On July 15, the second phase of Community-Based Approach to Local Development Project was launched in Ivano-Frankivska oblast with signing of a tripartite Partnership Agreement between  Oblast State Administration, Oblast Council and UNDP. On behalf of Ivano-Frankivska oblast, the document was signed by Head of the Oblast State Administration Mykhailo Vyshyvaniuk and Head of the Oblast  Council Oleksandr Sych. On behalf of UNDP, Berdi Berdyev, Assistant country Director  participated in the regional seminar.

"We highly appreciate the great work that we carry out together, - stressed Mikhaylo Vyshyvaniuk. - It is not so much the money allocated that matters the most for us, but how it is changing the human psychology. People begin to change their way of thinking shaped during the Soviet Union time".

According to Berdi Berdyev, Assistant Country Director of UNDP Ukraine, the second phase of CBA project is envisaged for 4 years.

"Summarizing the result of CBA-I, Ivano-Frankivsk oblast is one of leaders, - said Denys Poltavets, a Community Development Specialist. - 69 micro-projects were implemented here. Rural communities, having acquired experience, started to draft their own project proposals, to contact the rayon administrations with specific proposals on the development of their territories".

The seminar was attended by Heads of village councils and heads of rayon state administrations. During this meeting, the results of CBA-I implementation were summarized and an action plan for CBA-II was presented. Participants were informed about the terms and conditions of the competition for participation in CBA-II.

Igor Zvarych, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament and Oleksandr Sych, Head of Oblast Council, also took part in the event. Welcoming the seminar participants, Igor Zvarych emphasized: "The EU and UNDP are an example of assistance to Ukraine in the development of a civil society."

Photos from the regional seminar in Ivano-Frankivsk are available at the following link: http://cba.org.ua/library/photoarchive/category/26-if#