DECIDE and Odesa Regional Military Administration sign Memorandum of Cooperation for 5 years

The partnership with Odesa region began in 2020. Over more than five years of cooperation, more than 80 communities in the region have joined the Project’s activities.

The focus of the next five years of joint work will continue to be the development of education and local self-government.

The Memorandum provides for an expanded framework for cooperation in key areas, including support for:

• the implementation of specialised secondary school reform with regard to the formation and development of a network of academic lyceums;

• the introduction of vocational education reform: in particular, a support programme for the introduction of new financing models and training for managers of vocational education institutions will be launched this year;

• the development of cooperation between communities, in particular with regard to the creation of academic lyceums with a grant programme for the renovation of laboratories;

• the updating of the Strategy for the Restoration and Development of Odesa Region for 2028–2034;

• the updating and implementation of the Education Development Strategy for 2028–2034 and expert support for the development of a package of priority projects;

• partner communities in the development of community development strategies and sectoral strategies for the development of education;

• internship programmes for young people in the Odesa Regional Military Administration and local councils;

• the development of agglomerations with a focus on educational services;

• training, professional programmes and events for all communities in the region on the implementation of key reforms in education. Programmes for community leaders, relevant deputies, heads of education departments and heads of educational institutions in Odesa Region will start as early as 2026.

• the development of a career guidance system for children and adolescents and a grant programme for the creation of career guidance hubs in communities and vocational education institutions;

• the extension of the DECIDE Summer Clubs initiative ‘We are at home – in Ukraine’.

Moreover, six partner communities will be selected in the region to receive support for the implementation of education development programmes and infrastructure grants.

‘The partnership with Odesa is a story of resilience and of people who continue to drive educational reforms and create opportunities for young people, even during the war. Together, we have developed strategies and are working to create a modern, specialised education system and an effective career guidance system. Most importantly, the region, its communities, educators, and businesses are working together more than ever before to ensure that young people can make an informed choice about their educational path. This is a choice that matches their abilities and the opportunities available in the region,' said Valentyna Poltorak, DECIDE Project Manager.

‘It is extremely important for us that international partners continue to invest their knowledge, resources and opportunities in the development of education and local self-government in Odesa region. This Memorandum opens up new opportunities for our communities, teachers and children, so that every student can receive a quality education and have a real choice of career path,’ emphasised Oleksandr Kharov, Acting Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration.

Over the previous years of cooperation, we have managed to support the systematic development of education in the region, in particular:

• developed and implemented strategic documents – regional development, community development, and sectoral strategies for the development of education;

• strengthened cooperation between communities;

• implemented infrastructure projects;

• introduced local democracy tools and active citizenship programmes for thousands of students;

• launched the development of a career guidance system in one-third of the region’s communities;

• covered more than 80 communities in the region with activities and consultations on the implementation of specialised secondary education reform;

• ensured the sustainable professional development of representatives of local government, education authorities, and educators;

• jointly created safe educational centres in bomb shelters and implemented dozens of projects initiated by students within the framework of public and school public budgets.

Initiatives of the DECIDE Project have covered 84 communities, hundreds of local government representatives and education administrators, over a thousand teachers and tens of thousands of children.

The DECIDE project is implemented by NGO DOCCU and PHZH International Projects in Education with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine.

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