On March 4-5, 2015 in Irpin’ DESPRO successfully conducted the first in the series of seminars dealing with strategic planning for the community members-winners of the last year competition on devising local development strategies. 

The first seminar was dedicated to the structuring of strategic planning with the focus on collection of data concerning social-economic and environmental situation of the territory. In other words, the participants were offered recommendations on analytical report preparation with the use of various sources of information. (Statistical data, specialized publications, public polls, students’ essays).  

The seminar was structured as training with elements of lectures, interactive discussions and group work. Noteworthy, the exercise known as “Ice breaking”, the purpose of which was establishing friendly atmosphere, quick introductions and concentration on interesting and productive operation, became the seminar trade-mark.

During the seminar community members from all the villages demonstrated high level of active participation – they held animated discussions, which testified to high motivation and wish of improving living standards in respective communities.

Besides, the group work resulted in developing and submitting the action plan for each community. It covered information collection and additional studies to be compiled later as a consolidated report for the DESPRO experts.

Supporting the initiatives of the territorial communities with respect to strategic planning process at the local level, DESPRO project will contribute to excellent strategies’ implementation and therefore  – to the sustainable development of the territorial communities in Ukraine.