On March 12 meeting of the Regional supervisory committee of the Swiss-Ukrainian project “Support of Decentralization in Ukraine DESPRO», was held in the art-center “Intershyk”. 11 agreements on providing target non-refundable assistance for the implementation of the winning projects that won in the joint completion of DESPRO projects and Vinnytsya oblast’ council on the implementation of the decentralized model of the water supply systems at the territorial communities level were signed. First deputy head of the oblast’ state administration A.Hyzhko, deputy head of the oblast’ council N.Soleiko, senior coordinator of the DESPRO project  O.Garnets, leaders of the oblast’ territorial communities attended the meeting.
The meeting participants pointed out that Swiss-Ukrainian project “Support of Decentralization in Ukraine DESPRO» has been implemented in  Vinnytsya oblast’ since July 2007. Over the whole period of the collaboration between Vinnytsya oblast’ and Swiss-Ukrainian project “Support of Decentralization in Ukraine DESPRO» 41 projects have won the competition. The winners among territorial communities of Vinnytsya oblast’ for the year 2015 were also identified. Therefore, this year DESPRO guarantees co-funding for 11 projects of the rural communities in the total amount of 6 mln.850 thousand UAH.

According to senior coordinator of the DESPRO project O.Garnets the winners will get 370 thousand UAH each instead of 250 thousand in 2014. Altogether in 2015 the total cost of water supply projects implementation will reach 18 mln. UAH, out of which DESPRO provides targeted non-refundable aid of 6.850 mln. UAH, while 550 thousand UAH are secured by oblast’ budget and the rest contributed by local budgets. O.Garnets also added that 50 thousand UAH will be provided additionally for each water source improvement as a bonus to the communities.

11 agreements with the heads of territorial communities in Vinnytsya oblast’ for the implementation of the projects in 2015 were signed. They include Luka-Meleshivska and Ilkivka (Vinnytsya raion), Demydivka, Novoselytsya, Mala Zhmerynka (Zhmerynka raion), Stepanky (Pohrebyshche raion), Zabolotne (Kryzhopil raion), Mykhailivka(Tulchyn raion), Velyka Rusava (Tomashpil raion), Novy Obykhody (Nemyriv raion), Turbiv settlement (Lypovtsy raion).
Deputy head of the oblast’ council N.Soleiko thanked DESPRO project for collaboration and stressed that it is “one of the methods demonstrating benefits of bringing together financial sources for the rural development, for the benefit of the residents who will have better living standards”.

– The projects abound, but we don’t have sufficient resources. I hope the signing of the agreement will become the incentive for the territorial communities of our oblast’ and completion of at least one water conduit will set an example of proper operation for the others” N.Soleiko summed up.
Note. DESPRO is a Swiss-Ukrainian project “Support of Decentralization in Ukraine », aimed at the improvement of the public administration system by enhancing the role of local self-governance. DESPRO envisages the extension of efficient mechanism for providing high-quality public services at the local level and for intensifying nation-wide dialogue with respect to the reforms of local self-governance and decentralization.  DESPRO operates since 2007 and stipulates three implementation stages: stage I (2007–2010), stage II (2010–2013), stage III (2013–2017).
The project is funded by the Swiss Confederation and SDC. The Ministry of regional development, construction and housing and communal economy of Ukraine is main partner for the Project. The respective committees of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine, Presidential Administration, and specialized ministries also collaborate within the Project.  

All in all, DESPRO has 5 partner oblast’s in Ukraine and plans implementation of 40 projects in 2015.