Ministry for Communities and Territories Development is the primary political stakeholder in the processes of decentralisation and regional development. That is why it is also the chair of U-LEAD with Europe’s Steering Committee. Through contributing to the Ministry's Common Results Framework, we make sure that our work has a sustainable impact on bringing the Ukrainian system of multi-level governance and regional development in line with the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

The European Union is U-LEAD with Europe’s major donor and one of the most dedicated supporters of decentralisation reform in Ukraine. The EU Delegation to Ukraine is the co-chair of the U-LEAD with Europe steering committee. Together with other important EU actors, most importantly the Support Group to Ukraine, the EU Delegation is providing guidance to our programme on a continuous basis. Moreover, the EU experience is visible in all areas of our work. For example, through a cooperation with the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, Ukrainian municipalities get first-hand experience through intensive exchange with municipalities from all over Europe on what works to achieve local development. Together with funds from Germany and Denmark, the EU financed our emergency support to 333 war-affected municipalities.

Germany has been a supporter of U-LEAD with Europe since 2016 showing long-term commitment to strong and capable municipalities in Ukraine. Through a multitude of capacity development activities ranging from study tours to support to municipal partnerships and highly-specialised policy advice, our Ukrainian partners benefit from the experience of the German system of multi-level governance and the strong foundation of local self-government. Also, the Special Envoy of the German government for the Ukrainian reform agenda, Professor Georg Milbradt provides important advisory support to the Ukrainian government to successfully implement its reforms. With funds from Germany, U-LEAD with Europe was able to implement its emergency support to 333 war-affected municipalities

The Polish government supports U-LEAD with Europe’s Bridges of Trust initiative, aimed at strengthening the institutional and operational capacities of Ukrainian municipalities (hromadas). The initiative focuses on modernization, project development, and international cooperation within the broader context of Ukraine’s decentralization reform and EU accession process. It enhances municipalities’ ability to design, manage, and implement development projects in line with EU standards and funding requirements, while fostering sustainable partnerships between Ukrainian and Polish local governments. Key activities include the development and validation of a pilot regional cooperation model, tested through practical implementation and designed for future scaling under the Ukraine Facility or other EU and international funding instruments.

Since 2016, Denmark’s engagement enriches the Programme’s activities with experience from Danish municipalities. In 2021, Denmark scaled-up its contribution to U-LEAD with Europe, emphasising a range of initiatives, including the setting-up of a twinning cooperation between the Danish municipality Guldborgsund and nine Carpathian municipalities thus promoting knowledge transfer, and inspiration on efficient and effective local self-government.  With the support from Denmark, U-LEAD with Europe initiated a comprehensive cooperation with Ukrainian research centers to promote high-quality research about the Ukrainian decentralisation reform and regional development policy. Denmark also contributed funds to U-LEAD with Europe’s emergency support to 333 war-affected municipalities.

Slovenia’s experience is a cornerstone of U-LEAD with Europe’s activities when it comes to international municipal partnerships. Currently, there are twelve dynamic municipal partnerships between Ukrainian and Slovenian municipalities.  Partners from various regions of both countries committed themselves to the cooperation and exchange in various fields: waste management, business promotion, natural and cultural heritage preservation, youth exchanges, industrial transition. This experience forms an important element of our general approach to international municipal partnerships, which we call “Bridges of Trust”.

France joined U-LEAD with Europe in 2025 and contributes through the RELEVE project, supporting decentralisation and the sustainable recovery of Ukrainian regions by strengthening municipal capacities, facilitating cooperation between Ukrainian and French municipalities, and promoting the exchange of European local governance practices.
 

The Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs of Republic of Austria (BMEIA) is supporting Phase III of the programme U-LEAD with Europe through the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). As part of U-LEAD with Europe, the Austrian contribution is focusing on strengthening municipal cooperation and peer-to-peer exchanges. Within this partnership, Austria will launch the Municipal Exchange Fund “Austria for Ukraine” (A4U) to support municipal partnerships, knowledge transfer, and capacity building. The activities will be implemented by the KDZ – Centre for Public Administration Research, in close coordination with Austrian and Ukrainian municipal associations and in partnership with U-LEAD. Through two open calls planned for 2025–2027, municipalities will have the opportunity to take part in mentoring, workshops, study visits, policy development, thematic trainings, and joint creation of strategies and administrative tools.