Conclusion of online mentorship between Postojna and Pechenihy

Conclusion of online mentorship between Postojna and Pechenihy

29 November 2024—Today, we have concluded the online mentorship between Municipality Postojna and Municipality Pechenihy under the auspices of the project ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’. The mentorship visit took place online in October and November and focused on project writing, EU accession and funding, and the exchange of Postojna’s good practices on the topics of education, business development, and energy efficiency. 

The situation in Pechenihy hromada did not allow for the visit to happen in person. Still, both municipalities expressed their willingness to cooperate, first online, and in the future perhaps also in person.

The ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’ project is funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs through the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships and implemented in partnership with ‘U-LEAD with Europe’. The U-LEAD with Europe programme is a partnership of the Ukrainian government and the European Union, and its member states Germany, Sweden, Poland, and Slovenia, to support the establishment of multi-level governance that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of the Ukrainian population.

Study visit Business Development and Promotion: Local and Regional Good Practice of Slovenia concludes

Study visit Business Development and Promotion: Local and Regional Good Practice of Slovenia concludes

We have successfully concluded the study visit titled ‘Business Development and Promotion: Local and Regional Good Practice of Slovenia’, held from 19 to 28 November 2024 as a part of the Slovenian Aid project ‘Enhancing Slovenian Engagement in Ukraine: Economic and Social Sustainability of Regions and Cities’. From 20 to 28 November 2024, 20 representatives of Ukrainian local communities, business support organisations, and municipal associations supported by the U-LEAD with Europe Programme joined us in Slovenia to hear and learn more about Slovenian good practices on the topics of regional and local development, EU funding, EU accession, cooperation between businesses and municipalities, waste management and circular economy, New European Bauhaus and more.
 
First week of workshops and activities on regional development, circular economy and waste management, future of construction, EU funding and opportunities for Ukraine, and more organised by Pomurje Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pomurje Technology Park, Kodila, Medicop d.o.o., Surovina d.o.o., Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Štajerska Region, Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute and InnoRenew CoE.
 
Activities in the second week focused on regional and local good practices for cooperation between business incubators and local communities, waste management and development of local circular economy practices, and opportunities for Ukrainian municipalities and companies through the Nazovni platform. The visit ended on 27 November, with participants taking part in the forum entitled ‘Business Revival and Reconstruction Opportunities in Ukraine’, organised in cooperation with the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia.

 

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The ‘Enhancing Slovenian Engagement in Ukraine: Economic and Social Sustainability of Regions and Cities ’ project is funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs through the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships and implemented in partnership with ‘U-LEAD with Europe’. The U-LEAD with Europe programme is a partnership of the Ukrainian government and the European Union, and its member states Germany, Sweden, Poland, and Slovenia, to support the establishment of multi-level governance that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of the Ukrainian population.

Signing of sister-cities agreement between Hrastnik and Drohobych

Signing of sister-cities agreement between Hrastnik and Drohobych

14 November, Drohobych, Ukraine – Today, we have marked a significant step in cooperation between Drohobych Urban Hromada and Municipality Hrastnik. 

The signing was celebrated with a discussion on inter-municipal cooperation and a public discussion on the role of local communities and international partnerships in supporting Ukraine’s recovery and rebuilding efforts, with the signing and the accompanying activities in Drohobych organised under the auspices of the project “Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Ukraine”. The project is supported by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia (Slovenia Aid and Partnerships Programme) and implemented by the Centre for European Perspective (CEP) in Slovenia in partnership with the EU Programme U-LEAD with Europe implemented by GIZ Germany.
Signing on behalf of Municipality Hrastnik was Mr Marko Funkl, Mayor Hrastnik. Slovenian Ambassador to Ukraine, H.E. Ms Mateja Prevolšek, and representatives of U-LEAD with Europe Programme also attended the activities marking this significant step in the cooperation between the two municipalities.

The partnership between Hrastnik and Drohobych dates to 2021, when the first contacts were made under the U-LEAD with Europe framework, with initial cooperation plans focused on youth, culture, and tourism. At the outbreak of war, Hrastnik’s citizens showed their solidarity by sending significant humanitarian aid directly to Drohobych. The ongoing project with CEP has deepened the partnership, allowing for the development of concrete project plans, including equipping a rehabilitation centre in Drohobych and providing essential medical equipment to the local hospital. The cooperation will also aim to collaborate on enhancing the local and regional tourism sector in Drohobych, which will further strengthen our partnership through new joint ventures. Becoming a sister city has strengthened cooperation on multiple levels for years.

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Seventh mentorship visit in Slovenj Gradec begins

Seventh mentorship visit in Slovenj Gradec begins

13 November 2024, Slovenj Gradec – Today, we kicked off the seventh three-week mentorship of 2024 between the City Municipality Slovenj Gradec and Municipality Ladyzhyn under the auspices of the project ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’.

The event was opened with a welcome speech and presentation of City Municipality of Slovenj Gradec by Mr Tilen Kligler, Mayor of Slovenj Gradec, who welcomed mentees Mr Maksym Chekryhin, Deputy Mayor of Ladyzhyn and Ms Olena Fadiievska, the Head of the Municipal Institution “Local Economic Development Agency of Ladyzhyn”. Mayor Klugler welcomed the mentees with an optimistic outlook, expressing his hope for a successful mentorship and possible future cooperation. Following was a presentation by Ms Ana Novak, CEP Project Manager, who presented the project and its objectives and Ms Nuša Blatnik, CEP Project Assistant, who presented the logistical aspects of the mentorship. Mentees from Ladyzhyn presented the municipality, the current reconstruction process and their 

The three-week mentorship in Slovenj Gradec will cover project development and fund absorption, business development, the EU enlargement process on the local level, and alternative energy sources.

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The ‘Post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine’ project is funded by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs through the Slovenian Aid and Partnerships and implemented in partnership with ‘U-LEAD with Europe’. The U-LEAD with Europe programme is a partnership of the Ukrainian government and the European Union, and its member states Germany, Sweden, Poland, and Slovenia, to support the establishment of multi-level governance that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of the Ukrainian population.

CEP na 12. Slovenskih razvojnih dnevih

CEP na 12. Slovenskih razvojnih dnevih

CEP je danes v sodelovanju s Centrom za mednarodno sodelovanje in razvoj – CMSR organiziral panel Vloga Slovenije v globalnem razvoju: Ali vemo, kaj za Slovenijo pomeni mednarodna razvojna pomoč?, ki je potekal v sklopu 12. Slovenskih razvojnih dnevov.

Panel, na katerem so govorili g. Jernej Salecl, generalni direktor Direktorata za industrijo, podjetništvo in internacionalizacijo Ministrstvo za gospodarstvo, turizem in šport, g. Edvin Skrt, generalni direktor Direktorata za razvojno sodelovanje in humanitarno pomoč, Ministrstvo za zunanje in evropske zadeve, ga. Jelka Klemenc, vodja sektorja za mednarodno razvojno sodelovanje, CEP, g. Dejan Prešiček, direktor CMSR, je moderirala zasl. prof. dr. Maja Bučar.

G. Edvin Skrt, MZEZ je poudaril, da je za mednarodno razvojno sodelovanje (MRS) ključna predvidljivost financiranja, saj brez jasnega finančnega načrta ni mogoče uspešno izvajati projektov. Prav tako je izpostavil potrebo po boljši medresorski koordinaciji, saj trenutna situacija povzroča zamude in neučinkovitost.

G. Jernej Salecl, MGŠT je MRS označil kot odlično priložnost za slovenska podjetja, ki želijo prodreti na mednarodne trge.

G. Dejan Prešiček je izpostavil pomen slovenskega znanja in izkušenj v MRS, vendar opozoril na težave pri časovnici financiranja, kar ovira hitre odzive ustanov.

Ga. Jelka Klemenc, CEP, je predstavila izkušnje dela v tujih razvojnih agencijah in drugih akterjih ter primere z Zahodnega Balkana, ki orišejo tematsko prednost slovenskega znanja; tudi majhnost slovenskih projektov vidi kot prednost, saj omogočajo večjo fleksibilnost na terenu, ter opozarja na priložnosti, ki bi jih lahko imeli s programskim pristopom, ki nudi orodja za koordinacijo. Hkrati je izpostavila pomen udejstvovanja v MRS in razvojne pomoči za človekovo varnost, kjer v Sloveniji manjka akterjev, ki bi o njenih razsežnostih ozaveščali; tudi zato se še vedno sprašujemo, čemu MRS. Potrebna je nujnost ozaveščanja tako strokovne javnosti kot tudi širše družbe o vseh koristih MRS za državo in njene državljane, za kar bi bila ključna uvrstitev te tematike v vzgojno-izobraževalni sistem.

Prof. dr. Bučar pa je poudarila, da je ključni izziv predvsem birokracija in slaba koordinacija, tako v Sloveniji kot v državah prejemnicah, poleg ozaveščanja.

Vsi panelisti so se strinjali, da je za uspeh MRS nujna boljša koordinacija med institucijami ter dolgoročna finančna stabilnost.

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