The Ministry of Community Development has published the accessibility rating of communities: who leads

According to Міністерство інфраструктури: The Ministry of Community Development and Territories has published the results of the first comprehensive study of the Community Accessibility Index. The focus was on determining the level of community development in all areas of accessibility as outlined in the National Strategy for Creating an Accessible Environment in Ukraine by 2030.

For the study conducted in 2025, four communities of different types were selected from each region: an urban community with a population of over 100,000 people, an urban community with a population of 10,000 to 100,000 people, a settlement community, and a rural community. A total of 97 communities participated in the study, which underwent detailed surveys on eight key areas of accessibility.

“The research shows that communities taking steps towards comprehensive change achieve the best results. We see that where there is a motivated team and a well-structured organization, progress is noticeable even with limited resources. This tool will serve as the basis for prioritizing directions and new management decisions, as well as helping communities plan development based on data.”

According to the study results, the most developed area of accessibility in communities is educational accessibility. However, digital accessibility, civic participation of people with disabilities and other low-mobility groups, as well as physical accessibility, including the availability of infrastructure and movement, need to be strengthened.

Three communities-Lviv, Kyiv, and Vinnytsia, which topped the rating with a result of over 80%, demonstrated the highest level of accessibility. These communities are pilot cities of the Barrier-Free Movement project.

The organizational structure and personnel potential of the community proved to be key success factors in the development of accessibility, regardless of the level of budget funding.

Plans and Prospects

The Ministry of Community Development plans to scale the Accessibility Index for all communities in Ukraine and conduct a series of training seminars on evaluation methodology and data collection. This will ensure a unified approach and accurate analytics of the state of accessibility in the country.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the international technical assistance project “Recovery for All,” implemented by Alinea International with the support of the Government of Canada.

The results of the Community Accessibility Index study show that there is positive dynamics in Ukraine towards creating an accessible environment for all citizens. Communities with a motivated team and an effective organizational structure enjoy the best results in developing accessibility.