On 31 May through 1 June 2011 DESPRO call for proposals commission considered in Sumy Oblast 14 community projects from Konotopsky, Romensky and Krolevetsky rayons. The commission included heads of rayon state administrations and their deputies, heads of rayons councils, heads of rayons state administrations’ departments, experts in the sphere of decentralization and village heads.

 In Konotopsky rayon the commission considered 4 projects from communities of Saltykove, Krasne, Zhovtneve and Zavody villages. Saltykove village project was supported with no any comments. Projects from Krasne, Zhovtneve and Zavody villages were supported with comments and recommendation to finalize them within 10 days. Revised projects were to be submitted to DESPRO office for review and final decision.

 In Krolevetsky rayon the commission considered two projects from communities of Kamin and Leninske villages. In Kamin village complete reconstruction of water supply network is planned. As for Leninske village, new decentralized water supply model will be constructed there. 

In Romensky rayon, the commission considered 7 projects. 5 were supported. In Bobryky, Borozenky, Hlynsk, Smile and Yaroshivka villages, projects on decentralized water supply services provision will be implemented.

 The selection process in Sumy Oblast completed DESPRO second calls for proposals on water supply. If to compare it with the first call, one can see a clear tendency re increase the community contributions. While in the first call total DESPRO contribution was 54%, now it has decreased by half – 27%. More and more people understand what their money will be spent for and become more responsible regarding their communities’ development.

 The event was organized by Swiss-Ukrainian project “Decentralization Support in Ukraine”  (DESPRO) in cooperation with Konotopsky, Romensky and Krolevetsky rayons State Administrations.