Programme overview
IMPACT-Zhytomyr 3.0 is a capacity building programme that helps 11 municipalities of Ukraine's Zhytomyr region move from wartime crisis response to systematic strategic planning, stronger project preparation and investment readiness.
The programme is implemented by Visionest Institute with the support of ESTDEV — the Estonian Centre for International Development — in partnership with the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration and the Regional Development Agency of Zhytomyr Region.
Why this programme matters
Local self-government bodies in Ukraine are not merely administrative units, but the frontline of the country's resilience, public service delivery and future European integration. Wartime realities, infrastructure crises and limited budgets require municipal leaders to combine daily crisis response with strategic vision, data-driven planning and the capacity to work with international donors. Drawing on Estonia's experience, IMPACT-Zhytomyr 3.0 supports 11 municipalities as they move from emergency response to systemic development and international investment.
Three programme objectives
High-quality investment projects: municipalities learn to develop bankable project profiles that meet EU standards and international donor requirements.
Internal capacity: local expertise is built so municipal teams can plan strategically and monitor results independently.
A bridge for EU cooperation: a direct, long-term partnership channel between Estonian and Zhytomyr municipalities.
Two tracks for 11 municipalities
Track 1 — Strategy development: four hromadas without an approved development strategy (Berezivka, Vyshevychi, Semenivka, Stryieva) develop new strategies, Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) and 4-year action plans.
Track 2 — Implementation and investment readiness: seven hromadas with existing strategies (Popilnia, Barashivka, Vilshanka, Hlybochytska, Horshchyky, Starosiltsi, Chyzhivka) update action plans, align them with local budgets and prepare at least 14 bankable project profiles. All 11 municipalities also build monitoring and evaluation tools to track progress during implementation.
How the programme runs
1. Needs assessment and baseline analysis (September–October 2026): primary data collection and stakeholder mapping across all 11 municipalities, resulting in a structured baseline report on development needs, planning capacity and priority investment areas.
2. Practical training programme (October 2026 – February 2027): an intensive capacity building course for municipal officials, specialists and partners — 4 onsite modules, 24 sessions, 72 hours in Zhytomyr, moving from theory straight to work on real municipal documents. Each hromada also works with a dedicated Ukrainian expert, and every workshop produces concrete deliverables: analytical profiles, planning tables, action-plan components and budget models.
3. Strategy and investment project development (February – May 2027): direct mentoring by Estonian and Ukrainian experts to finalise the documents — 4 new development strategies with Strategic Environmental Assessments for Track 1, and 14 bankable project profiles prepared to EU standards for Track 2. The programme closes with a forum where the final strategic results and investment profiles are presented to international donors and partners.
What municipalities will gain
Up-to-date strategic documents; practical strategic planning tools; clear development priorities; expert mentorship and guidance; bankable project profiles ready for donor funding; Estonian and EU best practices; stronger municipal teams; and a firmer link between priorities, action plans and budgeting.
Kick-off forum — 24 September 2026, Zhytomyr
The programme opens with the official launch and kick-off forum in Zhytomyr, bringing together over 100 participants: the heads of the 11 participating municipalities, the leadership of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration, Estonian diplomats, ESTDEV representatives, Visionest Institute experts, business leaders and civil society organisations. For safety reasons the exact address is sent only to registered participants.
Who it's for
- Representatives of the 11 participating hromadas of Zhytomyr region
- Municipal leaders, strategic planning and sector specialists, council members
- Local business and civil society representatives officially delegated by their hromada
Curriculum
Module 1 — Updating strategic goals and engaging stakeholders (sessions 1–6)
Building a strategy on real data and involving residents and local business in decision-making: municipal data analysis, the Quadruple Helix model, Methodological Recommendations No. 265, and formulating vision, mission and priority goals.
Module 2 — EU regional development principles and funding sources (sessions 7–12)
EU Cohesion Policy foundations, Smart Specialisation (S3) for rural territories, expectations of international donors and IFIs (EU, World Bank, EBRD, ESTDEV), the Do No Significant Harm principle, and individual donor funding maps for each municipality.
Module 3 — Estonian best practices and budgeting (sessions 13–18)
Transfer of Estonian experience on aligning strategies with municipal budgets, annual updates, monitoring and evaluation tools.
Module 4 — Developing investment-ready project concepts (sessions 19–24)
Anatomy of a bankable project, logical framework matrices and indicator trees, cost-benefit analysis and risk management, technical preparation of social, healthcare and infrastructure projects, and a final defence of 14 project concepts before an expert panel.
Partners & funders
Frequently asked
Who can take part in the training programme?+
Municipal heads, department directors and specialists (economy, investment, utilities, education, healthcare), council members, and official local business and NGO representatives from the 11 participating hromadas.
Can I attend only one module?+
Yes. The course uses a rotational model, so participants can attend the modules that match their responsibilities. Single-module participants receive a certificate of participation; those who complete the full course receive a diploma from Visionest Institute.
Is participation onsite or online?+
The training modules are held in person in Zhytomyr as 2–3 day residential intensives, with accommodation and meals provided, to ensure maximum practical engagement. Selected consultations and mentoring sessions may run in a hybrid format.
What does participation cost?+
Nothing. Participation, including training materials, accommodation and meals during the onsite modules in Zhytomyr, is fully funded by ESTDEV — the Estonian Centre for International Development.
Where and when does the programme run?+
The kick-off forum takes place in Zhytomyr on 24 September 2026. The training modules run onsite in Zhytomyr from October 2026 to February 2027, and strategy and project development with expert mentoring continues until May 2027, when the programme closes with a final forum.
I am not a local government employee but represent the community — can I apply?+
Yes. The programme encourages Quadruple Helix participation: representatives of local businesses, NGOs and public institutions are welcome to apply.
How can I submit a development proposal for my hromada?+
Proposals can be submitted during the needs assessment phase (September–October 2026) through your local strategic planning working group or by contacting the programme team.
Where can I review the draft strategy for my municipality?+
Draft strategies and related documents are published on the official websites of the participating municipalities for public review and SEA consultations.