For the second year in a row, 14 representatives of local government from Chornobyl-affected areas of Ukraine had the opportunity to participate in a study tour to Poland.  This was a joint program sponsored by UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme and the Institute for Regional Development (Szczecin, Poland), which is headed by Dr. Z. Zychovicz.  The study tour took place 14-22 April, 2007, shortly before the 21st anniversary of the Chornobyl catastrophe. 

The goal of the study tour was to train Ukrainian specialists in developing local strategic plans, based on Polish experience.  Each participant had the opportunity for one-on-one training in different towns of the West Pomeranian region of Poland.  In each town, it was possible to see the actual implementation of local strategic plans, including concrete results.  The West Pomeranian region is considered one of the most successful in Poland in receiving and utilizing European Union funds.

The Ukrainian delegation was invited by the Marshal of the West Pomeranian region, Mr. Norbert Obrycki. All the training participants received a special certificate from the European Union.  The study tour also provided the opportunity for cooperation with government administration in the Lubuskie region.

The head of the region (voivoda) Mr. Ireneusz Madej provided an overview of the Polish emergency response system, which was of particular interest for the participants from Chornobyl-affected territories.  Mr. Madej also described the numerous new opportunities for Polish-Ukrainian partnerships under the auspices of the new European Union budget. 

The study tour participants were also invited to the international conference “Chornobyl: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow”, which was organized by the High School of Business in Gorzow, Poland.  Participants included academicians, politicians, and international experts from Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus. 

All the participants found the study tour to be extremely valuable, both the hands-on work with local counterparts, as well as the contacts established for future cross-border partnerships.

For additional information: Mr. Pavlo Zamostyan (pavlo.zamostyan@undp.org) and Mr. Mieczyslaw Lapanowski (mieczyslaw.lapanowski@undp.org.ua)

Partners: Institute for Regional Development (Szczecin, Poland) – http://www.irr.szczecin.pl

Voivoda Lubuski (Poland) - http://www.wojewodalubuski.pl

Marshal of West Pomeranian (Poland) - http://www.um-zachodniopomorskie.pl

High School of Business (Gorzow, Poland) – http://www.wsb.gorzow.pl