The DESPRO Project has been working in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast since 2013, and I should say that this Oblast always responded to our proposals of cooperation. The Dnipropetrovsk region is very dynamic, and currently the reform implementation condition in the Oblast proves it", Manager of the DESPRO Swiss-Ukrainian Decentralisation Support Project in Ukraine Ms. Oksana Garnets said during the working meeting at the premises of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast State Administration. 

During the III Phase of the DESPRO Project activity in the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region, 11 projects were implemented in the area of water supply and sanitation in villages and small towns. The total cost of the said projects is UAH 23.6 million, of which UAH 7.7 million was contributed by the DESPRO Project, UAH 13 million, by the Oblast and local budgets, and UAH 2.9 million, by the residents. 

Due to those projects, there were constructed 97.2 kilometres of water supply, 6 elevated water towers, and 5 wells in the Oblast territory. There were 3,094 households connected to high-quality drinking water supply systems, in which households 8,294 residents live. 

The successful experience of joint projects implementation gave an incentive for the development of a new cooperation vector between the DESPRO and communities of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast during the IV phase of the Project and became the ground for signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the DESPRO Project, the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast State Administration, and the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council. 

The Memorandum provides that, over the period of next three years, the DESPRO Project will implement complex activities in two communities in Oblast to be selected on a competitive basis. In this connection, one community should be from among those having cooperation experience with the Project, and the other should be a novice regarding that matter. The decision regarding an experienced community is at the stage of final approval by the competition committee, whereas the candidature of a novice community is known - it is the Novooleksandrivska ATC in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. 

"At present, the objective of our project is not to work with separate towns and villages, but perform complex work together with the amalgamated territorial communities within the framework of matters pertaining to strategic planning, arrange for a water supply and sanitation system, establish an integrated solid waste management system", Ms. Oksana Garnets noted. - I do not like that expression, but our work with communities that are currently selected by us will be implemented in accordance with the "turn-key" principle, that is, following the process, the community should become absolutely operational and self-sustainable". 

The idea regarding the necessity of strategic approach to the work with the amalgamated communities was also supported by Chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council Mr. Hlib Pryhunov. "When the communities have finally paved their roads with asphalt and repaired roofs in schools, they will understand that it is required to think strategically, establish municipal companies capable of ensuring inter-municipal cooperation of communities, their capacity, and development", Mr. Hlib Pryhunov said. 

Also, during the meeting, representatives of the DESPRO Project invited town councils of the Dnipropetrovsk region to participate in the competition for the selection of a pilot project on financing investment projects. The objective of the competition is to support local initiatives aimed at the solution of problems of territorial communities by raising funds from private investors for the development of regional infrastructure. 

In response to the proposal, Mr. Hlib Pryhunov drew attention of those present to the promptness of implementation of new financial instruments for communities, "The issue is that by joining various projects the communities do not always understand where from the funds come to them. It should not happen that, when it is required to deal with any matter independently, the communities lose their courage again and not know how to move on. On the part of the Oblast Council, we will hold a meeting of all town communities and inform them on the opportunity to take part in the competition". 

Following the official part of the meeting at the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast State Administration, experts of the DESPRO Project as accompanied by Head of the Department for Local Self-Government Development and Decentralisation Mr. Oleksii Tishkin and Deputy Head of the Department for Local Self-Government Development of the Executive Committee of the Oblast Council Mr. Oleksandr Maetnyi visited the Novooleksandrivska amalgamated territorial community.