Description
The project supports democratic development and participatory planning in Luhansk Region and enhances a dialogue with local governments - ATC gromadas, which is a crucial process to tackle protracted conflict and an ongoing decentralisation. The project brings experience with participatory planning in Slovakia,provides human capital and capacity-building, and inspiration for local municipalities. The project also implements a key community WASH intervention that will provide access to clean water and strengthen resistance against COVID-19. The project will create 2 community-initiative groups (CIGs) composed of 40 citizens of 2 ATC gromadas at the contact line, who will represent local interests and participate in the planning processes along with the ATC representatives, whilst the implementing organisations will provide a backbone for a joint dialogue between stakeholders. 14 meetings will be held between ATC representantives and CIGs to address a min. 14 community-proposals. Furthermore, 900 people will enhance their political/media/WASH literacy to understand social/political processes and water management. Lastly, a jointly suggested WASH intervention will cover critical needs of 500 people and will serve as a practical example of participatory planning and upskilling of all stakeholders. The project strengthens communities to become self-sufficient, with CIGs being able to identify and advocate for community needs. Trainings for wider public ensure overall capacity-building towards an inclusive society that is able to define and advocate for their own problems. CIGs will become mediators at the local level and will maintain mobilisation within communities, which will bring resilience, ownership and local decision-making - key elements for any development.