Despro Publications
For more publications in Ukrainian visit media library on DESPRO's Ukrainian website
22.07.2021
Well-grounded and versatile communication is essential to gain the public
support, necessary for the implementation of reforms. The Swiss-Ukrainian
Decentralization Support Project DESPRO provided communication support
in different formats including the development and maintenance of the main
thematic online resource on the reform – the Decentralization web portal.
Sergiy Sharshov describes DESPRO's role in the communication of the
local self-governance reform.
Since 2007, DESPRO underwent 4 phases, constantly adapting its approach
in order to carry out the necessary operational activities and facilitate the achievement
of the strategic goals of the local selfgovernment (LSG) reform in various political
contexts: during the absence of political will to carry out the reforms, as well as during
the active phase of decentralization implementation with the closest possible
cooperation with key stakeholders. The authors of the reform - Anatoliy Tkachuk,
Yuriy Hanushchak and Angela Maliuga describe their experience working with
DESPRO in support of decentralization in Ukraine.
Equal participation of women in decision-making processes plays an essential role in the
process of implementing the reform of local self-government and decentralization in
Ukraine. In this context, it is extremely important to strengthen the role of women in local
self-government bodies, to actively involve them in economic development processes
and to reduce gender inequality in access to economic resources and public goods.
In 2018, the DESPRO Project launched a programme to support women leaders in
local selfgovernment, in order to empower and unleash the potential of women in
Ukrainian communities.
«Our village has been using water from individual and group shallow wells for
as long as I can remember. My mother uses a well which was dug back in 1902,
I remember helping her fetch water buckets. But at some point due to the uncontrolled
digging of wells, and also because of climate change the groundwater levels dropped
critically. We were desperate - the village was on the brink of extinction because of
water scarcity. Luckily, our community started a water supply project in cooperation with
DESPRO and the situation changed radically. Thanks to joint work with the project
today we have 3 boreholes, and with 26,5 km of network we can provide the whole
village with quality drinking water. This represents 2000 villagers.»
tells Mykhailo Dovhaliuk – starosta (village leader) of Huschyntsi.
The story of Bilovodsk community in Luhansk region
«Thanks to the project management skills acquired in DESPRO’s online
Community of Practice for Sustainable Development, our community has raised
UAH 50 million for 60 development projects over the past two years...
As a result of the training, we, three graduates of the courses – employees of
the executive committee of the community - have become a powerful core,
in fact, the engine of development of our entire community.»
tells Olena Shylobryd, head of the Economic Development and Trade Department
of the Executive Committee at Bilovodsk community.
>Read the full story
The story of Ilona Shemanska
«After participating in DESPRO’s Local Self-Governance School, I became
confident that anything is possible. I’ve participated in other educational
projects, but DESPRO is on another level, with top trainers, homework, local strategy
development, experience, exchange and practical advice.... The School made me
stronger, gave me the opportunity to believe in myself, even when there’s lack of
support,»
says Ilona Shemanska, Head of Economics and Investment Department,
Letychiv amalgamated territorial community (ATC), Khmelnytskyi region.
>Read the full story
The story of Novi Sanzhary community
«Before implementing the waste management project, all neighboring villages would bring
their waste to our landfill. Rubbish was scattered not just around the landfill, but on the road
leading to it as well. People were dumping waste everywhere. The wind would take the
waste, especially polyethylene, all around the forest and neighboring territories. I wrote
stacks of papers addressing anyone from the regional authorities to the President, but no
reaction followed. If not for DESPRO, we would never have found a solution,»
says Mykhailo Zaritskyi, starosta (village leader) of Zachepylivka village, Novi Sanzhary
district of Poltava region.
>Read the full story
Collection of DESPRO Impact Stories
DESPRO Support of the LSG Reform
Well-grounded and versatile communication is essential to gain the public
support, necessary for the implementation of reforms. The Swiss-Ukrainian
Decentralization Support Project DESPRO provided communication support
in different formats including the development and maintenance of the main
thematic online resource on the reform – the Decentralization web portal.
Sergiy Sharshov describes DESPRO's role in the communication of the
local self-governance reform.
>Read the full story
DESPRO Policy Support
Since 2007, DESPRO underwent 4 phases, constantly adapting its approach
in order to carry out the necessary operational activities and facilitate the achievement
of the strategic goals of the local selfgovernment (LSG) reform in various political
contexts: during the absence of political will to carry out the reforms, as well as during
the active phase of decentralization implementation with the closest possible
cooperation with key stakeholders. The authors of the reform - Anatoliy Tkachuk,
Yuriy Hanushchak and Angela Maliuga describe their experience working with
DESPRO in support of decentralization in Ukraine.
>Read the full story
The story of Iryna Ungurian
Equal participation of women in decision-making processes plays an essential role in the
process of implementing the reform of local self-government and decentralization in
Ukraine. In this context, it is extremely important to strengthen the role of women in local
self-government bodies, to actively involve them in economic development processes
and to reduce gender inequality in access to economic resources and public goods.
In 2018, the DESPRO Project launched a programme to support women leaders in
local selfgovernment, in order to empower and unleash the potential of women in
Ukrainian communities.
>Read the full story
The story of Hushyntsi village in Vinnytsia region
«Our village has been using water from individual and group shallow wells for
as long as I can remember. My mother uses a well which was dug back in 1902,
I remember helping her fetch water buckets. But at some point due to the uncontrolled
digging of wells, and also because of climate change the groundwater levels dropped
critically. We were desperate - the village was on the brink of extinction because of
water scarcity. Luckily, our community started a water supply project in cooperation with
DESPRO and the situation changed radically. Thanks to joint work with the project
today we have 3 boreholes, and with 26,5 km of network we can provide the whole
village with quality drinking water. This represents 2000 villagers.»
tells Mykhailo Dovhaliuk – starosta (village leader) of Huschyntsi.
>Read the full story
The story of Bilovodsk community in Luhansk region
«Thanks to the project management skills acquired in DESPRO’s online
Community of Practice for Sustainable Development, our community has raised
UAH 50 million for 60 development projects over the past two years...
As a result of the training, we, three graduates of the courses – employees of
the executive committee of the community - have become a powerful core,
in fact, the engine of development of our entire community.»
tells Olena Shylobryd, head of the Economic Development and Trade Department
of the Executive Committee at Bilovodsk community.
>Read the full story
The story of Ilona Shemanska
«After participating in DESPRO’s Local Self-Governance School, I became
confident that anything is possible. I’ve participated in other educational
projects, but DESPRO is on another level, with top trainers, homework, local strategy
development, experience, exchange and practical advice.... The School made me
stronger, gave me the opportunity to believe in myself, even when there’s lack of
support,»
says Ilona Shemanska, Head of Economics and Investment Department,
Letychiv amalgamated territorial community (ATC), Khmelnytskyi region.
>Read the full story
The story of Novi Sanzhary community
«Before implementing the waste management project, all neighboring villages would bring
their waste to our landfill. Rubbish was scattered not just around the landfill, but on the road
leading to it as well. People were dumping waste everywhere. The wind would take the
waste, especially polyethylene, all around the forest and neighboring territories. I wrote
stacks of papers addressing anyone from the regional authorities to the President, but no
reaction followed. If not for DESPRO, we would never have found a solution,»
says Mykhailo Zaritskyi, starosta (village leader) of Zachepylivka village, Novi Sanzhary
district of Poltava region.
>Read the full story
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