For seven weeks, 25 representatives of Ukrainian municipalities underwent internships in Polish municipalities as part of the Good Governance project co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland and implemented as part of the U-LEAD Programme. Anna Lutsenko shared her observations, experience and plans.
Reference: Anna Lutsenko. Head of the Department for Investment Projects and Socio-Economic Development of the Novyi Buh City Council. Deputy of the Novyi Buh City Council. Age: 62 y. o. Great life experience. Her hobbies are self-improvement, development, and jogging. While in Poland, she took part in the 45th Warsaw Marathon, where she ran a 10 km race and set a personal record.
How did you get the Good Governance internship?
After completing one of the training courses “Steps for Specialists” from U-LEAD, I was invited to compete for the opportunity to go to Poland for an internship. I hesitated a little, considered everything, and sent an almost last-minute application.
After several weeks of waiting, I received an answer that I was included in the pool of potential interns. Can you believe that I was jumping, happy, like a child?
Then the hardest part began. Out of 35 candidates, 25 trainees were to be selected. For this, you had to pass the exams and tests with the highest score, as well as diligently attend the training courses offered by the organisers.
These were a Polish language crash course and lectures on the Polish model of decentralisation and Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. We also studied PM², the project management methodology of the European Commission.
The tests were difficult, but the most difficult was the Polish language test. Upon exams and tests, as well as attendance, I scored 83 out of 94. This gave me admission to the internship.
What motivated you to pass this difficult test without giving up?
The main motivation is the opportunity, with the support of partners, to implement and develop a ’hard’ project in the Novyi Buh municipality. This is to start with. Secondly, an internship is an opportunity to see the inner works of governance workings in a European country, an opportunity to learn something new and then use it in my work.
I was aware that seven weeks of internship required a lot of effort, and even within my family, I had to coordinate and agree on everything.
What is the difference between local self-government in Poland and Ukraine?
Poland has no concept of local self-government. There is governance. Similarly to our ’region — district — municipality’, they have ’voivodeship — county — gmina’.
Functions of our districts and municipalities often overlap; there is a lot of reporting from municipalities to the district and region. In Poland, the functions of voivodeship, county and gmina are clearly separated.
For example, healthcare. A certain level of medical care is provided by the county, which maintains a hospital and is fully responsible for its operation. The city is no longer responsible for this institution and does not think about its financing. That is, the functions are completely separated: the county is the higher level of administrative units, and it has more extensive functions related to education, healthcare and fire protection. Voivodeships as well. Each has its own functions, which cover its entire population. But they do not overlap, unlike ours.
What was the internship process?
We were divided by municipalities. Each participant was assigned a mentor who worked in the municipality.
I did an internship in Radomsko (Łódź Voivodeship), which has a population of 45,000. My project that won the competition is a waste management project. Throughout the internship, I studied waste management, which is inherently continuous and innovative.
What else impressed me? It was as if we travelled to the future: we saw what could happen to Ukraine from the point of view of investments when our country becomes a member of the European Union. I believe that the knowledge gained during internships will give us the strength to go this way faster than other countries.
As for the town I was based in. Radomsko is governed by the Great City Council which employs 200 people. I noticed that most departments in the city council are focused on development. Large investment department. Project department. There is a department that works with the public budget. In our municipality, for example, the investment department has 2 people in it. And there I counted more than 20 employees working on projects.
They also have a lot of money. There are more opportunities to attract investments. The city council works to develop the city, to attract projects.
Before Poland joined the EU, Radomsko was a depressing town. Once it was home to a furniture factory and a metallurgical plant. Now these sites have been turned into trade centres. To develop the economy, two industrial parks were created, and a third one is in the plans, as there is demand among investors. Accordingly, each park means jobs, official salaries, taxes and development.
What were you taught?
Each trainee had a training plan according to work in units or departments as an intern who comes to practice and get to know the ins and outs of the entire institution.
I visited all municipal enterprises that are in charge of sewage treatment plants, a water supply facility and a waste processing company. For almost a week, I studied how the waste processing plant works. I have an engineering degree, so I was interested in the technical aspects of the company’s work. Here is the cycle of waste recycling: How? Where? How much economic benefit is there? The waste processing company is amazing! When you enter their office, it’s like stepping into the future!
The head of the company is a good strategist and is well-versed in his business. Who’d think rubbish and waste were so complicated?
They have everything running like that. For example, they sort plastic by colour, recycle it and sell it to large companies that make bottles for sugary drinks. This type of container must contain a certain percentage of recycled plastic. So there is a demand for the products of this waste processing plant. There are many examples like that; you just need to understand the process and find out who needs the raw materials.
Do you feel that your knowledge has improved after the internship? How has your outlook changed?
Before, I did my job, wrote applications, initiated projects, but I was likely unable to see the full picture. When I came here, I saw the full scope of work, processes, and all the puzzle pieces clicked for me: What am I doing? How should I be doing it? What should I be doing it for? This is the most important thing. I grew more confident in my actions, expanded my skill set and knowledge.
What changes would you like to implement in your municipality?
Naturally, to implement the solid household waste and rubbish management project. But I saw how complex this work must be.
Our digital technologies are one step ahead of Europe. Our healthcare is also better. However, as for the consciousness of citizens, we have to work on it and work a lot. I saw how staunchly the Poles (local residents) were determined to preserve the environment.
For example, they live in a village and lack a paved road. There is only an unpaved one. And they told me that their road would not be asphalt but made of slabs. I asked them why slabs, as asphalt, are more convenient. They told me that it is more eco-friendly. The average resident justifies this decision, not in terms of efficiency, feasibility or cost, but in terms of environment.
Many private residences are equipped with solar panels. If we compare ourselves with Poland, our conscious attitude towards the environment is in its infancy.
What would you advise your colleagues?
Participate in similar programs, and studies. See how consciousness is changing, readjust yourself, and understand what changes need to be implemented at the municipal level. Specifically, at the municipal level. Why are these or other reforms being introduced? What will their results be? You can see these results only in the country where they have already been implemented.
