Ukraine: joining forces to shape the cities of the future

A group of adults are leaning over a map of the city, children are moving around and a woman is giving a talk – there is plenty going on in one of main squares in the Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr. The annual ‘Urban Fest’, which is held in a different place each year, has enticed the locals onto the streets to discuss their city’s future. The citizens can play an active role in helping to shape the decision-making process – through questions to the deputy mayor, proposals for changes or ideas for redesigning a park. And this kind of participation is something people in Ukraine have fought hard for. During the Revolution of Dignity in 2014, they took to the streets to demand greater democracy, self-determination and transparency in politics. A lot has changed since then – including the planning and use of urban spaces.

Cities worth living in for better coexistence

‘When people are able to participate in planning processes, this helps make places worth living in for everyone, not just for privileged groups,’ explains Andrii Zuiev, a project manager at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

GIZ has therefore been commissioned by Germany’s Development Ministry (BMZ) and Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to help eight Ukrainian cities adopt a sustainable and – most importantly – citizen-focused approach to their development to make them more attractive. Working with town and city councils and local government, GIZ has already drawn up a strategy that involves residents in all phases of planning processes.

With the ‘Urban Fest’, GIZ has created a platform for dialogue that is held once a year in various Ukrainian cities. The idea is for locals to learn more about the concept of integrated urban planning in an entertaining and informative format. Fact-finding events are also held throughout the year, for instance in pedestrianised zones or at sports or cultural events. As a result, some 60,000 people have already helped shape their town or city in the course of just four years.