On 29th November a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the National Agency for Public Service of Ukraine and the U-LEAD with Europe Programme. The document refers to the peculiarities of the implementation of the Law of Ukraine "On Service in Local Self-Government Bodies", the development of human resources management tools, and the development of the system of advanced training of local self-government officials.

"Our goal is to strengthen the organizational and managerial capacity of local authorities. And, of course, to develop a system of professional training for local government officials. The signing of the memorandum is another important step in our relations with the U-LEAD Programme. I am confident that our cooperation will be effective and productive," said Nataliia Aliushyna.

During the working meeting that preceded the signing of the Memorandum, the parties discussed future joint activities and initiatives. In particular, the Head of NAUCS presented the roadmap for the implementation of the new Law of Ukraine "On Service in Local Self-Government Bodies". It contains three key blocks: the preparation of statutes and methodological recommendations, an awareness-raising campaign, and training activities for local government officials.

"We have already submitted a strategic document to the Cabinet of Ministers - the Action Plan for the Development of the Professional Training System for Public Servants until 2027. Many of the tasks there relate to the training of local government officials. They include the development of acts on the legal and organizational framework for the training of officials in the context of the implementation of the new law, the development of professional standards, and the implementation of standard training programs. This is particularly important for those who are newly appointed or elected to an elected position for the first time," said the Head of the agency.

Bastian Feigel, GIZ Programme Director of U-LEAD with Europe, expressed his confidence in a successful and long-term partnership with NAUCS.