23-24 August, 2012 Mr. Olivier Adam UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative paid a working visit to Zakarpattia region. The aim of his visit was to get acquainted with the results of the partnership with regional authorities and joint implementation of the EU/UNDP Project "Community Based Approach to Local Development".

During his visit Mr. Olivier Adam met with Oleksanr Ledyda, the Head of Zakarpattia RSA and Volodymyr Zakureny, the Acting Head of Zakarpattia Regional Council to discuss the results of UNDP cooperation with government and self-government authorities of Zakarpattia region in the field of rural community development and implementation of micro-projects on improvement of living conditions in rural areas.

On 23 August, 2012 Mr. Olivier Adam took part in the meeting of the Regional Coordination Council of the joint EU/UNDP Project "Community Based Approach to Local Development - II", where each of 8 pilot rayons reported on results of their work in community development and improvement of their living conditions in the frame of joint implementation of the Project. The participants of the meeting also discussed successful experience of Zakarpattia communities and methods of dissemination of experience, as well as ways to problems that arise during implementation. In addition, the representative of the CBA Project introduced a new component of the CBA Project : "Enhancing energy efficiency" and implementation plan of this component in the region. The practice of such meetings was introduced by the CBA Project and it was implemented in all regions of Ukraine and AR Crimea.

On 24 August, 2012 Mr. Olivier Adam attended a meeting of the Local Development Forum of Mukachevo rayon. These regular forums have been introduced  by CBA Project as a platform for dialogue between the government authorities and communities, they are organized with participation of the rayon authorities, community organizations and rural councils. During Forums communities have an opportunity to present their priorities to the rayon authorities, to receive funding for these micro-projects and necessary technical assistance.

During his visit to Zakarpattia Mr. Olivier Adam also visited the community of the village Vyshkovo of Khustsky rayon where the local residents self-organized and implemented two micro-projects: energy saving measures and reconstruction of the sewerage system in Vyshkovo City Hospital.

The peculiarity of the Project is that local government and self-government authorities act as partners of the communities and provide substantial support to implement these initiatives. Quite often, 45% or even bigger share of the contribution to the projects that involve local communities is provided by local administrations. This is a significant contribution to the development of self-governance in Ukraine because residents assure that government authorities at the local level can competently and effectively provide services to inhabitants, fulfill their promises and significantly improve through their work living conditions of the local community.

For more information about the project implementation in Zakarpattia region, please contact: Lyubov Pavlovych and Mariya Yovbak, coordinators of the Zakarpattia Regional Resource Centre of the CBA Project: tel. (050) 417-74-51, (050) 386-91-49; E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected].