Fourth HROMADA conference

Strengthening Ukraine: Sharing knowledge for a sustainable future

Picture: Oleksandra Bolotina, Kharkiv

Conference

Riga, 9 October 2026

Conference Recordings

A recording of the conference is available on youtube (external link).

Go to Youtube

Programme

9:00-9:30 Registration

9:30-10:15 Welcome and introductory speeches

Anne Pintsch, Head of the HROMADA network, University of Agder

Guntars Kitenbergs, Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Latvia

Kateryna Pasynchuk, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of Ukraine to the Republic of Latvia

Keynote speech

Reinis Pozņaks, Member of the European Parliament

10:20-11:35 Panel I: Drawing lessons from local preparedness in Ukraine for the Baltic-Nordic region

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine impacts the understanding of preparedness and resilience across Europe. Ukrainian municipalities and local non-state actors have developed innovative approaches to supporting communities and maintaining societal resilience under conditions of extreme crisis. This panel explores what Baltic and Nordic countries can learn from these experiences. The panel aims to highlight sector-specific challenges, as well as the strategies developed to overcome them. By examining both Ukrainian experiences and Nordic-Baltic preparedness efforts, the panel seeks to identify practical lessons for strengthening resilience at the local level. Particular attention will be paid to how municipalities, civil society actors, and local communities can contribute to preparedness planning in an increasingly uncertain security environment.
 

Confirmed speakers

Nikolaj Lomholt Svensson, Danish Energy Agency

Daria Shyshko, ESCO “EnergoEngineering”

Liene Ledaine, Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy

Viktor Pisotskiy, CME Mykolaivvodokanal

Karina Shyrokykh, Stockholm University, moderator

Coffee Break

12:00-13:15 Panel II: Ukrainian universities and resilience

Ukrainian universities have been severely affected by the war. While some have had to relocate from the occupied territories, others have seen their buildings and infrastructure destroyed. All Ukrainian universities are facing both staff shortages and the demographic impact on new student cohorts. Nevertheless, Ukrainian universities have managed to sustain and adapt their operations to new challenges and have also contributed to the resilience of local communities. This panel discussion will explore the reasons behind this resilience and identify ways in which universities can help strengthen the resilience of their local communities. It will examine how the Nordic and Baltic countries can support Ukrainian universities and what they can learn from them.

Confirmed speakers

Kostyantyn Kyrychenko, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Kyiv School of Economics

Dmytro Khutkyy, Head of the University of Tartu Ukraine Centre

Hanna Markova, University of Latvia

Veronika Vakulenko, Nord University, moderator

Lunch

14:00-15:15 Panel III: IDPs, local communities and long-term displacement

Russia’s war against Ukraine has led to one of Europe’s largest populations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) since the Second World War. Internal displacement already emerged as a major challenge after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and hybrid warfare in Donbas in 2014, but the full-scale invasion in 2022 dramatically expanded its scope and societal impact. This panel explores how Ukrainian municipalities, civil society actors and IDPs themselves navigate questions of inclusion, belonging, participation and social adaptation under conditions of war. How are local communities adapting to large-scale displacement? What tensions and opportunities emerge when displacement becomes prolonged? And how can international actors contribute to sustainable and locally grounded solutions for supporting IDPs and host communities in wartime Ukraine? 

Confirmed speakers

Yuliya Markuts, Kyiv School of Economics Institute

Emma Rimpiläinen, Södertörn University

Iryna Humovska, West Ukrainian National University, Ternopil

Marthe Handå Myhre, OsloMet, moderator

15:15 End of the programme

16:00 End of the conference

Where?

Library of the University of Latvia
Kalpaka bulvāris 4, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

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