The Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development hosted a meeting of the Communities Support Team, a working group focused on coordinating efforts to support communities in recovery and development. The Communities Support Team brings together representatives of international technical assistance projects, initiatives and programmes, as well as other stakeholders.
The fifth meeting of the working group was devoted to studying the experience of development partners in developing local planning documents, as well as prioritising and implementing recovery projects. In particular, representatives of USAID, U-LEAD and UNDP projects spoke about their own approaches to supporting communities in developing comprehensive recovery programmes. UNICEF and PRFU shared their own principles for prioritising and implementing “solid” projects in communities.
In addition, Oleksandra Azarkhina, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, announced the launch of two digital tools – an interactive Map of Activities of International Technical Assistance Projects in Communities, as well as a Map of Comprehensive Recovery Programmes and Integrated Spatial Development Plans. Both maps will help donors avoid duplication of activities in communities and coordinate recovery efforts on the ground.
“It is very important to have an accessible digital platform. It will help us synchronise our efforts and see an objective situation regarding donor activities in each community. For example, the Map of International Technical Assistance Projects will serve as a basis for coordinating efforts to prioritise priority needs on the ground and effectively implement recovery projects. Both maps will be posted on the Ministry’s website and will be periodically updated with relevant data,” summed up Oleksandra Azarkhina.
The next steps in the work of the Communities Support Team will be to formalise its status by officially including representatives of development partners’ projects, programmes and initiatives in the working group.