Shrinking cities: Lessons from the US, Ukraine and other countries

The Community Recovery Academy concluded the third module with a lecture by a professor from a leading US university.

Yesterday, the third module of the Community Recovery Academy was completed. The final event was an open lecture by Brent Ryan, Vice Provost and Professor of Urban Design and Public Policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), on "Shrinking Cities: Lessons from the US, Ukraine and Other Countries".

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

• Urban shrinkage is a global challenge. Many cities in the United States, Germany, Japan, and other countries are facing demographic decline. Ukraine has a special situation due to the war, which determines new approaches to urban development.
• Recovery strategies should take into account real demographic changes. The key 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, and adaptation of vacant areas to new functions.
• The role of municipal managers during the reconstruction period. Flexibility in decision-making, strategic planning with the 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 have suffered destruction, lost their population, and need a strategic vision of 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 an 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 the development of sustainable recovery strategies for Ukrainian cities. The last, fourth module is ahead.

Community Recovery Academy, founded by the Association of Ukrainian Cities and NGO Mariupol Reborn, aims to train municipal managers for the recovery period. The project is being implemented with the support of the UK Government under the UK International Development program and the International Republican Institute - IRI Ukraine in partnership with Metinvest and SCM. The educational partners of the project are Metinvest Polytechnic and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.