The regional launching seminar of CBA-II was attended by Oleksandr CHUPRYNA, Deputy Head of the Oblast Council, Anatoly YUKHIMENKO, Deputy Head of the Oblast State Administration, Heads of rayon councils and administrations, village councils, representatives of NGOs and deputies to the Oblast Council. On behalf of UNDP, Berdi Berdiyev, Assistant Resident Representative, and Denis Poltavets, Community Development Specialist of EU/UNDP "Community-Based Approach to Local Development" project.

In the course of the seminar, results of CBA-1 Project in Rivne Oblast were presented. Over the period of 3.5 years, 40 communities managed to improve quality of life in their villages and towns by implementing 49 projects to the total of almost USD 8.5 million. Also, successful experiences of rayon resource centres and community organizations were presented within the framework of the regional seminar; an action plan for implementation of CBA-II in the oblast was presented.

Particular attention was devoted to discussing the use of the community based development approach underlying the project: local communities, local bodies of the state executive power and self-government will jointly set the priorities for development, and will cooperate on planning and implementation of  measures for the sustainable development of their communities. The project, with the total budget of EUR 17 million, will operate for 4 years in all oblasts of Ukraine and in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

In conclusion, the launch competition for selection of pilot rayons was announced.