BUILDING A NEW UKRAINE TOGETHER - UNDP2016/01/04 · 2015 Achievements Report 11 GOVERNANCE Restoring governance functions in conflict-affected areas and promoting reconciliation

BUILDING A NEW UKRAINE TOGETHER2015 Achievements Report

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

BUILDING A NEW UKRAINE TOGETHER2015 Achievements Report 2

UKRA

INE

people live better

public funds saved through transparent procurement of medicines

reform policydocuments developed

social micro-projects implemented

new jobsprofessionalstrained

1,000,000

40-60%

52 500

2,000 20,000

people were improved through 500 micro-projects600,000

LIVING CONDITIONS OF MORE THAN

30,000MORE THAN people are living in apartment

buildings with repaired roofs, warm walls, energy-efficient windows, and improved heating systems.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 DONBAS RECOVERY AND PEACEBUILDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7• Restoringgovernancefunctionsinconflict-affectedareas

and promoting reconciliation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11• Promoting social cohesion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13• Improving the livelihoods of internally displaced people (IDPs)

and people of Donbas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15• Restarting life with a new job . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17• Restoring social services for the most vulnerable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21• Boosting local economic recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

A normal life: looking ahead in Eastern Ukraine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 MAkING UkRAINE GREEN AND CLEAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27• Change the light bulb – save the planet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31• Implementing the Rio conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35• Low carbon development for Ukraine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37• Clean bioenergy for Ukrainian schools and kindergartens . . . . . . . . . . . . 39• Sustainable future for the people of Nizhyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

BEttER LIVES thROUGh DEMOCRAtIC GOVERNANCE AND REfORMS . . 47• Transparency and integrity: improving governance in Ukraine . . . . . . . . 49• Building the capacity of the civil society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53• Building stronger capacities to promote and protect

human rights in Ukraine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57• Strongercommunities-betterlives! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59• A normal life: Looking ahead in Eastern Ukraine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63• Supporting decentralization and local governance reforms . . . . . . . . . . . 65• Reforming the procurement system for medicines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67• Supporting social sector governance reforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69• From MDGs to SDGs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Photo Credits: UNDP Ukraine, Newspaper Day, Vitaliy Golovin, Mykola Myrnyy, Yurko Dyachyshyn, Anastasia Vlasova, Olena Shunkina, Leniara Abibulyaeva, Sergiy Gudak, Andriy Nesterenko, Kravchuk, Vasyl Okhrimenko, Mykola Tymchenko, Oleksiy Furman, Andriy GolubtsovUK

RAIN

E



DEVELOPMENT

INTRODUCTIONIntroduction

However, challenges are also opportunities: the opportunity change traditional practices in order to live in a more sustainable manner, the opportunity to transform society to be more open andcorruption-free,and theopportunity tobuildbetter lives for everyone .

There is already an enormous groundswell of activity and civic engagement underway, transforming the nation and building a new Ukraine . This is happening in both urban and rural settings all over the country . That is why Ukraine’s story is also about hope and becoming stronger, smarter, greener, and cleaner .

Over the past year, we have seen thousands of examples of people taking action to address the challenges they face . UNDP is right there, on the ground, alongside a growing number of international development partners, to help, support, advise, and walk with Ukraine through the challenging times .

Until now, Ukraine’s story has been mostly about challenges: challenges facing communities, challenges to curb endemic corruption, challenges to its territorial integrity and to peace within its borders, challenges with the economy, and challenges to the environment that sustains life .



DEVELOPMENTSince 1993, UNDP has been one of the largest

international development organizations active in Ukraine . Through partnerships with national, regional and local government, civil society and the private sector,UNDPhasbeensupportingUkraineinitseffortsto eliminate poverty, develop people’s capacity, promote energy-efficiency,sustaintheenvironment,andadvancedemocratic governance . In 2015, UNDP upgraded its field presence in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts torespondmoreeffectivelytothecrisis.Morerecently,the

focus has been on supporting Ukraine in meeting the twin challenges of recovery and peacebuilding as well as carrying out a comprehensive governance reform process.ThesupportforUkraine’seffortstomaintaina‘green and clean’ environment through energy-efficientpractices forms the third pillar of UNDP’s current programme . UNDP also supports the Government in procurementofmedicinesandinitslong-termeffortstoreform the public procurement system to bring it in line with the highest international standards .



DONBAS RECOv ery



DONBAS RECOv ery

Donbas Recovery and Peacebuilding

Donbas Recoveryand Peacebuilding

While social fragmentation, prejudices, regional divides, and low levels of trust in local authorities and institutions existed prior to the crisis, these issues have been exacerbated as a result of the conflict, in particular in the Donbas region, whichconsists primarily of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts .

While most of the Donbas was at some point affectedbymilitary conflict,Donetsk and Luhanskoblasts have become de facto divided into government-andnon-governmentcontrolledareas.

Close to one million people have been displaced, especially from areas outside government control, with roughly half of internally displaced persons (IDPs) temporarily settling in the two oblasts’ government controlled areas . Pressure on local resources, service delivery, livelihoods, and governance has been intensifying as the numbers and the duration of stay of IDPs, of which an estimated two-thirdsarewomenandchildren,increase.

TheeasternUkraineconflict,whichescalatedin2014,hasexacerbatedlong-standinggovernancedeficitsinUkraine.“Theconflicthashad a direct and highly negative impact on social cohesion, resilience, livelihoods, community security, and the rule of law,” according to therecent“RecoveryandPeacebuildingAssessment”, which was conducted jointly by the European Union, the United Nations and the World Bank and endorsed by the Government of Ukraine . Displacement, fear, and diminishing levels of trust are acute social problems, and conflict-relateddistressacrosscommunitiesiswidespread .

CONF

LICT

IN EA

STER

N UK

RAIN

E200,000 IDPs and local people supported

2,000 jobs created within73 organizations

1,200 idpS future entrepreneurs trained

47social care facilities renovated

63social cohesionevents organized

12economic infrastructure facilities renovated

7,000 IDPSreceived legal advice

3,000 IDPSreceived psychosocialassistance

400 IDPStrained in IT skills,Business English, and career buildingstrategies

271new IDPs businesses launched



REBUILD



In close cooperation with other UN agencies and partners, UNDP is now leading international efforts in eastern Ukraine to restore social services, rehabilitate social and economic infrastructure, boost economic recovery, rebuild governance and administrative capacities in the affected areas, provide social support, and generate employment and spur entrepreneurship among internally displaced persons and local communities.

The oblast administrations themselves relocated from their previous headquarters in Donetsk and Luhansk cities to Kramatorsk and Severodonetsk respectively . Some state institutions also relocated to Mariupol or other cities .

TheconflictineasternUkrainehasalreadytakenmore than 9,000 lives . In addition to the loss of lives, massive internal displacement, and draining of money and resources from local economies, theconflictineasternUkrainehasledtoextensivedamage to economic and social infrastructure, with thousands of hospitals, schools, kindergartens, factories, roads, and bridges damaged or destroyed . The Donbas, once the powerhouse of industrial production in the wider region, has seen its economy tumble and is facing the overwhelming challenges of recovery, rebuilding and reorientation . REBUILD



RESTORING



GOVERNANCE

Restoring governance functions in conflict-affected areas and promoting reconciliation

UNDP is helping to restore governance and promotereconciliationinconflict-affectedcommunities in Eastern Ukraine . The initiatives aim to enhance local government capacities to improve public service provision andincludecitizensindecision-making.They also aim to reduce social tensions via inclusive dialogue and reconciliation .

Within this broader framework and upon request from the relocated regional administrations of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, UNDP has been supporting a process of reviewing the regional development strategies in a more transparent and participatory manner . The regional strategies will also include aspects of social policy and protection, IDPs, administrative reform and decentralization, and community security .

The review process served as a forum for discussing opportunities, concerns, and guidelines for voluntary territorial administrative merger and the creation of new hromadas (territorial communities) in Donetsk oblast and other parts of Ukraine . Territorial merger is a cornerstone of the ongoing decentralization reforms in Ukraine, which willhavemajorimplicationsonfinancialandadministrativeaspects of local governance, as well as service delivery .

The strategic planning process is helping the authorities to move forward reforms in the region, build the capacity of the administrative staff, and achievebroad ownership of the strategy with the ultimate goal of providing better services to the people .RESTORING





Promoting Social CohesionThearmedconflicthascauseddeepdivisionsamongorbetween

various groups and communities, while indigenous and international initiatives for peace and dialogue struggle to counter the growing violence and war rhetoric . At the same time, an ambitious but crucial reformagendaandadiresocio-economicsituationwithinUkraineareplacing additional strain on society, which is becoming increasingly polarized over various issues . Developing and expanding the capacity tofacilitatedialogue,mediateandactivelypromoteconflictpreventionis thus needed more than ever .

To support social cohesion UNDP has partnered with the European Forum for Mediation and Dialogue (MediatEUr) to develop a Dialogue Support Platform that helps Ukrainian dialogue facilitators to connect with each other and with international counterparts in order to share information and experiences, improve their skills and capacities for dialogue, and strengthen efforts to promote dialogue for peace throughout the country. Utilizing modern interactive technology, the Dialogue Support Platform provides a ‘live’ map of dialogue initiatives across Ukraine, as well as a visual representation of issues and themes of local, regional and national concern. This has enabled online discussion and debates, while at the same time serving as a resource hub for facilitators, national policy makers, international partners and donors alike. DIA

LOGU

E





Livelihoods

Improving the livelihoods of internally displaced people (IDPS) and people of Donbas

Finding a job remains one the greatest challenges for many IDPs . This is often due to a lack of education or relevant experience, or because their professional skills, largely relevant for the large-scale industrial sector, do not match thedemands of the host communities’ labour market . The amalgam of these factors has overstrained the capacities of local governments to provide adequate services and has even led to tensions between and within host communities .

For many IDPs from the heavily industrialized regionsfindingajobinanewlocationprovidesagreat challenge . This is often explained by a lack of experience and a steep gap between the demands of the labour market and the professional skills thatmanyIDPscanoffer.Unlikemanyindustriesthat experienced a sharp decline in performance during 2015, Ukraine’s IT sector managed to

TheinfluxofIDPs,multipliedbythedeteriorating economic situation in the country, hasfurtheraggravatedthesocio-economicsituation and undermined employment and livelihoodopportunitiesforthepeopleaffectedbytheconflict.Themainsocialandeconomicproblems facing IDPs in relocated areas include inadequate housing, lack of employment and income generating opportunities, inadequate access to social services, and security .



grow through political and economic turmoil . UNDP partnered with IT companies and trained 400 IDPs in IT skills, Business English, and career building strategies, opening up opportunities for the most talented and contributingtoUkraine’ssuccessinthispromisingfield.

To diversify the employment and livelihood opportunities and boost local economies UNDP supported 2,000 aspiring entrepreneurs . As an initial step, UNDP analyzed the market and produced a study helping aspiring entrepreneurs to identify ten potential market niches and 30 businessmodels.Tofilltheskillsgap,48five-daybusinessskillstrainingcourses were offered to 1,200 future entrepreneurs in 12 Ukrainiancities.250peoplehavereceivedsmallgrantseed-fundingtokick-startorexpand their small business .

In 2015 UNDP supported local authorities, NGOs and the private sector in creating more than 2,000 jobs for IDPs and the local population of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.



RESTARTRestarting life with a new job

One evening after working a shift Vova was watching TV and saw on the news that a shell had hit the school where he used to study . It was just a couple of months before his release and he realized that if he returned tohisnativeAlchevskhe,asanex-convict,wouldmostlikelybehandedaKalashnikov gun and forced to join one of the armed groups .

This was not the road that he wanted to take and he started to look for an alternative path . It came through the Svitlo Nadii (Light of Hope) Poltava NGO, supported by UNDP . The NGO helped him with accommodation, training and employment . Now he works as a carpenter and dreams of opening his own furniture business one day .

The war caught up with 19-year-oldVovaHilchenkowhen he was in a youth custody center .



“I did a lot of stupid thingsthat I regret. I want a new life,”

says Vova .



UNDP support is not limited to vulnerable groups and the low-skilled labour force; it has also partnered with an IT company, Boolava, which relocated from Donetsk, to create jobs for 54 highly-qualified IT experts. Bringing in and harnessing IT expertise will help to spark innovation and turn a largely agriculture-based local economy into a knowledge-based one. In total more than 400 IDPs are being trained to become IT professionals.

NEW JOBS

For 14 years Svitlo Nadii has been helping people incrisissituations,includingex-convictsanddrug-abusers, IDPs, and the homeless, to start a new life . It helps people from vulnerable groups with accommodation and provides them with legal and psycho-socialsupportandprofessionaltrainingtohelp them get on their feet . To sustain its work and provide jobs to the needy it has a furniture making business and sewing shops employing 50 people .

Oneof its clients, Irina S., had to fleewith herdaughter sometime in 2014, when heavy shelling started in her native Luhansk .

“I was so scared and wanted to keep my child safe from this horror. Yes, I miss my home, but at the same time I like Poltava and my new job. It is very peaceful here.”

Vova and Irina are among the 1,500 IDPs who were employed through UNDP IDP employment programmes . UNDP works with NGOs, companies, and local authorities to identify employment needs and generate new jobs . It also analyzes local labour markets and helps people to obtain the skills that are in need in particular communities .





SERVICES

RestoringSocial Servicesfor the Most Vulnerable

Tomitigatetheadverseeffectsoftheconflictonpeople and to bridge the gap in access to social services, UNDP partnered with local authorities, civil society, and the private sector, and renovated 47 critically important social care facilities serving over 200,000 people . Seven healthcare institutions, three rehabilitation centers for people with disabilities, two assisted-living facilities for theelderly, three social services centers, one center for children at risk, one rehabilitation center for ex-convictsandreformedsubstanceabusers,oneschool, and one kindergarten have been renovated . Eleven centers serving the elderly and people with disabilities received new rehabilitation and medical equipment. Guided by “Rebuild Better” and“UniversalDesign”principles,UNDPmadesurethatconstruction companies made buildings accessible andbarrier-free.

Thousands of people have lost access to specialized medical care institutions located in the territories that are not under government control,andtheinfluxofIDPshasledtoovercrowding at existing social facilities, which were already in poor shape due to lack of proper maintenance over the past decades . The most vulnerable, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and families with children,havebeenmostaffected.

Social carefacilities renovated47



EconomyArmedconflicthasseverelyunderminedtheeconomic

activity of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, uprooting business routines and trade, and damaging housing, communications, and transportation infrastructure . As a result, unemployment rates have soared and millions have been left with limited income generation opportunities . In partnership with international donors and Ukrainian partners, UNDP identified and restored12 facilities that are key to reviving the local economy, including bridges, water pumping stations and pipelines, filtration stations, andpostoffices.Themajorityof theengineering and renovation works have been conducted by local companies, creating jobs for local people .

Boosting Local Economic Recovery

business incubators, local economic development agencies, and co-working centers supported19



NORMAL LIFE

A normal life: Looking ahead in Eastern Ukraine

It was an unusually hot July evening in 2014 and it was just getting dark when their six-year-old son, Andriy, went to the balcony, attracted by the whizzing sound and bright lights coming from outside . In just a few seconds, the boy heard a roar and his uncle’s house, just across the street, went ablaze and turned into rubble in front of his eyes .

Andriy, who was always full of life and incessant questions about everything went silent for weeks . It took his family, supported by volunteer psychologists, over a year to help him cope with the shock . In September 2015, he was able to join an excited crowd of neatly dressed seven-year-olds,flockingtotheschoolyardforthefirsttime.

Andriy’s dad Anatoliy is anxious these days too . He is waiting to learn whether the business plan he submitted last week for a grant for a small bakery will get approved .

The Naydenov family didn’t want to move from Luhansk.Anatoliyhadawell-payingjobasamanager at a local mining company and the familyenjoyedtheirspaciousthree-bedroomapartment, which they had just renovated . But they remember all too clearly when they knew they had to go .



“We always had money,” explains Maryna. “Now my husband is ashamed and depressed because he can’t afford a backpack for his two sons. There are no jobs here. He was glad to get a job as a driver, for which he receives a meagre salary, just enough for us to get by.”



One hears thousands of stories just like these travelling across eastern Ukraine . With over two million displaced, many have no homes, jobs, or much hope left for the future .

UNDPusedsomeofitslong-standingprojectsliketheEU-funded Community Based Approach to Local Development project and has partnered with the Government of Japan to develop a comprehensive programme that helps families like the Naydenovs to get on their feet and start a new life .

The joint programme employs a holistic approach to the range of different issues faced by the people caughtintheconflictintheformerindustrialhubofDonbas.Thisincludes renovation of both facilities like schools, hospitals, kindergartens, care centres, and homes for the elderly, as well as water-pumping stations, roads, bridges, and postoffices.

All of this work is being done by local construction companies, generating jobs and spurring the stagnating local economy in the meantime . The programme also works with local companies, NGOs, and authorities and has already helped to create more than 2,000 new jobs . They range from low-skilled positions in construction and industryto highly professional ones, including doctors, university professors, and engineers . In addition to generating new jobs, re-qualification and entrepreneurship training, seedgrants and business consulting are provided to emerging entrepreneurs such as Anatoliy .

"I am pleased to note that since my last visit in November, the focus of international assistance has shifted from pure humanitarian aid towards restoration, aimed at mid- and long-term development of the region,”

said HE Japan’s Ambassador to Ukraine,Shigeki Sumi, in a recent visit to Donbas .



GREEN and CLEAN



MAKING UKRAINEGREEN AND CLEANMaking Ukraine greenand clean

GREEN and CLEAN

Ukraineremainsoneoftheleastenergy-efficientcountries in the world, with one of the highest greenhouse gas emission intensities amongst CIS countries, and ranking 24th amongst the world’s greenhouse emitters .

UNDP is helping Ukraine to become a “greenand clean” and energy-efficient country, movingforward on its sustainable development path and successfully addressing climate change mitigation on the policy level through advocacy and policy advice, and through practical initiatives . We support local energy-efficiency initiativesand community organizations protecting the environment .

Low-carbonstrategy developed

12 legal actson biomass developed

20 million Ukrainians informed about energy-efficient lighting

11% market growth for energy-efficient lighting products

i



Ukraine is the world’s 6thlargest emitter of greenhouse gasses with per capita emissions of CO2 around 4.75 tons of carbon per year.

In the Ukrainian heating sector

25-40% losses in transmission and distribution are common.

A comparison of Ukraine’s energy intensity with other countries suggests that energy intensity in Ukraine can be decreased by at least 55%.

The energy intensity of the Ukrainian economy is 3.8 times higher than in the EU-27 countries.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation in Ukraine will reach 450 kilograms per capita per year, or more than 17 million metric tons of MSW annually.

buildings in Ukraine is on average 4 times lower than in Western Europe.

The greatest losses occur in municipal heating

42% of heat is lost through walls

30% through ventilation

21% through windows

7% through the roof

By 2025

10

Ukraine is likely to need

The size of an average landfillexceedshectares.

to double its capacity to accommodate growing volumes of waste.

93-95% of all MSW is sent todisposal sites. 20% of disposal

facilities are reported as not meeting current sanitary standards.

70% of people (34 million people) live in apartment buildings theMunicipal Sector consumes 44% of the country's energy (40% of heat and 25% of electricity).

25% during transmission

22% during production

30% is lost by the end users

Around 10 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) was generated in 2012, i.e. approximately 200-230 kg per capita per year.

Ukraine is the world’s 8th largest producer of nuclear energy with 14 GW of total installed capacity.

47.3% in total domestic electricity production is of nuclear energy share.

Energy-efficienCYCHALLENGES



Ukraine is the world’s 6thlargest emitter of greenhouse gasses with per capita emissions of CO2 around 4.75 tons of carbon per year.

In the Ukrainian heating sector

25-40% losses in transmission and distribution are common.

A comparison of Ukraine’s energy intensity with other countries suggests that energy intensity in Ukraine can be decreased by at least 55%.

The energy intensity of the Ukrainian economy is 3.8 times higher than in the EU-27 countries.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation in Ukraine will reach 450 kilograms per capita per year, or more than 17 million metric tons of MSW annually.

buildings in Ukraine is on average 4 times lower than in Western Europe.

The greatest losses occur in municipal heating

42% of heat is lost through walls

30% through ventilation

21% through windows

7% through the roof

By 2025

10

Ukraine is likely to need

The size of an average landfillexceedshectares.

to double its capacity to accommodate growing volumes of waste.

93-95% of all MSW is sent todisposal sites. 20% of disposal

facilities are reported as not meeting current sanitary standards.

70% of people (34 million people) live in apartment buildings theMunicipal Sector consumes 44% of the country's energy (40% of heat and 25% of electricity).

25% during transmission

22% during production

30% is lost by the end users

Around 10 million tons of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) was generated in 2012, i.e. approximately 200-230 kg per capita per year.

Ukraine is the world’s 8th largest producer of nuclear energy with 14 GW of total installed capacity.

47.3% in total domestic electricity production is of nuclear energy share.

Energy-efficienCYCHALLENGES



Just replacing old-style light bulbs with energy-efficient ones can save an average Ukrainian school up to two thousand kWh of electricity annually or 100,000 UAH in monetary terms.



ENERGY SAVING

Change the Light bulb – Save the Planet

Working closely with the Ministry of Environment, UNDP is helping Ukraine to leave behind the inefficient, energy-gobbling technologies of thepast and to make a quantum leap forward towards energy-efficient lighting. The programme aimsto help Ukraine to shift policy, develop national lightingstandards,andincreasedemandforhigh-quality,energy-efficientproducts.

Through piloting energy-efficient lighting in18 schools and public buildings, the project hasdemonstrated to Ukrainian communities and the public that using new technologies can help them save on energy bills .

UNDP has also helped Ukraine in making sure that the shift is sustainable and supported by legislation, in particular through developing new bills amending the laws on the promotion of energy-efficientlighting,adraftlawonthedisposalof mercury-containing bulbs, and the StateConstruction Code .

The Ukrainian energy sector generates over 62% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions (257 .2 million tons) with the electricity production sector among the top polluters, emitting around 86.8milliontonsofCO2 equivalent annually . Thismakesenergy-efficiencymeasuresakeycomponent of bringing down Ukraine’s CO2 output.Justreplacingold-stylelightbulbswithenergy-efficientonescansaveanaverageUkrainian school up to two thousand kWh of electricity annually or 100,000 UAH in monetary terms . This has multiple advantages including saving precious resources of the schools’ budgets .

The Ukrainian energy sector generates over 62% of its total greenhouse gas emissions

62%257.2 MILLION TONS



ENERGy - efficienCY



In order to protect the emerging national market and make sure that the lighting products sold in Ukraineareofhigh-quality,UNDPhasconductedthree technical assessments of the energy-efficiency lightbulbs used in homes, offices, andfor street lighting. The findings convincinglydemonstrated that 35% of lighting products on themarketareofpoor-quality.Thiscontributedtostricter customs policies and imports procedures, discouragingtheuseofsub-standardproducts.

Realizing the gaps in public awareness, UNDP conducted education and awareness-raisingcampaigns on energy-efficiency, targeting youthin particular . The campaign has reached an estimated number of 20 million of Ukrainians who were informed about the advantages of energy-efficientlightingforboththeplanetandthefamilybudget . Thousands of schoolchildren attended classes to learn how a simple action like changing a lightbulbcancontributetoa“greenerandcleaner”Ukraine . As a result of the change of attitudes and consumerchoices,themarketforenergy-efficientlighting products grew by 11% and people’s trust forenergy-efficiencyproductsincreasedby8%.

20 million ukrainianswere informed about the advantages of energy-efficient lighting

8 %increase in people’s trust in energy-efficiency products

In 2015, the UNDP Ukraine pilot initiative has successfully transformed into a commitment to environmentally conscious disposal of mercury-containing CFL bulbs by several nationwide large retail chains (including EpiСentre, Leroy Merlin, Auchan).

ENERGy - efficienCY



CLIM ATE CHANGE



CLIM ATE CHANGE

Implementing the Rio Conventions

To help Ukraine bring its current policies in line with the concept of sustainable development, UNDP has convened a series of public platforms and provided expert support to the Government of Ukraine in developing action plans for reforming the regulatory framework for key sectors, namely transport and infrastructure, environmental management, and energy .

Currently, UNDP is working closely with experts representing the Ukrainian government, academia, civil society, and the private sector in developing a “Sustainable Development Strategy” that willhelp Ukraine make policies that take into account economic and social growth needs without compromising the environment . To make sure Ukraine’s current and future leaders are attuned to the principles of sustainable development, UNDP has developed a course for civil servants that is currently being taught at the National Academy of Public Administration under the President of Ukraine .

UNDPsupportsUkraineinfulfillingitsinternationalobligations under the three Rio Conventions – the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention toCombatDesertificationandDrought,andtheFrameworkConventiononClimateChange-andin addressing the global environmental issues that impactthecountry’ssocialandeconomicwell-being . Since 2014 UNDP has been focusing on helping Ukraine to integrate the Rio Conventions’ principles and obligations into the national policy framework .

Tothisend,UNDPengaged80 leadingUkrainianexpertstoconduct comprehensive analyses of legislation in eight sectors (Agriculture Policy, Energy, Transport and Infrastructure, Economic Development and Trade, Ecology and Natural Resources, Urban Development, Social Welfare, Education) to identify existing gaps in meeting the provisions of the Conventions .





CLEAN ENERGY

LoW carbon development for Ukraine

With the help of UNDP Ukraine several legislative and policy documents have been developed, with the Concept for a Low Carbon Development Strategy of Ukraine being the most important one . Its adoption and implementation will promote investment and economic modernization, increasing prosperity for people, and the ability for industry to be competitive .

In addition, the Government of Ukraine requested UNDP’s support in preparation for a new Global Climate Agreement, concluded in Paris in December 2015 . Together with other international partners, UNDP assisted government experts in developing the Intended Nationally-Determined Contributionthat set the target on greenhouse gases emissions until 2030 and is an important tool in the global efforts to combat climate change. The documenthas been approved by the Government of Ukraine and will help Ukraine to balance economic development needs and its progress on the path towardsalow-carbon,climate-resilientfuture.

In 1992 more than 150 countries signed the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), agreeing to keep the concentration of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere at a level that will not cause adverse anthropogenic effectsontheclimatesystemofourplanet.To meet this target many countries approved theirclimatechangepoliciesandidentifiednational actions .

However, over the past 20 years Ukraine had not adopted any policy documents on climate change, except ratifying the UNFCCC and the Kyoto protocol to it . Emissions have decreased automatically as a result of the economic stagnation and demographic decline of the country over the past two decades .





ECOFriendly

Clean bioenergy for Ukrainian schools and kindergartens

She has good reason not to; the times when she had to teach a class full of children tucked cozily in their winter jackets are not too far away . But thanks to the biomass straw power those gloomy days are gone for good .

Over one thousand children from the small town of Uman in the Cherkassy region of Ukraine will stay warm this fall and winter thanks to bioenergy . Three straw-fired biomass boilers have been installedin the local kindergarten and schools saving over 700,000 UAH (roughly 30,000 USD) on heating bills annually .

The boilers are a vivid example of a sustainable development triple-win for the community and theplanet. They run on eco-friendly fuel, releasing noCO2 emissions into the atmosphere and decreasing greenhouse gases, save money, and use locally-grown biomass from waste wheat straw pressed into pellets . The money saved this year will be usedforinstallingenergy-efficientwindowsinthe

“Can you really study when the classroom is so freezing cold? I don’t think so! We used to put plastic film over the windows in October and remove it in April to gain a couple of degrees of warmth,”

exclaimed Iryna Samoilova, not trying to conceal her emotions .

have been installed in the local kindergarten allowing schools to save over 700,000 UAH (roughly 30,000 USD) on heating bills annually.

straw-firedbiomass boilers3



“This year our school saved 250,000 UAH on utility bills. This will allow us to buy better teaching tools and better food for our children, all thanks to the straw that we used to burn on our fields,”

says Iryna, with a big smile on her face .



BIOenergy

kindergarten.Thetownofficialsareveryenthusiasticandplantoallocatefutureyearsavings for furtherenergy-efficient initiatives,engagingmoreschoolsandkindergartensintheeco-virtuouscircle.

Both thestrawpelletsandboilersareproducedbyanUman-basedcompany,assisting the struggling local economy and creating badly needed jobs for the town .

Thecompanymanagementaswellasgovernmentofficialshopethat theeco-trendwillgaintractioninothercitiesandtownsofUkraine,oneoftheleastenergy-efficientcountriesintheworld.However,currentlytheagriculturalbiomassshareis only 0 .5% of the country energy’s supply . UNDP works to assist the Government in removing legislative, administrative, and institutional barriers to biomass use to reach the target at least 7% of the country’s energy supply by 2030 . UNDP, with financialsupportfromtheGlobalEnvironmentFacility,planstoinstalleightmoreboilers in Ukrainian universities, schools and kindergartens . In parallel to these pilots, UNDP is providing technical assistance to the drafting of new laws and regulationsthatwillensurethatUkrainecanfullybenefitfrombiomassenergy.Itwill also help Ukraine to cut its dependency on imported natural gas and become moreenergy-efficient.

of the country energy’s supply.

the agricultural biomass Share0.5%

UNDP works to assist the Government in removing legislative, administrative, and institutional barriers to biomass use to reach at least 7% of the country’s energy supply target by 2030.





SUSTAINABLE

Sustainable future for the people of Nizhyn

There was a time when the Smolianka wetlands flourishedwithwildlife.Butbeginninginthe1950s,draining canals began slashing through once pristine marshes . For Ukraine, peat (turf) was a relatively cheap and readily available source of fuel and energy.Large-scaledrainageprojectsfacilitatedpeatextraction and transformed the swamp into land suitable for agriculture or forestry . Little attention was paid to a more environmentally sound alternative – re-wettingandrestoring themarshlandsafterpeatextraction.Bythemid-1970s,Ukrainewasextractingnearly extracting nearly 7 million tons and overall more than one million hectares were drained .

Biodiversity suffered –many plants and animals,for example bears and eagles started to disappear . Instead of absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, themiresbeganemittingitasfiresragedoverdried-up land . Toxic gases spewed into the air through smoke, making people from local communities sick, and the government was forced to spend millions combating fires. Local economies were hurt ashunting and fishing dwindled, and communitiescould no longer rely on mires as a source of berries to sell for extra income .

Smoke… thick heavy air that leaves a bitternasty,tasteinyourmouth-thepeople of Kukshyn have experienced this for decades . Respiratory diseases were rampant and often kept thousands of children from school and adults on sick leave.Themainculpritwaswell-knownbutthe scale of the problem was way beyond the level of what the local authorities thought they could ever tackle .

Chernihivska oblast

Chernihiv

NIZHYN

KAKSHYN





BIODIVERSITY

Together with local communities and the private sector, UNDP engineers cleaned 12 km of the magisterial channel, repairing 4 sluices and 12 tube crossings. As a result, devastating fires stoppedand plants and animals started to re-establishthemselves.Itisexpectedthatovera20-yearperiod230,000 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions will be prevented from releasing into the atmosphere . But the positive outcome was felt not only by the nature; localcommunitiesstartedtofeelthedifference.Theair became cleaner and reclaimed pastures started providing enough hay for local residents to keep cows, providing livelihoods for local communities, and helping to improve diets, in particular children’s, with healthy dairy products . This spurred business activity and local residents, with UNDP support, started to create farming cooperatives to save on equipment and processing . Overall, more than 4,500 peopleareestimatedtobenefitfromthisinitiative.

To make the shift sustainable and to ensure the protection of over 40 endangered species, 6,000 hectares of the Smolianka mires have been registered as a regional landscape park .

“Now I understand what a sustainable solution truly means. This is a win-win for nature, the people, and the economy,”

says Oleksandr Pyvovar, Head of Kukshyn village council .

6,000 HECTARESof the Smolianka mires have been registered as a regional landscape park

repaired4 sluces & 12 tube crossings

12 kmof the magistral channel cleaned

UNDP Ukraine analyzed global best practices in tackling similar issues and offered Ukraine a simple but powerful solution – to “re-naturalize” the peatlands by re-wetting them and restoring the underground water levels.





REFORMS

Better Lives through Demo-cratic Govern-ance and ReforMS

Better Lives through Democratic Governance and Reforms

National Anticorruption Action Plan adopted

14 citiesopened their budgets

13 Ombudsperson’s Regional Coordinators

National Human Rights Strategy approved

Poor governance was one of the key factors leading to instability in Ukraine, which culminated in the late 2013 - early 2014 mass protests. Ukraine’s newlyelected government has since embarked on an ambitious programme of governance reform, aimed at creatingamoretransparent,effectiveandresponsivegovernment .

UNDP Ukraine, in turn, has responded by intensifying and diversifying its support for democratic governance . In 2015, the organization designated anti-corruption, civil society andhuman rights as key priorities and began providing targeted assistance to these reforms .



TR ansparencyUNDP assists Ukraine’s anticorruption and transparency

agenda through initiatives aimed mostly at prevention with the idea that, by changing attitudes and behaviors, reform can be sustainable . Similarly, UNDP is committed to promoting public administration reform, international standards of public service and effective delivery ofadministrative services, as well as facilitating open budgets and implementing ‘open data’ in Ukraine . With transparencycomestheneedforawell-informed,capableand empowered civil society that can hold the government accountable, and that can assist the wider public in interpreting and understanding the risks of government

decisions . Therefore, UNDP has also prioritized providing support to Ukraine’s civil society .

In addition, UNDP has been supporting the process of judiciary reform to help Ukraine create an independent and transparent justice system . Reform of the prosecution, courts, police and other judiciary bodies is a central tenet ofUkraine’santi-corruptionanddemocraticgovernancestrategy.Concurrently,UNDP is assistingwithefforts toenshrinehumanrightsmorefirmlyinthelegalandpolicyframework, in particular through the elaboration of a new Human Rights Strategy and a related Action Plan .



Transparency and Integrity: improving governance in Ukraine

2015 opened important windows of opportunity for moving Ukraine forward on the path towards transparency and genuine openness of the State towards its citizens .

TR ansparency

With the objective of promoting practical action aimed at reducing levels of corruption across all sectors of government, UNDP supported the development of a three-year National Anti-Corruption Plan. The Planwent through several stages of public consultations toensurebuy-infromboththeMinistryof Justiceandanti-corruption civil society organizations (CSOs). It isbased on indicators following SMART principles and a strategic planning process, which were applied to the anti-corruptionpolicyforthefirsttime.

2015 was also the year for the birth and growth of new anti-corruptionbodiesinUkraine.UNDPhasbeencloselyfollowing the process of establishing the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption (NAPC), designing a roadmap for the NAPC launch, and summarizing regional international experience on effectivestructures of preventive commissions . To make the NAPC launch a transparent, inclusive, and therefore legitimate process, UNDP used its convening power to bring civil society into the process of nominating the NAPC leadership .

Preventive functions of the newly-establishedAgency will include, amongst others, managing the new electronic asset declarations system of all (approximately one million) civil servants in the country .



In partnership with the Ministry of Justice and the World Bank UNDP shaped the vision for the required IT system and supervised open bidding procedures to guarantee transparent and competitive bidding . As the system is built and tested during early 2016, a new round of assets declarations will be submitted inaone-stop-shopportal,ensuringcitizens’accesstoinformationandeffectiveoversightbystateanti-corruption institutions .

The open data legislation adopted in April 2015 with UNDP expert and advocacy support has already stimulated the opening of 331 government databases . These databanks vary greatly and range from dedicated police databases (registry of individuals on wanted lists, stolen vehicles, registered traffic violations, etc.) and the unifiedregistry of private enterprises, to data on the radiological situation and water and air pollution; as well as on public revenues and expenditures and public procurement . The data will enable government institutions, programming specialists, and CSO activists to build useful digital services for computer and smartphone users or simply to increase the level of citizen awareness on important issues that impact their daily lives, such as the issue of public sector budgeting .

The latter – transparency of public sector budgeting – was advanced by UNDP through the development of the open budget visualiser, a tool that allows municipalities to present their budgets tocitizensinauser-friendlyanddigitalway.Citizens,in their turn, will be able to track budget revenues and expenditures and see how these are balanced .

blnin total1.3

million460,5

million775,6

Official transferts

Tax income

Non-tax income

Operationsincome

1 The Open Budget Initiative is a global research and advocacy program to promote public access to budget information and the adoption of accountable budget systems.http://internationalbudget.org/opening-budgets/open-budget-initiative/

Lviv – a major city in Western Ukraine – has been one of the first to join the Open Budget1 Initiative.

Now everyone can see the 3.8 billion UAH budget neatly grouped into categories that enable the municipality to detail each expense in order to, for example, indicate the name of a street where renovations were made. Since May 2015, the instrument has been successfully replicated in 13 more municipalities with over 30 more linking to the initiative in early 2016.



Budg

etOpenBudget-basedvisualization

SAP-basedvisualization

VisualizationbasedonthesystemoftheCSP“EuropeanPartnership“

OpenSpending-basedvisualization

Budget visualizationsof Ukrainian cities

KYIV

Vinnytsya

Khmilnyk

Chernivtsi

Ivano-frankivsk

Dolyna

LVIV

Ternopil

Kherson

CherkasyOkhtyrka

ARTEMIVSK

Berdyansk

Lebedyn

Romny





CIVIL SOCIETY

Building the capacity of civil society

UNDP continued to prioritize the anti-corruptionwork of the civic sector in regions across Ukraine . Inearly2015thefirstUNDPAnti-CorruptionSchoolkickedoff,offeringexposuretothebestpractitionersin the national transparency and integrity arena for young, ambitious CSOs and newly-formed initiativegroups . UNDP subsequently selected the top 22 ideas for achieving more transparency and integrity at the regional and local levels, and mentored the organizations in achieving the set goals .

In less than half a year and with modest seed resources,localCSOswereabletoproducesignificantresults . Working on scrutinizing data about public procurement, one of the local partners managed to achieve the cancellation of 30 million UAH worth of dubious public procurement contracts, bringing about 5 criminal cases . With UNDP support another partner was able to get hold of 35 asset declarations of oblast council members, after numerous appeals .

Throughout 2015 UNDP has continued its work with and for the civil society in Ukraine by supporting CSO initiatives to stimulate implementing reforms, and by providing institutional support to selected regional civil society organizations .



It then was able to not only present the data that should by law be public, but also uncoversomeviolationsofclaimsmadeonofficialrecords.Athirdpartnerwasableto crowdsource claims from local citizens regarding allegedly illegal construction, withanalysisonsomecitizens’whistleblowerreportscurrentlybeingverified.

Advocating for more transparency, integrity, and democratic governance in the public and business realms, the ‘third sector’ rarely looks at its own workings . While over80%ofUkrainianCSOsaredeeplyinfavorofopennessandtransparencyin government, less than half of them have ever reported to the community about their own activities or even shown their expenditures . For the most part, eventhemostskilledof thecivilsocietyactorscontinuetohaveflaws intheirmanagementstructure,remainstronglydonor-dependent,andhaveweaktieswith their constituencies .



ADVOCACY

Throughout 2015, all eight organizations have re-launched their oversight boards, developedinternal rules, procedures, guidelines, and oversight mechanisms, and launched a practice for openly reporting to the public through detailed annual reporting – all in order to better align with standards on internal governance . With all organizations having diversified their fundingsources, seven of them have also increased their overall operational budgets by 65% on average . The CSO hub in Kherson oblast more than doubled its annual budget through a strategic and well-conductedre-launchofitssupervisoryboardandaproactive fundraising strategy .

Beyond assisting the eight regional CSO hubs as the core group of chosen organizations, UNDP aims to have a wider impact on the institutional development of the civic sector . In 2015, for the third year in a row, it took part in organizing the annual Civil Society Capacity Development Forum, gathering over 800 participants from the ‘thirdsector’ . The Forum invites civil society organizations to look inside their organizational structures, policies, and procedures, review their value sets, and become more aligned with models of transparency and accountability . It has served as a source of good practice in making the organizations stronger and more credible advocates for socio-economic reform in their constituencies .

In 2015 UNDP continued to tackle this challenge by working in partnership with civil society on issues of organizational development. This year marked the formal completion of a 2-year programme to nurture eight regional-level CSO leaders (known as regional hubs) from various parts of the country, on the path to more financial sustainability, better internal governance, and transparent internal procedures.





Building stronger capacities to promote and protect human rights in Ukraine

UNDP advanced its cooperation with the OfficeoftheParliamentaryCommissionerforHumanRights(alsoknownas,theOfficeoftheOmbudsperson) assisting its expansion on the regional level and strengthening its capacities . Thenewly-establishedregionalcoordinatornetwork helps to monitor human rights on a local level and alert the Ombudsperson about violations .

HUMAN RIGHTS

In 2015 the regional coordinators provided legal andotherconsultationstomorethan800people,monitored 218 court hearings, examined 411citizens’ written appeals and organised 69 human rights workshops .

The coordinators also became essential focal points for the National Preventive Mechanism, the nation-based component that complements thesystem established by the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture, which obliges States to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment . In 2015, the coordinators conducted 95 visits to the institutions of deprivation of liberty to identify and address human rights violations that result in criminal prosecution of the accused .

UNDP also assisted theOmbudsperson’s officein monitoring transparency and accountability of the law enforcement system . As a result, 43 police units in Ukraine received 99 requests for public



information to determine the departments’ level of responsiveness.Inaddition,allofficialwebsitesofoblastpolice departments were requested to become more transparent and disclose key information, including contact details and budget funds allocation .

WithUNDPsupporttheOfficeoftheOmbudspersonconducted the first comprehensive monitoring ofthe new Criminal Procedure Code implementation . Adopted in 2012, the new code became one of the most important milestones for improving Ukraine’s criminal justice system . As a result of the monitoring of 11 district courtstheOfficeoftheOmbudspersonputforward75recommendations for the judiciary, prosecution and other parties in the criminal process to ensure open and public court hearings, tighten regulations for courthouse access and prevent delays . The report was also presented in the Ukrainian parliament to ensure policy change .

In2015theOfficeoftheOmbudspersonalsobecamethe platform for international-level consultations onthe role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in conflict and post-conflict situations. In October2015 over 100 representatives from 20 NHRIs, human rights experts and activists gathered in Kyiv to adopt a declarationcallingforastrongerroleforNHRIsinconflictand post-conflict settings. Titled The Kyiv Declaration,the product of the conference deliberations has already been signed by 19 NHRIs and will be advocated for wider adoption, including through a standing working group comprisingtheOfficeoftheOmbudspersoninUkraine,UNDP, ICC and OHCHR .

During the presentation of the courtroom monitoring report, one of the participating judges remarked,

“The shortage of staff and the lack of funding are no excuse. Judges need accountability, and they need to work with integrity. We need to follow the rules ourselves. We need to earn our respect from the citizens.”



COMMUNITIES

Stronger communities -better lives!

In partnership with the European Union and the Government of Ukraine, UNDP has been working to empower rural communities through the Community Based Approach to Local Development initiativesince2008.Theapproachhascreatedanenvironment for joint decision-making, initiatedbottom-up planning processes, cemented localdevelopment partnerships, and has led to real improvements in people’s lives .

Over the years, more than 2,600 micro-projectshavebeenimplementedbenefitingsome2.5millionpeople . In 2015 alone, the living conditions of more than 600,000 people were improved through 500 micro-projects, ranging from installing waterpipelines,energy-efficientstreetlighting,andenergy-efficientwindows,totherenovationandre-equippingof a local kindergarten or rural health clinic .

people were improved through 500 micro-projects600,000

LIVING CONDITIONS OF MORE THAN

The current economic and social crisis in Ukraine is very much visible in the rural areas and small cities . Here the slow pace ofrecoveryisnotafigureonabalancesheetbutratherthedifferencebetweena sustainable way of life or struggling to maintain a subsistence lifestyle . Some of the challenges faced by rural and small city communities in Ukraine are lack of information,finance,andworkablemodelsto participate in local governance processes .





PEOPLE

AsaresultofCBA-supportedinitiatives,thiswinterchildren in 322 village schools and kindergartens are studying and playing in warm and well-heated classrooms and schools . The inhabitants of 61 villages are enjoying better healthcare . In 24 villages, people now have improved access to clean drinking water . The communities of 61 villages have improved street lighting. Residents of 89communitiesareenjoyingthebenefitsofinnovativeenergy-efficienttechnologiessuchassolarpoweredstreetlightingorenergy-efficientheatingsystemsincommunity centres and public buildings .

The local economies of 46 rural communities employing 1,300 people in 12 regions of Ukraine have started to rebound thanks to agricultural cooperatives, offering better and cheaper dairyproducts and more efficient land cultivation andgardening processes .

Since 2014, when CBA entered its third phase, the project has expanded to urban areas of Ukraine and supported 139 initiatives in 19 small cities across Ukraine . The result is that more than 30,000 people are living in apartment buildings with repaired roofs, warm walls, energy-efficient windows, andimproved heating systems .

To ensure that the shift is sustainable and maintained, 17 regional universities have included local development courses in their curriculums and now more than 560 students have become advocates of the community based approach to local development .

To share the knowledge and the best practices about this approach, UNDP joined forces with the Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils and created a Knowledge Management Hub platform that will be instrumental in developing policy recommendations and advocating for a decentralization reform agenda.

30,000 PEOPLEMORE THAN

are living in apartment buildings with repaired roofs, warm walls, energy-efficient windows, and improved heating systems.





INITIATIVE

Taking mattersin our own hands

They got together, discussed the problem, and developed a community plan . They mobilized 10,600 UAH in community funds to replace the old windows with energy-efficient ones and decidedto save money by doing some of the cleaning and finishingworksthemselves.

Upon hearing about the initiative, the village and rayon councils showed their support by contributing another 90,000 UAH . The works took three months to complete but made studying for 700 children much more comfortable and enjoyable .

The old school in Veselivka village of the Kirovograd region was built in the 1960’s andhadn’t had much renovation since then . It was not a nice place to be during the winter; Gaps around the windows and doors let in lots of fresh air regardless of the season and 96 windows out of the 117 did not open at all . But then something changed: the villagers of Veselivka realized that waiting for the governmenttofixitlikeintheoldSoviettimeswas not an option anymore .

“Taking matters in our own hands was the best decision we ever made. I don’t know why it took us so long to realize that!”

says Anatoliy, a Veselivka village resident and the father of two



Dece ntralization



Dece ntralization

Supporting decentralization and local governance reforms

UNDP supported the decentralization and local governance reform process in various ways in 2015, bothatthelocallevelthroughitslong-standingworkon community-based local development and publicparticipation, and at the central policy level through close collaboration with local government associations and the Ministry of Regional Development, as well as with a specific focus on restoring governancefunctionsinconflict-affectedareasofeasternUkraine.

UNDP has also supported exchanges of experiences and reviews of lessons learned and challenges in achieving development targets through governance reforms at the sub-national and local level. On2-3 December, UNDP and the Government ofUkraine co-hosted the regional conference “MakingDecentralization Reform Work: Opportunities and Innovations for Local Governance and Service Delivery” . The conference was designed as a platform for experts and practitioners of decentralization and local governance reforms to share relevant experiences and lessons learnt, and to exchange ideas about innovations and opportunities for future reforms in the region .

One of the major ongoing reforms in Ukraine is decentralization and local government reform . It involves a redesigned statestructureandre-allocationofpowers and responsibilities, as well as administrative-territorialreform.Carryingoutdecentralization reform in a sensitive political, security, and economic context is fraught with challenges, and therefore support from UNDP and other partners is seen as an important factor contributing to success .



Public procurement



Public procurement

Reforming the procurement systemfor medicines

To tackle this growing health emergency Ukraine has requested UNDP, UNICEF and WHO’s support for theprocurementanddistributionofaspecificrangeof medicines and related medical products, on the basis of special legislation . In October 2015, UNDP and the Ministry of Health signed an agreement for the procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment through UNDP in line with the highest international standards . The agreement is the result of joint efforts by UN agencies and civil societyaimed at boosting transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public procurement and supportingUkraine’s capacity to provide everyone with access to the medicines they need .

In line with this agreement, UNDP has already procured pharmaceuticals and medical supplies for diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, HIV, hemophilia, viral hepatitis and rare diseases . The total sum of the procurement contracts will amount to US $27millionandthefirstroundoftendershasalreadybrought savings of up to 40 percent from the original estimated budget . In addition to addressing the country’s immediate needs in medicines, UNDP will supporttheMinistryinitslong-termeffortstoreformthe public procurement system to bring it in line with the highest international standards .

Millions of Ukrainian men, women, and children are not able to obtain essential medicines procured through the public health care system and patients with rare diseases are often unable access the drugs they need due to their high costs . In particular, people sufferingfromtuberculosisandviralhepatitis,aswellaschildrensufferingfromhemophilia,are often in desperate need of the medications that can sustain their lives .

In recent years, Ukraine has experienced shortages of many life-sustaining medicines resulting in deaths and worseninghealth conditions formany. This is largely due to inefficientpublic procurement procedures and endemic corruption in the public health system and the pharmaceutical industry, as has been amply documented by civil society groups and investigative journalists .





Reforming

Supporting Social SectorGovernance Reforms

UNDP also supported improving access of people with disabilities to social services through developing the ‘National Standards of Day Care Services’ . Based on this document, the Ministry of Social Policy developed and adopted the relevant legal provisions, ensuring that social service agencies follow these standards . These measures allowed relevant agencies to provide higher quality social services . As a result, 1,300 children with disabilities can now study and rehabilitate at 65 newly-created day care departments that serveas an alternative to the traditional boarding schools (the so called ‘internats’), an outdated concept that is known for often inadequate services to children with disabilities . In late 2015 day care service departments were also opened for adults with disabilities and senior citizens .

Skyrocketing utilities prices forced many Ukrainians to seek social services in the form of subsidies . However, people representing vulnerable groups often were not aware of the eligibility criteria and application process . In order to bridge this information gap, UNDP provided policy recommendations and helped the government to simplify application procedures and develop a comprehensive public awareness campaign targeting the most vulnerable . As a result the number of subsidies recipients increasedfive-fold.

In addition, UNDP provided advisory support to the government in developing a Poverty Reduction Strategy as a part of the Action Plan for the implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union .

Ukraine’s social sector has been particularly affectedbythelong-termeconomiccrisisand demographic factors such as an aging society . Systems were further strained by the additional demands emanating from the armedconflictinEasternUkraineaswellastheongoing decentralization process .

In 2015 UNDP Ukraine continued supporting social sector reform aimed at improving social services and the pension system, as well as employment and poverty reduction policies . UNDP provided expert support through developing and amending 26 legislative documents, 12 of which have been adopted by the Government . In addition, more than 1,500 policymakers and experts were trained on how to improve planning and establish needs-based social services at the community level,diversification of service providers and development of thesocial services market, introduction of quality standards, and monitoring and assessment procedures .



FUTURE

In 2015, UNDP Ukraine supported the development of the National Report “MillenniumDevelopment Goals. Ukraine: 2000-2015”, whichtakes stock of the achievements Ukraine made, as well as the challenges that remain .

The MDG monitoring process is the most outstanding example in Ukraine’s history of an inclusive, transparent and systematic review of governmental commitments on key development issues, with a long-term outlook. For the first timeever in Ukraine, 33 key national development indicators have been regularly monitored over a periodof15years.TheMDGsinfluencedtheshapingof state goals, strategic documents, programmes and legislation . MDG monitoring also played an important role in building the capacity of civil servants, civil society and academia who were actively engaged in this process .

The MDGs Report will serve as an important tool for strategicplanningbasedonthein-depthanalysisofproblems and policy recommendations . It provides a basis for further strategic planning and monitoring, inparticularwithregardtotheroll-outofthe17newSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs).Thefindingsand recommendations presented in the MDGs 2015 Report are used by the Ministry of Economic Development as the state authority responsible for strategic planning and forecasting, as well as other relevant government entities and civil society .

2015 was a special year for Ukraine as the targetdatefortheachievementofthefirstgeneration of global goals, known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) . The MDGsestablishedmeasurable,universally-agreed objectives for eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, preventing deadly but treatable disease, and expanding educational opportunities to all children, among other development imperatives . Over the years, UNDP has been providing technical support, advocacy and advice to the Government of Ukraine in adjusting its planning and monitoring tools to the requirements under the MDGs and has helped popularize and localize the MDG agenda .





United Nations Development Programmein Ukraine

1, Klovsky Uzviz Str ., Kyiv, 01021, UkraineTel:+380442539363(GeneralEnquiries)Fax:+380442532607

International partners

www .ua .undp .orgwww .facebook .com/UNDPUkraineTwitter: @UNDPUkraine

Documents

BUILDING A NEW UKRAINE TOGETHER - UNDP2016/01/04 · 2015 Achievements Report 11 GOVERNANCE Restoring governance functions in conflict-affected areas and promoting reconciliation