A presentation of the first analytical tool, the Community Development Success Index, took place at the Civil Society Home. The Index was developed as part of a joint initiative by ISAR Ednannia and the MHP–Hromadi Charitable Foundation, with the support of the European Union and in cooperation with the Info Sapiens Research Centre.
The Index is an analytical tool designed to transform the approach to local governance − shifting from intuitive decision-making to evidence-based governance grounded in comprehensive data on the economy, security, and quality of life.
The event brought together representatives of central and local authorities, experts in community development, civil society actors, and international partners. Participants discussed how the tool could be applied in practice and the role it can play in shaping community development strategies.
“We aimed to turn dry reporting into a living dialogue. It is essential to recognize that success is not solely measured by numbers in reports, but also by whether people’s lives improve after each decision made by a community leader. This Index makes it possible to measure what previously seemed intangible — the real sense of well-being and feedback from residents,” emphasised Tetiana Volochay, Head of the Community Development Council of the MHP-Hromadi Charitable Foundation.
The methodology of the Index combines quantitative and qualitative data, including:
- statistical indicators and the lived experience of community residents;
- analysis of how governance decisions affect people’s everyday lives;
- ability to compare the use of budgetary resources with actual living conditions in the community.
The effectiveness of this approach has already been confirmed through pilot studies conducted in the Kaniv, Myronivka, Liubeshiv, and Trostianets communities.
“For us, this tool is a way to demonstrate that cohesive communities with active civic participation are more resilient, cope better with crises, and have greater potential for recovery and long-term growth. I would also like to thank our partners at the MHP-Hromadi Foundation and the Info Sapiens research centre for their genuine partnership. By combining expertise, we have managed to create a tool that is both methodologically robust and practically useful for communities,” stressed Anna Ostrikova, Head of Grant and Development Programs at ISAR Ednannia.
As the development of Ukrainian communities increasingly relies on data and analytics as the foundation for decision-making, the Community Development Success Index demonstrates that when objective indicators are combined with the voices of residents, communities gain not just an assessment, but a tool for informed, sustainable, and forward-looking development.
The event was organised within the framework of the EU Unity4Community project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia, funded by the European Union.
