The introduction of public investment management has been a major challenge for municipalities in recent years. New legislation, new approaches and a lack of established practices all created a sense of uncertainty: what should be done exactly, where to start and how to avoid mistakes.
It was at this point that U-LEAD with Europe training programmes on public investment management (PIM) and medium-term budget planning (MTBP) proved instrumental for many municipalities. What makes them so valuable is that they combine the regulatory framework, practical tools and case studies with real-life municipal documents.
From training to approved documents
According to a survey of participating municipalities, as of mid-December:
- Training programme on PIM:
Of the 48 municipalities whose officials underwent training:- all 48 municipalities approved their Medium-Term Public Investment Plans (MTPIPs);
- 42 municipalities have already approved their Unified Project Portfolios (UPPs);
- another 6 municipalities are in the process of approving them.
- Training programme on MTBP (focused on local budget forecasting and partially covering the UPI process) with 100 participating municipalities:
- 91 municipalities approved their MTPIPs;
- 59 municipalities approved their UPPs;
- in 23 municipalities, UPPs are awaiting approval.
These figures speak for themselves: municipalities were able to integrate new tools into their management practices, rather than limiting themselves to mere theory.
Practice instead of abstractions
Having participated in the training programme on public investment management, Nataliia Ponomarenko of the Solonytsivka municipality, Kharkiv Oblast, notes that the training programme served as a point of systematisation for the municipality:
“During the training, we were given a breakdown of the entire process, from the regulatory framework to practical considerations, including gender and environmental aspects. We didn’t just listen to lectures — it was hands-on work, with discussions and practical tasks”.
According to Nataliia, one of the most important things was that municipalities worked with their own experiences rather than abstract cases:
“We came to the training with a draft version of our MTPIP already prepared. And they really helped us refine it: where to add more, where to clarify, how to bring the document up to standard. We returned from training and held an executive committee meeting just about right away. We approved our MTPIP and the medium-term forecast for three years. For us, the result was very specific and tangible”.
Recovery-oriented training
The experience of municipalities shows that with a practical approach, lively interaction and professional support, local self-government bodies are able to quickly master complex tools and implement them in their day-to-day work.
“Effective Public Investment Management is no longer about the purely technical allocation of budget funds. It is about a long-term vision for municipal development, the capacity to identify genuine priorities and balance funding across sources in the medium term, enhanced by modern digital technology. Today, we can confidently affirm that Ukrainian municipalities have exhibited remarkable speed and efficiency in adapting to new legislative requirements. This is not just a response to change but proof of maturity, capability and willingness to invest in the future they are building themselves,” said Inna Sviatna, an expert in municipal finances and management.
The approved MTPIPs and UPPs lay the foundation for transparent resource management, sound investment decisions and strategic municipal development during the recovery period.
