Although the conflict in Donbas is still ongoing, the decentralization reform is being implemented in Government-Controlled Areas. To help local authorities build a system of social services, R2P is implementing the project “Ensuring access to the social services in amalgamated territorial communities (ATCs) along the contact line.”
On December 3, 2021, in Sviatohirsk, within the framework of the project, two-day training for eastern Ukrainian communities was held. Representatives of five communities located on the contact line learned to develop local social protection programs and apply for the Projects Contest from the State Fund for Regional Development. Those communities are Marinka City Civil-Military Administration (CMA), Hirska ATC, Nyzhnyoteplivska Village ATC, Sartana ATC, and Svitlodar City CMA.
“This year, we started supporting communities in the process of creating social institutions. Previously, they (communities – ed. note) did not have such experience before. Of course, we understand that there are not enough funds in the local communities to meet all their needs next year,”
– said Maria Alekseyenko, head of the department for work with the population affected by the armed conflict at CF “Right to Protection” (R2P).
“Today’s training is a practical lesson on preparing community development projects. We give people a clear understanding of how to write development projects, programs, including social ones. How to describe the problem, argue and look for ways to solve particular problems and how to find additional sources of funding”,
– adds Oleg Lyubimov, Decentralization Coordinator at R2P.
For two days our specialists discussed:
- the stages of development and implementation of the target programs;
- how subventions from the state budget are distributed and used;
- algorithm of actions for receiving the state funding;
- the state policy of regional development;
- details on the project;
- general principles of the project budget, etc.
“We showed community representatives the state financial support possibilities they are eligible for, as well as highlighted clear algorithms of action: what exactly the community needs to do to receive this funding,”
– said Ihor Dorosh, Finance Expert at the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P).
Representatives of communities at the training also prepared their own projects and shared their thoughts and impressions with us.
“Information at the training is provided in a logical order, so we are able to keep up and practically implement it. We see what goal we can set for ourselves and what tools we can use to achieve it,”
– said Tetyana Yerokhina, Deputy Head of the Svitlodar City CMA.
“Thanks to the R2P, we have already established a department of social protection – a Center for the provision of social services in the community. These training sessions are very necessary for us because now there are no specialists who fully advise on how to properly apply to the SFRD. The coaches teach and help us in a very innovative way,”
– said Olena Stakhova, Nyzhnyoteplivska ATC.
“We live right on the contact line. We have been waiting for a long time for our community to be created. We came to the training with specialists who have their own ideas, but they do not have the skills, knowledge, and tools to implement it,”
– Yuliia Onyshchenko, Deputy Head of the Sartana ATC.
We thank all the participants for such kind words!
In the next year, we wish you to implement all the submitted projects!
The project “Ensuring access to the social services in amalgamated territorial communities (ATCs) along the contact line” is implemented by the CF “Right to Protection” (R2P) with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
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