DesPro- Swiss-Ukrainian Decentralisation Support to Ukraine Project

Timeframe: 2006 – 2009

Implemented by Swiss Resource Centre and Consultancies for Development (Skat)

Partners: UNDP, SDC 
                Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine,
                Parliamentary Committees,
                National Academy of Public Administration,
                Council of Ministers and Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,
                Vinnitsa Oblast State Administration and Council

Project Background

Efficient decentralized communal services have not adequately evolved in Ukraine, mainly due to the inefficient process of decentralization. There is an abundance of decentralization approaches but no clear national vision. The country has many capabilities but the laws and regulations are not conducive to effective decentralization. The strong division of power between elected councils and state administrations at the local level, the inadequate financial decentralization undertaken to date and the limited participation of the citizens in local self-government all contribute to an ineffective decentralization approach in the country.

Project Description

The project was initiated following a request from the President of Ukraine to the Foreign Minister of Switzerland. The project is based upon the experience gained from three projects supported by SDC that are centred on social mobilization and provision of communal services. The aim of the project is to improve the quality of communal and social services provided by local self-governments directly, or in cooperation with community and private sector initiatives.

Overall Goal and Project objectives

The efficient and effective delivery of water supplies and basic social services at an affordable cost through decentralized structures is the overall goal of the project. This requires a replicable model of decentralized services provision at village/municipal/rayon levels to be piloted in selected areas. In turn, this has to be accepted at the oblast/national levels.
Three interrelated factors are addressed by the project:
(i)    improving communal/social services through the systematic use of social mobilization processes;
(ii)    integrating the social mobilisation and community service into the local government system;
(iii)    promoting conducive framework conditions, both within the local government system and in the National Government, for effective decentralization and provision of communal services.

Activities

1. Develop and implement a process for replicating community mobilization;
2. Promote a system of community-based service provision;
3. Improve the capacities and skills of local government officials at the village, 
    municipal, rayon and oblast levels, within the framework of the present and
    emerging decentralization process;
4. Improve the planning and management skills introduced at the various levels
    of local government;
5. Disseminate and share experiences and lessons learnt through a common
    platform established at the national level;
6. Promote national policy dialogue on different elements of decentralisation.

DesPro’s target regions are Vinnytsya Oblast (Kalynivskiy and Tulchinskiy Rayons) and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea  (Bakhchisaraiskiy and Leninskiy Rayons).

You can access the information on the programme here.