The Community Recovery Academy completed its third module with a lecture by a leading US university professor.

Yesterday, the third module of the Community Recovery Academy was completed. Its final event was an open lecture by Brent Ryan, the Vice Rector and Professor of Urban Design and Public Policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), on the topic “Shrinking Cities: Lessons from the United States, Ukraine and other countries”.

Brent Ryan spoke about the global problem of shrinking cities and its relevance for Ukraine in the context of the post-war recovery:

Urban shrinkage is a global challenge. Many cities in the US, Germany, Japan and other countries are facing demographic decline. Ukraine has a specific situation caused by the war, which defines new approaches to urban development.

Recovery strategies should consider real demographic changes. The main thing is to create quality conditions for those who stay, rather than trying to artificially bring back the population.

Transformation of urban space. Efficient use of resources, development of green areas, adaptation of abandoned areas to new functions.

The role of municipal managers during the recovery period. Flexibility in decision-making, strategic planning with involvement of experts and communities, maintaining a balance between economic development and social needs.

The problem of shrinking cities is directly related to Ukraine, as many territories suffered destruction, lost their population and now need strategic vision for the future. It is important for municipal managers to understand that traditional development models are not always effective. The experience of other countries shows that successful urban recovery is possible through the innovative approach, integration of international practices and active community engagement.

The completion of the third module of the Community Recovery Academy is another step towards developing sustainable recovery strategies for Ukrainian cities. The last, fourth module is ahead.

The Community Recovery Academy, founded by the Association of Ukrainian Cities and the NGO “Mariupol.Reborn”, aims at training municipal managers for the recovery period. The project is implemented with the support of the British Embassy Kyiv under the UK International Development program and the International Republican Institute (IRI Ukraine) in partnership with Metinvest and SCM. The academic partners of the project are Metinvest Polytechnic and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.