Новини
Second Wave of the Community Development Success Index: What Makes a Community Successful in the Eyes of Its Residents
23 september 2026
On 21 September, the results of the second wave of the Community Development Success Index were presented in Kyiv and online. The study assesses community development not only through statistical indicators but also through residents’ own perceptions of living conditions, opportunities, and changes within their communities. The second wave was conducted with the support of the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation.
The Index was developed by ISAR Ednannia and the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Info Sapiens research agency, with financial support from the European Union under the Unity for the Community programme.
The presentation brought together representatives of local self-government and national authorities, civil society and international organisations and programmes, businesses, research and academic institutions, as well as independent experts in local development.
Experts presented the key strengths and challenges of the communities covered by the study, the factors shaping residents’ perceptions of their communities’ success, and ways in which the Index can be used to inform local development planning.
“We are already using the Index as a practical tool in our work with communities. At a time when resources are scarce, all stakeholders need to allocate funding and efforts as effectively as possible, using data to identify clear priorities and areas where they can have the greatest impact. The Index helps communities understand their strengths and weaknesses, develop strategies, and set priorities based on evidence. This allows them to direct resources where they can deliver the greatest impact and serve as genuine investments in community development,” said Tetiana Volochai, Head of the Community Development Council at the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation.
The second wave of the study covered seven communities across four regions of Ukraine: Budyshche, Kalynopil, and Stepanets in Cherkasy region; Makariv and Yahotyn in Kyiv region; Ladyzhyn in Vinnytsia region; and Petrykivka in Dnipropetrovsk region.
The Index covers five areas of development: the economy, quality of governance, security, the social environment, and civic participation.
“Civil society and social cohesion account for 15% of a community’s overall success and rank among the three most influential areas, alongside security and the social sphere. Investing in people’s engagement, trust, and local organisations is therefore, in effect, an investment in a community’s own capacity to develop,” said Volodymyr Sheihus, Executive Director of ISAR Ednannia.
“The Index is not about comparing communities with one another. It gives each community an opportunity to see itself through the eyes of its own residents. Every community has its own context, resources, and challenges. What matters to us is showing communities how they are perceived by the people who live there, because this shapes whether residents choose to stay, invest in their community, and take an active role in its life,” explained Maksym Mashliakivskyi, research methodology expert and consultant at Info Sapiens.
Participants discussed how to translate the study’s findings into practical action by updating development strategies, setting priorities, and planning local development. This approach strengthens transparency and accountability in decision-making and helps communities assess the results of their decisions.
“Communities need a tool that enables them to take a comprehensive view of development and ensure that every strategic step is grounded in reliable data and residents’ needs. This is not about change for the sake of change. It is about delivering results that can be measured and demonstrated. The Index helps communities clearly understand where they stand today, plan their development on a sound basis, and become stronger,” said Volodymyr Zabela, Director of the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation.
The Index supports a shift from intuition-based decision-making towards evidence-based governance. It can serve as a common framework for assessment, planning, and collaboration among local authorities, donors, businesses, and civil society organisations.
The second wave expanded the number of communities with access to this type of data and demonstrated that the tool can be applied across communities with different experiences and challenges.
The Community Development Success Index was developed under the Unity for the Community project, implemented by ISAR Ednannia with financial support from the European Union, in partnership with the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation and the Info Sapiens research agency.