Strengthening the Role of Communities in the Just Transition
Today, a coordination meeting of partners of the project “Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in Just Transition and Structural Change Processes in Ukraine’s Coal Regions” took place.
The project aims to increase the participation of civil society in shaping the future of coal regions and preparing communities for structural changes associated with the gradual phase-out of fossil fuels.
The initiative combines work at both the local and national levels. Regional “hubs” will operate in communities across the Volyn, Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv regions, helping residents engage in the development of just transition plans, strengthen public participation tools, and prepare high-quality projects to attract development funding.
The meeting was attended by Oksana Tomashuk, Deputy Director of the Association of Coal Communities of Ukraine, who presented the Association’s activities and shared the experience of cooperation among coal communities in the transformation process.
“The Association is actively working to implement the principles of just transition in coal communities. Despite economic and environmental challenges, communities have chosen the path of development and change. Active participation of residents in planning and implementing these changes is an essential component of long-term success. The launch of this project will strengthen these efforts, while the support of international partners will help communities gain the knowledge, tools, and experience they need,” stated Oksana Tomashuk.
The project is implemented by the International Renaissance Foundation in partnership with the Power4Just Transition project, funded by the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie of Germany (BMWE), and supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
