The russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine has compromised the reform processes, including local self-government reform. However, despite difficult conditions of the budget constraints, shifting focus and lack of personnel, municipalities continue to launch digitalisation processes on the ground. The fact that municipalities focused on building digital state has significantly contributed to resilience during the war both at the local and national levels.
”Hromada 4.0” Programme will help present and future digital leaders to formulate project ideas and launch digital transformation projects based on the current needs of the residents and local self-government bodies.
“Hromada 4.0” will become one of the tools of recovery and economic development of municipalities in the post-war period. SocialBoost will use its extensive experience and best practices in development of startups and IT-ecosystem of Ukraine to formulate and prepare the projects of digital transformation of municipalities”, — says Viktor Gurskyi, executive director of SocialBoost.
Partnership support of the Ministry will ensure access to best practices and resources accumulated over the years of work in the area of informatisation.
“Digital transformation is one of the key components of regional development and precondition of successful decentralisation. Together with our partners we are launching “Hromada 4.0” Programme to support digital innovators and provide them with resources to speed up local digitalisation. The Programme will result in preparation of projects which will contribute to post-war recovery of the country and help to build a digital state”, — said Valeriya Ionan, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
For five months, from March to August 2023, the participants of acceleration programme together with team mentors and experts will be looking for ideas, formulating concepts and working on pilot digital transformation projects. The Programme covers the topics of digital economy, development of digital skills, building digital infrastructure in municipalities, digitalisation of public services, etc.
In addition, “Hromada 4.0” aims to create a wide community of municipality representatives, civil servants, mentors, experts in IT and public administration, digital transformers and activists that will be able to effectively communicate, exchange experience, share practices and knowledge.
U-LEAD with Europe Programme, which supports implementation of acceleration programme, has been working on capacity development of municipalities for many years and prioritises digital transformation as one of the key drivers of municipality development:
“Strengthening digital transformation capacity of Ukrainian municipalities is one of the key areas of U-LEAD with Europe’s activities. Digital transformation has already significantly contributed to resilience of Ukraine.A number of important and relevant actions is planned. They are aimed at supporting present and future digital leaders in municipalities in developing their digital transformation projects at the local level. The Digital Resilience Accelerator will support the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine in successful implementation of the Government policies. I am excited that U-LEAD with Europe is part of this initiative!”— commented Andrej Horvat, GIZ Deputy Programme Director of U-LEAD with Europe.
The progress of the programme, achievements and developed projects of the participants will be covered in the country's leading media and online platforms. “Hromada 4.0” initiative will end with an open demo day for representatives of municipalities, national and public organisations and media, where the participants will present their projects.
Municipalities with population below 50,000 and which have the following are invited to apply:
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digital transformation project idea;
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a team of up to three people including local self-government officials, representatives of private sector, workers of municipal facilities, activists, etc.
SocialBoost is planning to select 48 municipalities for the programme, and the result of “Hromada 4.0” will be preparation of at least 24 complete project concepts of digital transformation of municipalities ready to pilot. You can read more about the programme and submit your application on the website before 20 February 2023.
“Digital Resilience Accelerator Hromada 4.0” Programme is implemented by an international organisation SocialBoost together with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and under support of U-LEAD with Europe Programme.
