International Workshop in Uzhgorod: “Regional Development Strategic Planning”- February 27, 2006
On February 27, 2006, in Uzhgorod, Ukraine, the Canada-Ukraine Partnership Project for Regional Governance and Development (RGD Project), which is managed by the Canadian Urban Institute and funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, held an international workshop on “Regional Development Strategic Planning” to engage stakeholders in discussion about the current status of regional governance and development in Zakarpattya, to understand the concerns and needs of local stakeholders and where the RGD Project can assist, and to demonstrate the benefits that participatory strategic planning processes brought to Central and Eastern European regions. Representatives of academia, local government and civil society organizations, as well as leading Canadian, European, and Ukrainian experts on regional governance, development and planning issues participated in the workshop.
Mr. Goblyk, Deputy Head of Zakarpattya Oblast State Administration, noted that Canada-Ukraine Partnership Project for Regional Governance and Development will help to elaborate and practically implement the State Strategy for Regional Development. With the implementation of territorial and administrative reform in Ukraine, strategic planning in the regions will become more important. Mr. Petrovci, Head of the main department of economy of Zakarpattya Oblast State Administration, stressed that since Zakarpattya Oblast State Administration is preparing a plan of social and economic development for the region, it would be very desirable to bring Canadian and CEE expertise into the completion of this document.
Mr. Patskan, Head of Office of Zakarpattya Oblast Council, remarked that Zakarpattya already has good experience cooperating with Canadian experts. Dr. Frank, RGD Lead International Expert, specified that Canadian experts will help to prepare a strategy of integrated development of the oblast, but it must be locally owned.
The contribution of international experts allowed Zakarpattya officials and stakeholders to understand the Canadian and European contexts of regional governance and development and how their methods apply to Ukraine in general and to Zakarpattya specifically. The discussions throughout the workshop on the needs of Zakarpattya in terms of regional governance, development and planning will allow the RGD Project to move forward towards meeting those on-the-ground needs.
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