Horizons of Recovery: Launching the Innovative “RISE Platform” in Ukraine

On the eve of the official opening of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, May 2026 marks the starting point for a new model of municipal development.

Under martial law conditions and the mandate for integration into the European space, territorial communities are required to fundamentally rethink their approaches to strategic planning. Pursuant to the State Strategy for Regional Development for 2021–2027 (in the current edition of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated 06.01.2026, No. 1796), every community is obligated to maintain an updated local Strategy and its Implementation Plan. Furthermore, the National Program for the Adaptation of Ukrainian Legislation to EU Law (acquis communautaire), approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on April 1, 2026 (Resolution No. 438, with a planning horizon through 2033), establishes clear requirements for developing new competencies, digital transformation, and the institutional capacity of local self-government bodies within the framework of official EU accession negotiations.

The National Program comprises approximately 1,875 tasks, involving the implementation of over 1,600 EU legal acts in the format of institutional and procedural reforms, which aligns with international donor aid requirements for ensuring Ukraine’s resilience and modernization under the slogan “funds for reforms”.

Experience shows that the independent, comprehensive processing of these documents by municipalities is complicated by a shortage of specialized personnel. Today, territorial communities (OTG) urgently require constant assistance from qualified experts in European integration, methodologists, and tutors (experienced specialized mentors and consultants who provide individual guidance and practical training for community officials). Attracting such expertise is critically necessary for analyzing local potential, developing investment portfolios, and, most importantly, for building sustainable skills (capacity building) among community officials to facilitate the future deployment of public-private partnerships (in accordance with standardized Cabinet of Ministers regulations on innovative activities) with international donors, international financial institutions (IFIs), and investors over the 2026–2033 horizon.

Recognizing the scale of these tasks, which require the consolidation of efforts from civil society, science, and business, active project-analytical institutions, charitable foundations, engineering, consulting, educational, and expert communities have officially announced the commencement of the pilot “Innovative Platform for Sustainable Development, Recovery, and European Integration of Communities” — “RISE Platform” (Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability, and Enterprise Platform), initially initiated on the basis of the Turka city territorial community of the Lviv region.

The creation of this intersectoral ecosystem is intended to provide Ukrainian municipalities with applied tools for modernizing local strategies and attracting direct foreign investment without placing a burden on local budgets.

The consortium of partners has unified unique macroeconomic, technological, and humanitarian competencies. The core expert-analytical base of the platform includes:

  • NGO “Economists’ Club”
  • LLC “Personnel Certification Body of the Ukrainian Association of Quality” (LLC “OSP UAY”)
  • Charitable Foundation “Assistance on Bee Wings”
  • NGO “Energy Alliance”
  • All-Ukrainian NGO “Investment Chamber of Ukraine”
  • Enterprise “BIZNESINTERINVEST”
  • Enterprise of the Association of Citizens “A INVEST”
  • Charitable Foundation “Heart of Ukraine”
  • Public Union “Innovative Aarhus Network of Territorial Communities of Ukraine and the City of Kyiv”

Key Vectors of Activity and Innovative Priorities of the Platform

The operation of the “RISE Platform” is deployed as an integrated model where local system modernization and European integration requirements are translated into practical development tools for each participating community in the following strategic areas:

  • Comprehensive Strategic Planning (Strategy-2027): Engaging experts in European integration, methodologists, specialized engineers, and tutors. This partnership format allows communities to update their Local Development Strategies and Implementation Plans free of charge, based on real data (Data-driven approach), in accordance with the goals of Regional strategies for the 2027–2033 period.
  • Institutional Development and Investment Capacity: Building sustainable practical skills (capacity building) among community officials and specialized staff for deploying effective models of public-private (state-private) partnerships with international donors, international financial institutions (IFIs), and investors.
  • Engineering Modernization and Transition to EU Standards: Collaborative work in innovative design for transitioning to European standards and regulations for the modernization of municipal and industrial facilities in the region, particularly in the field of high-tech agri-engineering.
  • International Material and Technical Support: Expert and institutional support in direct dialogue with international material and technical assistance programs. This area also includes training and certification of enterprise personnel in accordance with the strict criteria of foreign investors and the requirements of major global markets.
  • Building Infrastructure of Resilience and Inclusion: Developing crisis response plans, security models, and ecological frameworks for territorial activities. Based on international ESG criteria, the platform ensures accessibility and inclusion for vulnerable population groups—internally displaced persons (IDPs), persons with disabilities, and veterans, based on unique smart-beekeeping and eco-entrepreneurship programs.
  • Communication Support and Public Dialogue: Deploying open information channels, conducting public consultations with residents, and widely publicizing the stages of community development to ensure transparency and involve civil society in recovery processes.

Network Effect: How Can a Community Join the Initiative?

To enter into the network partnership, communities provide their basic Community Profile (factual data on socio-economic status), as well as (if needed) the resumes of OTG representatives to be involved in the project activities. Based on this Profile, the platform’s expert group helps municipalities modernize their local documentation free of charge, which opens a direct pathway to national and international material and technical assistance programs and facilitates cooperation with potential investors/donors.

Financial Manifesto: All expert, methodological, and tutoring support is provided to communities free of charge. It is fully funded through the attraction of targeted funds from international donors, financial institutions, and grant programs, allowing communities to receive high-level analytics without burdening local budgets.

The format of interaction involves signing a framework “Letter of Targeted Accession,” which is legally delicate, does not impose obligations on communities, but serves as an official argument for donors when submitting joint applications, and opens access to best European practices and joint grant applications.

The “RISE Platform” is open for new progressive municipalities, business structures, charitable institutions, NGOs, as well as scientific and educational communities to join. The presented approach fully reflects the classical European “Quadruple Helix” model, where the synergy of government, business, science, and civil society is the sole driver of innovation.

Deploying our intersectoral interaction directly implements the tasks and strategic directions enshrined in the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated September 27, 2021, No. 487/2021, “On the National Strategy for Promoting the Development of Civil Society in Ukraine,” specifically regarding:

  • Ensuring effective procedures for civic participation in resolving local issues;
  • Stimulating the participation of civil society institutions in the socio-economic development of territories;
  • Creating proper legal and organizational conditions for effective intersectoral cooperation and establishing equitable partnerships between government, experts, scientific institutions, and the community.

Our common goal is to build horizontal network partnership ties to strengthen national resilience, elevate territorial planning to the level of modern Euro-regions, and transform Ukrainian communities into self-sufficient, high-tech ecosystems integrated into the European socio-economic space.

How to Learn More and Join the “RISE Platform”?

Accession to the “RISE Platform” innovative hub follows a maximally transparent and debureaucratized procedure. The platform is built on principles of equality, horizontal interaction, and the absence of financial barriers for its participants.

Who Can Join?

  • Territorial Communities (OTG): For free tutoring support with the modernization of Strategy-2027, auditing the municipal sector, and accessing international donors.
  • Charitable Foundations and NGOs: As organizational, financial, or humanitarian partners for the joint implementation of large-scale national and regional projects.
  • Business Associations and Enterprises: For the adaptation of production processes to EU standards, participation in agri-engineering programs, and receipt of material and technical assistance.

3 Simple Steps to Partnership

  • Step 1: Review the Information Letter. Download the official “RISE Platform” Information Letter. It concisely, transparently, and with reference to current government acts, outlines the essence of our expert support, the goals of the European integration transit (2027–2033 horizon), and the architecture of the consortium.
  • Step 2: Fill out and sign the Letter of Accession. Download the universal template of the “Letter of Targeted Accession”. Enter the details of your organization (council) and define your strategic role (e.g., Partner for Comprehensive Strategic Planning or Organizational and Consulting Partner). Sign, certify with a seal (in 2 copies), and send a scan copy to the email address of our Executive Committee.
  • Step 3: Prepare the Community Profile (for OTG). To start the work of analysts and the certified tutors assigned to you, prepare an up-to-date Community Profile with factual socio-economic data. It will become the foundation for updating your Strategy / Action Plan free of charge at the expense of attracted donor funds from international technical assistance.

Coordination Contact Center For document submission and inquiries, establish contact through regional and specialized coordinators or via the unified email: rise-platform.org@proton.me.

Note: Our coordination center uses the secure Swiss email service Proton, which ensures the privacy of users and is protected under Swiss data protection laws.