CoM East: CoM Territorial Coordinators from Ukraine and Georgia improve capacities to support their Signatories

Representatives of 15 Territorial Coordinators of the Covenant of Mayors from two countries – Ukraine and Georgia – gathered in Kyiv on 27^th November for a two-day training dedicated to strengthening their potential in providing quality support to the municipalities, which are Signatories to the CoM initiative.

One of the most important goals of the training is to ensure smooth and sustainable transfer of the CoM East functions to the country-based institutions. Participants discuss the role of the Covenant Territorial Coordinators, state of play and ways for boosting cooperation with their Signatories.

Covenant Coordinators are public authorities that are in a position to provide strategic guidance, technical and financial support to Covenant of Mayors Signatories and municipalities willing to sign up to it. The training organised by the CoM East project is tailored for management and technical level staff of CTCs – heads and deputy-heads of the relevant institutions as well as specialists responsible for CoM initiative in the direct contact with Signatories.

During the first day of the training Ukrainian and Georgian Territorial Coordinators shared their experience in various aspects of their cooperation with CoM Signatories, such as providing financial support, training for municipalities, mobile EE office, energy monitoring system functioning at regional level, development and implementation of regional energy strategies, work with grouped CoM Signatories etc. Mr Rafael Ataz Gómez, invited expert from Spain, delivered presentation of the best cases of CoM supporting at regional level in the EU countries.

The training continues today, November 28, with further discussions and practical exercises in drafting action plans, monitoring, reporting and communication.