UNDP in Ukraine

Donetsk, 1 September 2010: UN Resident Coordinator Olivier Adam has visited several villages in Donetsk region where he participated in inauguration of projects implemented by local communities. These community-based projects were completed in cooperation with local authorities and the joint EU-UNDP 'Community Based Approach to Local Development Project'. In the Region's Krasnoarmiyskiy district, UN RC visited the renewed school in Lysivka village, a kindergarten in Novoekonomichne village and a local health post in Grodivka village.

Kyiv, 27 August: The Main Department of Civil Service of Ukraine has organized a public discussion of the draft strategy of civil servants policy designed for 2011-2020. It is expected the strategy will respond to the current challenges and provide methods for more effective use of human potential. It is for the first time when such a document contains a separate section on gender policy. The participants repeatedly emphasized the need to incorporate gender approaches in modern system personnel management.

Kharkiv, 11-12 August: People who commit domestic violence in Ukraine are often punished with a mere fine, often paid by the victim herself from a common household budget. This mostly happens in Ternopil Region where this year, 98.5% of offenders were punished with a fine (within the framework of the Administrative Code) and only up to 1,5% have been put under administrative arrest for 5 days.

Dnipropetrovsk, 11 August: Representatives of regional, district councils and local communities have gathered at the third sitting of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Coordination Council to review the results of two-years’ cooperation leading to significant empowerment of local communities and improvement of living conditions in rural areas. This cooperation became possible within the framework of a joint EU/UNDP 'Community Based Approach to Local Development Project' (CBA).

Vienna-Kyiv: The XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna which took place over 18-24 July 2010 has brought together 19,300 HIV practitioners, scientists, and community leaders representing 173 countries to highlight the important achievements in better understanding of the infection and the mechanisms to control and eventually stop its spread. Vladimir Gordeyko, Project Manager of UNDP's "Governance of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine" Project writes about his impressions on the Conference.

Volyn, 24 July: Ukrainian nature parks and reserves have participated in the first Festival of Protected Areas of Ukraine, entitled the ‘Parks Parade – 2010’ in Shatsk National Nature Park. The Parade's participants believe the festival would help unlock the tourism potential of these protected areas. It also raises public awareness of the problems facing the national parks in Ukraine.

Kyiv, 14 July: Current national demographic trends push existing pension system in Ukraine to collapse. The forecast of the demographic situation and its influence on the pension system in Ukraine is not encouraging: the number of contribution payers will decrease by 25% by 2050, whereas the number of pension recipients will increase by 8%. In 2009 the Pension Fund's deficit not covered by the insurance part reached 8% of the Fund's total planned expenditure, reveals a new Report.

Ermakovo (Dzankoy District, ARC), 9 July: For the residents and authorities of Dzhankoy District in Crimea it's been a remarkable day today, as they opened a local agricultural market in the village of Ermakovo. The market was created by the members of the agricultural service cooperative (ASC) “Severniy Ermak”, with the support of the UNDP-led 'Crimea Integration and Development Programme' (CIDP). It will now offer sales services to cooperative members as well as to other small traders. The new market in Ermakovo will become yet another small step on the way to reducing poverty in the entire region, contributing to the achievement of one of the Millennium Development Goals in Ukraine.

Berne-Kyiv, 28 June - 3 July: A UNDP-led Project "Municipal Governance and Sustainable Development Programme" (UNDP/MGSDP) with support from Swiss Resource Center and Consultancies for Development (SKAT) has organised a study tour for Ukrainian top local decision-makers. The participants learned the best practices of functioning of local self-government as well as benefits of decentralization with clear separation of functions, responsibilities and authorities of central and local governments. The visit was held with financial support from the Swiss Confederation.

New York - Kyiv, 12 July: Twenty-five community-based organisations representing 17 countries across the globe have won the 2010 Red Ribbon Award. Two of the winners are NGOs from Ukraine.