Training initiatives should align both with overarching national strategies for waste planning and with local priorities for the implementation of these plans. Assessment of participants’ training needs is a crucial part of this component. A blend of digital trainings and physical gatherings for workshops etc. will be used. These educational resources are to be trialled in the pilot areas, refined in line with feedback received, and ultimately extended to municipalities outside the pilots, with a view to nationwide availability in future.

International exchange in this component aims partly to enhance Ukrainian stakeholders’ understanding of waste management strategies in relation to EU accession. It will also facilitate Ukrainian participation in EU associations specialising in waste management.

Key planned activities –>

  • facilitating peer-to-peer exchanges with municipalities from Sweden and other countries, mainly within the pilot projects, to share best practices and insights
  • organising study visits to Sweden and perhaps other countries (such as Lithuania and Poland), allowing participants to observe and evaluate other waste management systems at first hand
  • establishing connections with EU associations dedicated to waste management to enable networking and deepen industry insights
  • supporting participation in EU meetings that focus on municipal waste management
  • promoting municipal partnerships that focus on waste management within existing frameworks for partnership between Europe and Ukraine (such as United 4 Ukraine, Cities 4 Cities and the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy municipal partnership programme).

The target audience consists mainly of municipalities, including local waste management entities and service operators, but also includes selected stakeholders at national level (including ministries and local government associations). The programme will draw on expertise from counterparts using similar systems in Sweden and other nations, with additional backing from MinDevelopment.

The plan is to initiate the work in 2024, aiming for continuation from 2025 to 2027.