not only through infrastructure but through locally driven development
IMPORTANT! Participation in the program is subject to pre-selection by the organizing committee.
Requirements for teams:
● The team has to include permanent 5 members of relevant profiles based on the municipality (at least 1 of them - representative of local NGO , other - representatives of local authorities);● Communities that have previous experience in planning and/or implementation of urban spatial planning or development projects, as well as have the political will to work on the Comprehensive Plan, including the Territorial Rebuilding Program● The municipality has access and full control over the territory of the community● Participants are motivated to study, ready to participate in the educational process for 4 hours a week at minimum, as well as will to the future implementation of the project on which they will work during the course
Profile of team members:
● The basis of the team should be the decision-makers and specialists of the structural units of the municipality dealing with issues of spatial planning and development● The team should involve specialists responsible for the strategic and economic development of the community from other structural divisions ● The team has to include at least 1 representatives of active local communities, public organizations or professional communities that cooperate or plan to cooperate with the municipality in spatial development projects
Criteria for selecting teams participating in the training program:● Compliance with the requirements for the size and location of the community● Compliance with team requirements● Compliance with the requirements for the profile of team members and the professional balance of the team● The motivation of the team● Definition and description of challenges
How to participate in the program● Form a team based on the municipality including relevant specialists● Fill out the joint team application by 09.06.2025 following the link: https://forms.gle/xC35zKs6b4ZhC1Ty7● In the application, we ask you to describe in detail the motivation of your team, as well as the existing challenges with which the municipality works or plans to work.● Pass the selection and get a positive answer.● Sign a memorandum with the course team.
The selection of participants will be conducted by the organizing committee based on the team applications received. The committee will interview 10 selected hromadas to make the final decision. 
Responses regarding participation will be sent to the email addresses of the team members provided in the application by July 14, 2025.