The third phase of the EU / UNDP Community-Based Approach to Local Development (CBA) Project was launched today in Mykolaiv oblast with regional and local authorities, civil society organizations, private sector companies and the media. During the regional seminar participants discussed perspectives for further cooperation for promoting community-led activities to improve the living conditions of people in Mykolaiv oblast

Distinguished attendees included Mr.Vadym Merikov, Head of Mykolaiv Oblast State Administration, Taras Kremin, Head of Oblast Council, Ms. Oksana Remiga, UNDP in Ukraine Senior Programme Manager, Ms. Olena Ruditch, Community Development Specialist of joint EU/UNDP Project “Community Based Approach”, leadership of rayon state administrations and rayon councils; and heads of village and city councils.

«Project contributes to our development and energy self-sufficiency. It also helps our communities to become more active and effective in implementation of their initiatives. In terms of the decentralization agenda, local authorities will be given preference in the organs and system of governance. I am very pleased that communities, not authorities, will re-energised and give second life to local settlements. I hope that the third phase of the project will give a good start for noble deeds in the name of our communities», underlined in the welcoming speech the Head of Oblast Council Taras Kremin. 

CBA activities will focus on rehabilitating basic social and communal infrastructure in the priority areas of energy efficiency, health, environment and water management together with promoting small farm and non-farm businesses in rural areas. In its third phase, CBA project will strengthen capacities of regional and local authorities to practice participatory governance, as well as intensify community-based approach in Mykolaiv region.  It will support the Ukrainian Government in developing policies in the area of decentralization and share innovative approaches and good practices on participatory governance and community-led local sustainable development through knowledge hub and the curriculum of twenty regional universities

Implementation of the first phase of CBA Project commenced in Mykolayv region during October 2008. First phase was succeeded by a second phase in July 2011. Over these two phases, 82717 men, women and children of the region have benefitted from improvement in 63 schools/kindergartens, 7 healthposts, 28 water supply, 4 street-lightning, 6 agricultural service cooperatives and so on. This happened through joint effort of the citizens, oblast/rayon/local level governments, CBA Project and the private sponsors.

Third phase of CBA project will be implemented during 2014-2018 with a total budget of 23.8 million Euro, provided by the European Union (23 million Euro) and UNDP (800,000 Euro). Its objective is to promote sustainable socio-economic development at local level by strengthening participatory governance and fostering community-led initiatives across Ukraine