On 27–28 November 2025, Zhytomyr’s team took part in the bootcamp of the “Mission-Oriented Economy” programme. The four-day intensive brought together teams from Ukrainian cities to work with UNDP experts in Ukraine on developing new approaches to community recovery and development.

The format combined analytical work, team collaboration, and rapid solution generation. The focus was on how cities can address current challenges, and what the next steps should be to strengthen resilience and economic potential.

What Zhytomyr’s Team Achieved

Throughout the bootcamp, the city team worked on the key elements of the future project portfolio. In particular, participants:

• defined Zhytomyr’s strategic intent and its role in its own development, based on previous analytical work;
• formed a preliminary portfolio framework focused on innovation, human capital, and economic resilience;
• analysed which municipal processes require change and where growth opportunities already exist;
• outlined systemic problems and areas where the first interventions should be tested;
• agreed on concrete team actions for the coming months.

During the bootcamp, it became clear that Zhytomyr already has strong assets: an active business sector, university-driven initiatives, stable partnerships, and experience in implementing innovative projects. The team’s task was to connect these elements into a coherent logic and identify how they can function as a unified system.

Why This Matters for the City

As a result of the bootcamp, the city received not just a set of ideas but a structured basis for Zhytomyr’s portfolio for 2025–2026. It will be aimed at:

• developing innovative approaches and supporting the technological ecosystem;
• strengthening the creative and entrepreneurial sectors;
• supporting MSMEs and creating new economic opportunities;
• enhancing the institutional resilience of the community;
• deepening cooperation between education, business, and municipal governance.

The portfolio approach will help the city move beyond isolated projects and address challenges comprehensively—through hypothesis testing, continuous learning, and scaling effective solutions.

Background:

Zhytomyr joined the “Mission-Oriented Economy” (M4EG) initiative in August 2025.
The project is implemented within the “Mayors for Economic Growth” initiative, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP.

Photo: UNDP Ukraine