Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, held a working meeting with Isobel Coleman, Deputy Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The parties discussed strategic areas of cooperation on infrastructure restoration and further support for the decentralization reform.

“We strive to build systematic and stable relations with our partners and view our work with USAID as such – transparent and accountable. We are focused on implementing digital solutions for reconstruction management and measures to prevent corruption risks at all levels.

One of our priorities is cooperation with communities and local governments and further implementation of the decentralization reform. Supporting and strengthening the institutional capacity of the regions is an important step towards the capability to deal with the needs of reconstruction in a comprehensive manner. I am confident that communities should understand what is happening with the recovery and should know that their position will be taken into account and their opinions heard.

I would also like to thank the USAID team and USAID Ukraine for prompt assistance in restoring energy infrastructure and steadfast support in the fight against the russian aggressor,” said Oleksandr Kubrakov.

The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized that the Ministry’s priority was not only to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure, but also to improve it in accordance with modern international standards.

The plans for 2023 include work on critical infrastructure facilities, such as energy, heat and water supply, transportation, compensation for damaged or destroyed housing, and reconstruction or creation of new social or administrative infrastructure.

Particular attention was paid to the creation of anti-corruption instruments that would eliminate corruption risks in the reconstruction process. In particular, this applies directly to the work of state institutions involved in reconstruction and procurement procedures.

In this context, Oleksandr Kubrakov emphasized the anti-corruption standards that were already being implemented at the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development, as well as plans to use internationally recognized procurement procedures. In particular, it is about the mechanisms of the World Bank and the United Nations Procurement Division (UNPD).

The parties also discussed:

• implementation of the Grain Initiative, in particular russia’s systematic actions to sabotage the work of inspection teams in the Bosporus, as well as accession of the Mykolaiv port to the Initiative and expansion of the range of cargoes;
• restoration of housing infrastructure as a prerequisite for the return of Ukrainians to their homes.

The talks were also attended by Deputy Ministers for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Oleksandra Azarkhina, Anna Yurchenko, and Yuriy Vaskov, Head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development Mustafa Nayyem, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, Deputy Assistant Administrator at the USAID Bureau for Europe and Eurasia Mark Simakovsky, USAID Ukraine Mission Director James Hope, and other representatives of USAID and the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. Federal Government. It is responsible for non-military U.S. assistance to other countries. The Agency’s priority areas in Ukraine include anti-corruption, strengthening democracy and governance mechanisms, countering the impact of russian aggression, economic development, and support for Ukraine’s energy sector.

Since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion, USAID has provided USD 9.88 billion in development programs and humanitarian assistance.