Information session for the communities – partners of the Swiss-Ukrainian Decentralization Support to Ukraine DESPRO Project on provision of decentralized services in the area of water supply was held on 13 May 2011 in Vinnytsya.

The DESPRO Project signed cooperation agreements with representatives of nine communities from Vinnytsya oblast on support of their local water-supply projects. Oksana Garnets, Project Manager for DESPRO in Ukraine, mentioned in her opening statement that the signed agreements are the basis for meeting the communities’ commitments in order to implement projects aimed at improving water supply in their villages. "For its part, the DESPRO Project will provide the communities with financial, consulting and, if necessary, moral support”, - accentuated the Project Manager.

During the information session, Vyacheslav Sorokovsky, Decentralization Expert, DESRPO Project, told the prospective water-supply operators about the regulatory support of public self-organization bodies (community associations), typical procedure of work of a cooperative, peculiarities of financing, project implementation phases and details of project reporting to the partners.

The event was attended by Hyzhko A.P., Head of the Main Department of Economy, Vinnytsia Oblast State Administration, Repey V.I., Deputy Head of the Main Department of Economy, Vinnytsia Oblast State Administration, Konoval A.R., Head of Management Board of the Main Department of Economy, Vinnytsia Oblast State Administration, Christian Disler, Programme Manager of Swiss Cooperation Office (Bern), Svitlana Gryshchenko, Programme Manager of Swiss Cooperation Office (Kyiv), Oksana Garnets, Project Manager for DESPRO in Ukraine, Vyacheslav Sorokovsky, Decentralization Expert, DESPRO Project, and Project coordinators in Vinnytsia oblast: Novikov O.A., Head of Department of Infrastructure Development, Tulchin RSA, Bondar O.A., Head of Department of town planning and architecture, Illintsi RSA, and Netrybuk I.P., Head of Department of Urban Development, Architecture, Housing and Public Utilities, Kalynivka RSA, as well as representatives of nine communities in Vinnytsia oblast: Illintsi rayon - Illinetske, Chortoryia and Rosohovata villages; Kalynivka rayon - Cherepashyntsi, Nova Hreblya and Komunarivka; Tulchin rayon – Kleban’, Suvorovske and Hannopil’.