The new Administrative Service Centre (ASC) of the Mykolayivska AH in Sumy Oblast, Ukraine opened as one of the most energy-efficient administrative buildings in the country. The ASC was built in under five months and uses energy-efficient technologies and European administrative standards to serve approximately 10,000 residents. It offers 100 types of administrative services and was established with assistance from the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, which helped refurbish the building, install IT equipment, and provide training to ASC staff. Considered one of the most energy-efficient administrative buildings in Ukraine, the ASC saves four times more on heating and ventilation than regular buildings due to its green technologies and materials.

1. DYNAMICS
FROM SCRATCH TO ENERGY-EFFICIENT SHOWCASE:
THE ASC OF MYKOLAIVSKA AH
THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE U-LEAD WITH EUROPE PROGRAMME,
ISSUE # 1, APRIL 2018
The new ASC of the Mykolaivska AH, serving 10,000 people, boasts highest
energy-efficiency standards. Photo: U-LEAD Archives.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
IMPRINT
Feature: Slobozhanska Safety Centre
The Interview: Ivan Lukerya
Decentralisation Dynamics
Success Story: The Apple Path
Voices of U-LEAD with Europe
Responsible for the publication:
U-LEAD with Europe Programme
Bastian Veigel, Kameran Khudur
Editors:
Olena Molodtsova
Roland Hackenberg
Production and distribution:
U-LEAD Monitoring, Visibility and
Knowledge Management Team
Supported by the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, the ASC
offers approximately 100 types of administrative services
for 10,000 residents. Community members now receive a
wide range of administrative services including the most
in-demand, such as housing subsidies, registration of res-
idence and removal of residence registration, land services
and real estate registration.
ADVANCED TRAINING COURSES
The U-LEAD with Europe Programme assisted the local
communities in establishing the ASCs, refurbishing and
renovating the premises, and installing IT equipment with
specialised software. Revenues from the administrative
services will be credited to the local communities’ budgets.
The ASC staff have taken part in the advanced training
course developed by Ukrainian and Swedish experts within
the U-LEAD with Europe Programme.
Considered as one of the most energy-efficient adminis-
trative buildings in Ukraine, the new Administrative Ser-
vice Centre (ASC) of the Mykolayivska AH in the Sumy
Oblast opened its doors to the public. The center was
built “from scratch”: in less than five months. The build-
ing, using energy-efficient technologies, impresses with
its innovative architectural style. European administrative
standards mark day-to-day work and specialised compu-
ter software facilitates processes and office management.
GREEN AND FRIENDLY
Energy-saving properties such as panels with additional in-
sulation, a combination of air/water heat pump with under-
floor heating provides highest energy efficiency. With this
combination of green technologies and environmentally
friendly materials, the community saves four times more
on heating and ventilation than in regular building.
CONTRIBUTING TO THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF MULTI-LEVEL
GOVERNANCE THAT IS TRANSPARENT,
ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE
NEEDS OF THE POPULATION
IN SLOBOZHANSKA AH, NO MORE
ANXIOUS WAITING FOR THE EMERGENCY TEAM
Captured in the U-LEAD with Europe “Fidget Spinner”, the interaction between the LGDC,
the CRO and the Programme Units shows roles, responsibilities and relationships that
are mutually reinforcing. The tri-fold combination of CRO’s policy knowledge and moni-
toring, LGDC’s support to sub-national levels and practical insights from the local level,
especially on AH needs and Programme Units’ management of U-LEAD resources, pro-
vides the analytical and advisory framework for U-LEAD’s actions.
Programme Units are allied to CRO’s strategic interface with MinRegion and other min-
istries, enable the setting of LGDC’s overall direction, delivered through its regional net-
work; and the know-how and experience residing within the Programme Units staff and
the expert pool of the Regional Centres allow U-LEAD with Europe to carry out its oper-
ations effectively and efficiently. This strategic and operational framework is shaped by
three external steering groups as depicted in the “Fidget Spinner”.
Ukraine’s future and the success of its reform process de-
pend on dedicated Ukrainians working with enthusiasm
and engagement for their country’s future.
Johannes Hahn,
EU Commissioner,
European Neighbourhood Policy
and Enlargement Negotiations
Certainly, after the modernisation of the ASC, it became
more convenient for an average citizen to receive a certain
service, because, firstly, the list of these services has con-
siderably expanded, and secondly, when you came to re-
ceive one service you can at the same time consult other
specialists who are located in one place.
Lyudmila Potapenko,
Resident of Kipti AH
I had an opportunity to improve my skills in formulating
project proposals and identifying new funding sources for
the hromada. For me, that event served as an impetus to
participate in a call for proposals announced by the Iva-
no-Frankivsk Oblast Council to support local self-gover-
nance development initiatives.
Olga Voitseshko,
Economic Development and Investments Department,
Vytvytska AH
Today I visited the ASC in Hostomel and was positively im-
pressed by the high level of service provided by the em-
ployees. I enjoyed good communication, high qualifica-
tions and the culture of working with me.
Iryna Tkachenko,
Nurse of the Armed Forces,
Hostomel
We consider the regional offices of U-LEAD with Europe as
promoters of decentralisation reform in Ukraine.
Hennadii Zubko,
Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine
When I visited amalgamated hromadas in the Chernivtsi
Oblast as part of the study trip organised by the Kharkiv
LGDC,Ihadachancetoseehowthedecentralisationworked
in practice. When I returned home, I had strong arguments
to persuade people to support further amalgamation.
Ihor Tymchenko,
Acting Starosta, Zachepylivska AH
BASTIAN VEIGEL
PROGRAMME DIRECTORS
U-LEAD WITH EUROPE
KAMERAN KHUDUR
SUCCESS STORY
SEVERYNIVKA (VYNNYTSIA OBLAST)
IVAN LUKERYA
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
CENTRAL REFORM OFFICE - CRO
A GOOD MIX
THE APPLE PATH
U-LEAD IN THE SPOTLIGHT
DECENTRALISATION
DYNAMICS
AstheU-LEADwithEuropeProgrammecontinuestounfold,welook
ahead at the enormous efforts still to be made to ensure strategic
direction, strong managerial and staff support and the further inte-
gration and capacity development of stakeholders at the national,
regional and local levels. Mirroring back, the Programme has been
maneuvering in a complex context of socio-political and economic
change in Ukraine.
Information on the decentralisation and regional policy reform as
well as on U-LEAD with Europe is regularly disseminated through-
out Ukraine and internationally. Why does U-LEAD then launch a
newsletter for its external audience?
The U-LEAD with Europe DYNAMICS is designed to sharpen the
focus and further increase the availability of clear and balanced in-
formation on U-LEAD and the reforms by communicating progress,
carefully selecting news, highlights and presenting people and im-
pacts that make a difference.
The role that communities play in the decentralisation and regional
policy reform is as vital for success as the efforts of the Govern-
ment of Ukraine and donor support. A good, balanced mix of up-
dates, news briefs, reports, features, interviews, testimonials, facts,
figures and images is editorially prepared to present readers a com-
pact overview of where we stand - and more.
This newsletter intends to promote the understanding of the Pro-
gramme by bringing the multitude of different aspects into one
key perspective: U-LEAD with Europe exists to improve lives of all
Ukrainian citizens. The U-LEAD with Europe DYNAMICS thus strives
to accentuate the efforts made for the sake of a better understand-
ing of the Programme and actions taken by the Government in the
field of the decentralisation and regional policy reforms.
“It all started with the exchange of experiences,” says Olexandr Khrystyuk,
Head of the Severynivska amalgamated hromada (AH), who remembers the
day when, with the support of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, two study
tours to Poland were organised for representatives of the Severynivska AH to
learn about regional development and “how to increase the hromada invest-
ment capacity”. Today, the AH, formed in 2016, includes seven villages of the
Zhmerynka Rayon with an area of 72,966 square metres and more than 3,500
residents. “In the process of amalgamation, we faced the challenges related to
increasing the local budget revenues, infrastructure development and preserv-
ing human potential. Gardening production processing and tourism develop-
ment were identified as prospective areas for local economic development and
effective management,” says Olexandr Khrystyuk.
The feature of the AH is fruit cultivation, in particular, it is known for its deli-
cious apples. The AH is among the three places, where 51 percent of all apples
in Ukraine are grown, about 400 thousand tonnes are harvested annually. With
an increasing amount of revenues of the local budget and the need to pre-
serve human potential, infrastructure development was necessary to further
increase production of apples and other horticultural products. After learning
how similar projects were managed in Poland, new opportunities and resourc-
es for eco-tourism development arose.
During 2017, the Vinnytsia Local Government Development Centre (LGDC)
worked with the leadership and residents of the Severynivska AH to determine
the optimal ways of developing the territory. More than 40 on-site meetings,
advisory discussions, seminars and trainings were held by the LGDC experts
to help the hromada create an effective development plan. Regional devel-
opment and local finance advisers of the LGDC contributed to training on the
effective use of budgets and strategic planning. They assisted in the conclu-
sion of an agreement on inter-municipal cooperation with hromada partners.
The result of the cooperation between the LGDC and the Severynivska AH was
“Yablunevyi Shlyakh”, the “Apple Path” project. It aims at the use of the region-
al “Podillya Apple” brand for hromada development, through promoting both
the areas associated with the cultivation of apples and local apple products.
Various “apple branded” festivals will be organised and tourist facilities and
routes created.
The Severynivska AH received EUR 700,000 for the project implementation,
allocated by the EU and the hromada (EUR 560,000 of direct EU investment
and the equivalent of EUR 140,000 from hromada funds). The Severynivska
AH, having worked out an investment plan envisaging the development of eco-
nomic capacity, took the right path. The Apple Path, as people here say today.
BRUSSELS
ADDRESSING LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND KNOW-HOW
How can the lack of knowledge and know-how best be addressed
through the exchange between peers with similar experience? This
was one of the main questions highlighted by Bastian Veigel, GIZ
Programme Director of U-LEAD with Europe, at the Peer-to-Peer
(P2P) Initiative in Brussels, hosted by President of the Committee
of the Regions (CoR), Karl-Heinz Lambertz. Attended by high-level
EU officials such as Peter Wagner, Head of the Support Group for
Ukraine, and Berend de Groot, Head of Cooperation at the EU Del-
egation to Ukraine, as well as numerous members of the CoR from
the EU member states, the CoR-Ukraine Task Force meeting served
to benefit from match-making sessions. The idea behind these kind
of partnerships is to bring together municipalities and regions of EU
member countries and Ukraine to promote the exchange of experi-
ences, support capacity development and build up sustainable part-
nerships.
KYIV
IMPROVING ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE DELIVERY
With the support of the MinRegion, information sessions on the Roll-
Out Phase for Administrative Service Centres (ASCs) have been con-
ducted by U-LEAD with Europe experts on improved administrative
service delivery. During the sessions held in partnership with Oblast
State Administrations (OSAs) and Regional Centres (RCs) of the Lo-
cal Government Development Centre (LGDC), the experts reported
on the results of the Inception Phase and explained the terms and
conditions for participation in the selection process for ASCs for the
Roll-out Phase. More than 1000 people - representatives of commu-
nities, villages and towns of Ukraine - participated in the events. The
first round of participants selection was launched and will be carried
out in four rounds, each including a cooperation with approximately
150 communities. The qualified participants will receive assistance
in creating or up-grading ASCs.
KYIV
NEW SHOW: “ALL UKRAINE, MODERN HROMADA”
U-LEAD supports a weekly radio programme “All Ukraine: Modern
Hromada”, created and broadcast by Ukrainian National Radio in
close cooperation with MinRegion. The programme is a 25 minute
live show, with a studio guest (decentralisation experts, politicians
etc.) and speakers from amalgamated hromadas, who join by phone.
The first show was hosted by Prime-Minister Volodymyr Groysman.
A total of 25 programmes are planned until July 2018.
KYIV
DEVELOPING INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR ASCs
The EU-funded EGOV4UKRAINE signed an agreement to develop an
information system for ASCs in Ukraine. According to Hannes As-
tok, project leader of EGOV4UKRAINE, the system will be piloted in
selected ASCs and then implemented in small ASCs across Ukraine
during the next three years. “The information system will speed up
theworkofadministratorsofthecentrestenfoldbyprovidingsmooth
electronic document management and access to data in state reg-
istries,” says Astok.
GOVERNMENT-LED EFFORT ON COMMON RESULTS
A national conference on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the
decentralisation reform took place on 5 April in Vinnytsia. President
Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, top nation-
al officials and representatives of the international community re-
iterated their commitment to support the decentralisation and re-
gional policy reform. “From the very first days there were relevant
drafts of legislative acts, strong support from the Government and
effective work of the Parliament. Decentralisation became one of my
first priority reforms. I am confident that this will be continued in the
future,” said President Poroshenko. Berend de Groot, Head of Coop-
eration at the EU Delegation and co-chairperson of the Donor Board
on the Decentralisation Reform, underlined past and present efforts
of Ukraine’s international partners to support the reform: “Separate
and modest international support initiatives as done earlier this de-
cade, have grown into a well-knit and jointly coordinated Govern-
ment-led effort around common results.”
NEW PLATFORM CONNECTS STAKEHOLDERS
A new series of weekly video-conference events, jointly organised
by MinRegion and U-LEAD with Europe, was launched in Kyiv as
a new communication platform. The aim of the conferences is to
connect executives and representatives of the 24 RCs of the LGDC,
the Central Reform Office (CRO) and MinRegion. “The dynamics of
the decentralisation reform in the regions is very important for us. It
concerns amalgamation of hromadas, the status of sectoral decen-
tralisation and, in particular, the development of primary healthcare
in rural areas, development of education, provision of administrative
services, citizens’ safety centres,” says Vice Prime Minister Henna-
dii Zubko.
FOCUS ON REFORMS AT POLITICAL
“UKRAINE WEEK” IN BERLIN
With the aim of highlighting existing possibilities and ongoing re-
forms in Ukraine, several high-level events were organised by the
GIZ within the framework of the “Ukraine Week” in Berlin. Among
them Oleksandr Saienko, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of
Ukraine and Peter Wagner, Head of the Support Group for Ukraine
were speaking on a panel discussion which was attended by a vari-
ety of Ukrainian and German stakeholders to promote opportunities
to exchange on concrete achievements and overcome challenges in
the implementation of reforms. Furthermore, a delegation of MinRe-
gion and communication advisors from various Ukrainian ministries
learned how the German Government, political parties and the Par-
liament organise their media and communications work.
“Now we are prepared for any emergency situation, we can reach a scene within five minutes,” says
Valeriy Lifirenko. The head of the hromada feels relieved, and he has all reasons for. Not long ago, he
adds, people had to “anxiously wait” for firefighters to arrive from Dnipro or Tsarychanka, located 30
km away from the hromada: “Now we are keeping 14,000 residents of the hromada safer.” The first
citizens’ safety centre in the oblast was established in October 2017 in the village of Stepove. Local
residents came to look at their own fire truck, not hiding their enthusiasm. The hromada now has
motor pumps, generators, chainsaws and all utensils and heavy tools required to deal with emergen-
cies.
CIVIL PROTECTION STRATEGY
This improved situation developed when the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast State Administration
(OSA), with the support of the LDGC and the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, elaborated
a decentralisation strategy for the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, which includes twelve sectoral
regional strategies. The domains also incorporated a strategy for civil protection of the pop-
ulation and life safety. During 2017, two pilot safety centres had opened in the Slobozhanska
and Svyatovasylivska AHs, paving the way for the full-fledged centre functioning today.
MASTERING EMERGENCIES
“Of course, before the safety centre started its work, we were concerned about additional funding
for project implementation and personnel training,” recalls Valeriy Lifirenko. Having submitted an ap-
plication to the Dnipropetrovsk OSA, the hromada received UAH 400,000 and also invested UAH 1.8
million from its own community budget. As a result, an equipped modern fire vehicle and road cleaning
machinery to master rough weather and snowfall conditions were purchased. Fourteen rescuers are em-
ployed by the hromada, doing their best to reduce delays in cases of emergency.
The emergency team of
Slobozhanska awaits di-
rectives.
Men of the Emergency
Team of Slobozhanska
load equipment.
PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT AND
PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL
Promoting the development and parliamentary approval of the regulatory frame-
work for the reform of local self-government and decentralisation of power is the
challenge. In particular, it is necessary to foster the adoption of a number of new
legislative acts that would improve the mechanism of hromada formation, func-
tioning of new rayons, management of local resources and planning of hromada
territory. The challenge is also the further process of voluntary amalgamation of
hromadas. It is strikingly apparent in the context of the political process that con-
tinues in Ukraine, on the eve of the presidential and parliamentary elections, as well
as taking into account that the voluntary amalgamation of hromadas has been on
for the third year in a row. Now we have a situation where the most initiative and
responsible people of local self-government have taken leadership, formed amal-
gamated hromadas and ensure their socio-economic development.
The greatest support that is needed is the involvement of additional specialists
and advisers that would contribute to the implementation (coordination) of the
main priorities of MinRegion and the Government in implementing the decentrali-
sation and local self-government reform.
Hard to say. What is certain is that the number of citizens knowledgeable about the
reforms, even about specific aspects of the decentralisation and regional policy
reforms, has increased.
The aim should be to continue to communicate on benefits of amalgamation by
highlighting the impacts. Answering citizens´ questions is a major communica-
tions task for U-LEAD with Europe.
It is also important to support local self-government reform communication, since
only the usage of high-quality targeted and mass communication can protect the
achievements of the reform and obtain new results (both at the level of adoption of
new legislation and at the level of formation of capable hromadas).
What are the main
future challenges of the
CRO in today´s context?
What can U-LEAD do to
further strengthen the CRO
and accelerate decentralization?
What is the public
perception of the
CRO´s efforts?
Questions prepared by: Visibility Group
of U-LEAD with Europe.
Q:
Q:
Q:
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union and its member states Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Poland and Sweden. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility
of its authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, the European Union and its member states Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Poland and Sweden.
© U-LEAD with Europe, 2018
THE U-LEAD WITH EUROPE INTERVIEW
“FIDGET SPINNER” PORTRAYS U-LEAD WITH EUROPE INTERACTIONS
U-LEAD VOICES
CRO
Strategy
+
Coordination
Programme Units
Management +
Expertise
LGDC
Regional Centres
+ Expert Pool
Local Delivery OPERATIONS
Steering
Committee
Supervisory Board
CROC
Exchange
Video
Conference
LGDC
Taskforce
ANALYSIS
+ADVICE
DIRECTION
Donor Board
Websites: u-lead.org.ua, decentralisation.gov.ua
Facebook: facebook.com/ULEADwithEurope
Address: House of Decentralisation,
20 Velyka Zhytomyrska Street (4th floor), Kyiv 01001, Ukraine
Phone: (+380 44) 581 27 99
Email: pr@u-lead.org.ua
The indoor design of the Mykolaivska ASC premises. Residents of Mykolaivska AH in the new ASC.