Building Safer Communities Together: From Dialogue To Action In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
February 12, 2026
Communities in Dnipropetrovsk oblast are turning dialogue into action. Following a strong start in December, the EUAM Ukraine held the second round of Community Safety Dialogues (CSD) in the Tsarychanka and Novooleksandrivka communities this time focusing not just on what the problems are, but on how communities can address them together.
From shared concerns to practical solutions
To support this shift from discussion to action, EUAM introduced the SARA problem-solving model, widely used in community-oriented and problem-oriented policing. “The SARA model helps communities move from reacting to problems to understanding and addressing their root causes,”
explained Arsenijs Mihejevs, EUAM Senior Adviser on General Policing.
“By working through four steps – scanning, analysis, response, and assessment – participants can develop realistic, locally owned solutions and evaluate whether they actually work.”
Building on the trust established during the first round, local authorities, police officers, educators, social services, and community representatives came together to jointly analyse their most urgent safety challenges. The discussions reflected the everyday realities of life under wartime conditions, such as access to shelters and safe spaces during attacks; youth safety and the lack of leisure opportunities; reintegration and support for returning veterans; expanding mine awareness and community preparedness; building resilience against disinformation and illegal recruitment attempts.
Strengthening trust and shared responsibility
Beyond concrete action points, the dialogues created a rare and much-needed space for open communication. In a context marked by war-related stress, displacement, and uncertainty, CSDs are helping rebuild trust and reinforce a sense of shared responsibility for community safety.
“These dialogues allow communities to jointly identify and analyse safety risks linked to the war – from shelter shortages and veterans’ reintegration to the integration of internally displaced persons and trust in law enforcement,” said Marija Kazanovič, EUAM Adviser on Public Outreach. “At the same time, CSD strengthens cooperation between police, municipalities and civil society, helping prevent escalation, manage tensions and support social cohesion in war-affected areas.”
Importantly, Community Safety Dialogue is becoming a regular way of working, not a standalone activity. The next round of dialogues, planned for March 2026, will focus on finalising community-led action plans and assessing progress made since the first sessions.
