With the support of the DESPRO project, a conference covering fundraising nuances was held in the capital.

By Dmytro Synyak

Everyone needs money, but not everyone knows how to lawfully increase their amount. Several ways were suggested by the experts at the seminar “Tools to finance local investment projects”, held recently in the capital. The seminar was organised by the Swiss-Ukrainian project “Decentralisation Support in Ukraine” (DESPRO), Ukrainian Stock Market Development Institute of the KNEU named after Vadym Hetman, as well as the Public Association “Ukrainian Union of Capital Markets”.

The presentation by Vyacheslav Kozak, DESPRO expert on public services, who shared with the specialists of local self-government and communal enterprises of cities and amalgamated hromadas, present in the hall, how to properly search and raise funds for local development, was among the most interesting ones.

Vyacheslav Kozak also drew attention to the fact that in terms of decentralisation the applications for funding receipt, created with the participation of local NGOs’ representatives, have a great advantage.

Speaking about the sources of obtaining a resource, the expert presented an interesting list:

Types of fundraising sources:

1. State: government orders, grants, targeted funding

2. Local self-government bodies: municipal orders, targeted funding, joint implementation of projects

3. International funds and donors: grants, international technical assistance, easy-term lending, humanitarian aid

4. Commercial structures: sponsor and charity assistance in funds, services, information

5. Individuals: donations, contributions, wills

6. Own business activities: paid services, investments in securities, lottery revenue, charity concerts or presentations

At first glance, this information has long been known, but on the other hand, some hromadas, after reading this list, may realise that they have not yet worked in some areas.

At the end of the conference, at the request of decentralisation.gov.ua, the expert also gave advice to the leaders of amalgamated hromadas.

“I would advise the heads of hromadas to engage in significant projects, squandering no talents on trifles,” said Vyacheslav Kozak. “As one way or another the hromada should provide 1-2 persons to each grant project. To maximise the effect of using funds, this project must be a large-scale one. In addition, it must solve the problem of, at least, the whole village or city, and not of its part.”

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