On 9 September, the High School, together with the National Agency of Ukraine on Civil Service and the Office of the President of Ukraine, launched the programme ‘Organisation of the Activities of Heads of District State Administrations under Martial Law’.

In her welcoming speech, Yuliia Lykhach, Head of the School, emphasised the extreme relevance of this programme. She noted that the conditions of martial law require not only a high level of professionalism from the heads of district state administrations, but also constant development and adaptation to new realities.

27 heads of DSAs will spend three days discussing with leading experts a wide range of issues that are extremely important for the effective work of local authorities in times of war. This training format allows them to improve their professional level, gain new knowledge and skills to solve complex problems, share their own experience and adopt best practices of colleagues from other regions, and find effective solutions to overcome the problems faced by communities.

Participants will consider the exercise of powers by the heads of district state administrations – heads of district military administrations, interaction between local authorities and military administrations under martial law, as well as funding issues, problems and solutions. In addition, they will discuss in detail communication and interaction with veterans, peculiarities of providing medical and social services, the educational process under martial law, and issues of ethics and integrity. They will also focus on the issues of the personnel reserve for work in the de-occupied territories.

In September-October 2024, four groups of students will be trained under this programme. This initiative continues the successful practice of the previous year, when 113 heads of district administrations improved their professional level.