USAID HOVERLA Project announces partnership with 15 new communities
On 11 July, Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, and Bridget Brink, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, announced the expansion of USAID support to 15 more communities in Chernihiv and Sumy regions.
Each partner community is expected to receive comprehensive support to strengthen the institutional capacity of local governance, improve management practices, service delivery and local economic development.
Support to war-affected regions will focus on reconstruction and recovery.
“I am grateful to the U.S. Government and the American people for the support provided to Ukraine in its fight against the russian aggressor and in building a strong, democratic society. Expanding USAID support to communities that have been liberated from russian occupation and are located in close proximity to the combat zone is an important element of building a network of Community Support Teams. To ensure that communities take the lead in reconstruction, it is necessary to strengthen their capacities – to develop skills in managing reconstruction projects, in proper planning, including comprehensive community development programmes, and in building a system to prevent corruption risks. We look forward to a fruitful and practical cooperation between the Ministry and the HOVERLA project for effective, fast and accountable reconstruction, which includes not only the restoration of infrastructure but also the development of public institutions,” said Oleksandr Kubrakov.
Based on the community capacity assessment and IT audit, HOVERLA will develop an individual support plan for each community. As part of the implementation of the plans, the project will provide advisory and methodological support through tools such as trainings, webinars, exchange of experiences and best practices, and support for the implementation of local community initiatives.
The support plan will also strengthen the communities’ capacity to respond to emergencies. Moreover, local governments will be able to use the in-kind procurement tool, and local NGOs will have access to grant programmes.
According to Bridget Brink, the United States has demonstrated its commitment to supporting hundreds of Ukrainian communities by helping to improve services, develop economies, strengthen community financial management, increase opportunities for community engagement, and hold the government accountable. Today, 15 more Ukrainian communities from some of the hardest-hit regions – Chernihiv and Sumy – have been invited to join USAID’s HOVERLA programme. By supporting communities, we are helping Ukraine build a sustainable foundation for economic growth, good governance, and stronger democracy.
Background
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Governance and Local Accountability Project (HOVERLA) supports the Government of Ukraine in promoting and implementing decentralisation reform by helping local governments become more capable, accountable to citizens, and effective in delivering services.
Since 2021, the USAID HOVERLA Project has been working with 65 communities in seven regions: Lviv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Volyn, Zakarpattia, and Zhytomyr regions.