Project activities and “project activities using the Good Project Index (GPI)” are two different approaches
Over the past four years, the municipality of Vorokhta has been actively developing a project approach in its activities. They have strategic documents, a vision and a development plan in place. The municipality sees its growth and expansion of project activities in cooperation with international partners, including through the projects that are part of Interreg programmes. However, the municipality had previously had an unsuccessful experience applying for one of these programmes and wanted to find out what needed to be changed in the project application.
Often, growth requires expert advice and support. Within the Good Project Index improvement programme, Vorokhta Village Council received both. This programme encompassed a five-day offline training module, expert events in municipalities, efforts to improve project applications and self-assessment of municipal capacity using a method developed by U-LEAD experts.
“When we joined the improvement programme, we expected to review our application and make improvements. In the end, however, we gained much more: organising our knowledge and practical tools for preparing and analysing any projects,” said Maryna Andrukhovych, the Head of Tourism Department of Vorokhta Village Council.
According to her, assessing the municipality’s capacities using the GPI allowed them to identify weaknesses related to the municipality’s capacity to prepare and implement projects, as well as to prepare a roadmap to strengthen them. Furthermore, during consultations and training sessions, participants found answers to questions regarding the specifics of preparing a project application for Interreg Next.
“When we first filled out the form, we had no idea what information to put in each column or how to clearly structure our request, plans and project implementation ideas. Now, thanks to the GPI, we have clear procedures and expert advice,” said Maryna.
A successful project and a prepared application as the initial outcomes of participation in the improvement programme
Vorokhta municipality has already seen the first tangible benefits of participating in the Good Project Index improvement programme. Based on the recommendations of U-LEAD experts, the specialists adjusted the project plan in line with its three-month implementation period: they identified tasks that could actually be completed, discarded wasteful spending and clarified the budget. They also substantiated the application by referring to the region’s SMART specialisation, explaining the synergy between tourism, digitalisation and culture for the development of Vorokhta municipality.
As a result, the project “Digital Transformation for Sustainable Municipal Development. Vorokhta: Click&Go” won the WIN4UA micro-grant competition from the International Solidarity Fund.
“As part of the initiative, we will create a tourist website for Vorokhta municipality, implement digital solutions for travel planning, promoting local businesses and developing tour packages. The total budget is UAH 613,000, of which over UAH 65,000 is the municipality’s contribution,” said Maryna Andrukhovych.
At the same time, the municipality is preparing new applications together with two Polish partners for the competition for small projects of the Interreg Next Poland-Ukraine programme.
“We wish to preserve our cultural heritage. The new project includes plans to purchase traditional Hutsul garments, organise children’s exchanges and teach folk songs and dances. The second project is about combining nature and music, the way art can blend with the environment, sounds and sights,” explained the Head of Tourism Department of Vorokhta Village Council.
Insights
Maryna Andrukhovych shared that participating in the improvement programme’s activities had not only provided hands-on and theoretical knowledge but also generated insights during communication that could be of use as guidelines for project managers.
Firstly, cooperate, listen and hear different opinions, read smart (wise) people and write yourself; build consistent contacts, communication, network.
Secondly, instead of writing the project “on the fly”, allocate sufficient time to work on the project application. Try to find the best solutions, think through every step and sometimes adopt the mindset of the person who will evaluate and support the application.
Thirdly, you need a strong project team. Day-to-day routines take up a lot of time, and the project team’s activities should be focused on project work.
Vorokhta municipality proves that participation in U-LEAD training programmes gives tangible benefits. Winning a grant competition is only the first step. The key is to apply your knowledge in real life and practise preparing new applications and implementing new projects every day.
Representatives of 10 municipalities in Ukraine participated in the U-LEAD Good Project Index training programme from May to August 2025.
