Institutional Capacity Rating of Rivne Region Municipalities: Results of the 2025 Study
12/4/20252 min read
In 2025, the RcErBs Foundation (Lubny) together with the NGO “BOTTOM UP” (Kyiv) conducted a large-scale assessment of the institutional capacity of small and medium-sized municipalities in the Rivne region. The evaluation was carried out within the PARASOL pilot project with the support of the Bankwatch Network and the Global Greengrants Fund. The goal of the study was to determine the real level of municipal readiness for recovery and development during the war and in the post-war period, as well as to create a tool for effectively targeting international assistance.
The Rivne region became the fourth region assessed in recent years. A total of 63 municipalities were analyzed according to five groups of criteria: organizational, financial, social, infrastructure, and communication capacity. In total, 35 indicative indicators were used to form a comprehensive picture of the state of each municipality.
Why this research is important for Ukraine?
The war has placed municipalities in entirely new conditions: destruction of infrastructure, shortage of budgetary resources, lack of personnel, and increased pressure on social services. As a result, previous state methodologies have become outdated, and communities are increasingly turning to civil society organizations for expert guidance.
The updated assessment methodology focuses on three key aspects:
• the flexibility of a municipality and its ability to adapt to shocks
• emergency preparedness
• the ability to ensure social and economic resilience
Thus, the rating reflects not only the current condition of a municipality but also its prospects for effectively using external resources and international support.
How the evaluation was conducted?
Due to low participation from municipalities in filling out the questionnaires (only 6% returned the forms), experts had to conduct 94% of the assessment independently—using official municipal websites, budget data, open registries, information on administrative decisions, and infrastructure projects.
The study revealed several systemic issues:
• outdated or incomplete data on official municipal websites
• absence of updated strategic documents
• incorrect or inaccessible contact information
• reluctance of certain officials to provide information
• limited experience in international cooperation and horizontal interaction between municipalities
Top 5 municipalities in the 2025 rating:
Varash municipality — 88.89 points
Korets municipality — 87.55
Dubno municipality — 84.25
Bilokrynytsia municipality — 80.96
Oleksandriia municipality — 78.81
These municipalities demonstrate a solid level of organizational capacity, updated strategies, relatively effective budget management, and better communication with residents and partners.
Twenty-three municipalities (37%) scored between 60–80 points, while 28 municipalities (44%) scored 40–60. Notably, no municipality in the Rivne region fell below 40 points, indicating the absence of critically incapable administrative units.
Key findings?
The results show that despite the challenges of wartime, municipalities in the Rivne region possess significant potential for recovery and development. At the same time, there is a clear need for:
• updating strategic documents to reflect wartime realities
• improving transparency and accuracy of information on official platforms
• strengthening staffing capacity and project management systems
• increasing participation in international programs and inter-municipal initiatives
Why this matters for international partners?
The study becomes a practical tool for targeted and effective allocation of international aid, specifically for:
• identifying priority projects with the highest impact
• avoiding duplication of funding
• accelerating the recovery of critical infrastructure
• strengthening municipal resilience to future crises
What’s next?
The authors of the study propose to:
• expand the methodology to other regions of Ukraine
• conduct regular monitoring of changes within municipalities
• strengthen cooperation between local authorities, civil society, and international organizations
The Institutional Capacity Rating of Rivne Region Municipalities marks an important step toward a systemic approach to developing Ukrainian municipalities. It will help strengthen their resilience, prepare for post-war recovery, and ensure their deeper engagement in the transformations guiding Ukraine toward the European Union.
You can view the full rating on the RcErBs Foundation Facebook page:
