“I am Hromada!” (Ukrainian “Я – Громада!”) was an all-Ukrainian nationwide information campaign that communicated and explained to inhabitants of rural areas of Ukraine the benefits of creating an amalgamated territorial community (ATC, Ukrainian “ОТГ”) as well as to raise awareness of the essence of decentralisation reform. The campaign was held in 2019, during the first, voluntary stage of the decentralisation reform and was implemented within the framework of U-LEAD with Europe Programme funded by EU and some of its member states.
The campaign covered 39 settlements in different oblasts of Ukraine and aimed to inform the population about the decentralisation reform and its aspects in the field of education and health, in particular, to raise public awareness about its essence, demonstrating the best practices of already existing ATCs, and to encourage citizens to become agents of change.
The concept foreseen two models of the event. The first one was designed in a concept of dialogue activities for target groups. The events were planned in informational formats, presentations of cases and discussions and have been organised in 11 settlements.
The “Decentralisation Village”, the second model, took place in 28 settlements and represented a modern Ukrainian ATC with a modern Center of Provision of Public Services (Ukrainian “ЦНАП”), ambulatory, school etc. In each of the points the citizen could learn more about the opportunities, benefits and challenges of community formation, test new services created in the community, view information materials. The “village” concept was designed in an easy to understand form of a quest.
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“I am Hromada!” was implemented by U-LEAD with Europe: Ukraine – Local Empowerment, Accountability and Development Programme, a multi-donor action of the European Union and its member states Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Poland and Sweden. The Programme cooperates with MinRegion in establishment of a multilevel governance system that is transparent, accountable and responsive to the needs of citizens.
