On 13 June 2018, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the conditions for the competitive selection of the next 25 amalgamated hromadas to participate in the USAID Programme “Decentralisation Offering Better Results and Efficiency” (DOBRE) at the press centre of the Ukrainian Crisis Media Centre. Hromadas from the Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Kharkiv, Kherson and Mykolayiv Oblasts, that amalgamated on a voluntary basis, held local elections and have population of at least 5000 residents can participate in the competition. Applications will be accepted until 27 July. Participation in the Programme will help AHs to respond effectively to citizens' priorities through proper resource management, improvement of communal service quality, stimulation of local economy and citizens’ engagement.

“Joining the DOBRE Programme, you have to understand that you have a lot of work ahead of you. No one will do it for you. We want you to know how to work and how to succeed,” said Barry Reed, Director of the USAID DOBRE Programme.

During the next 2-3 weeks informational meetings will be held for the representatives of hromadas in seven target oblasts. “Hromadas will also be able to contact our regional offices to get the necessary assistance after informational meetings. After 27 July, DOBRE and MinRegion will hold a selection procedure, according to the defined criteria. By mid-August we will select finalists, who will get a practical assignment from us. Those to cope with it successfully, will join the Programme,” explained Barry Reed.

“The hromadas that participate in the DOBRE Programme are in fact success stories. We can say that they have made a tremendous step forward. The assistance provided by the Programme experts is priceless in terms of local and regional development. Learning is one of our main challenges. The volume of resources has increased significantly in local budgets, but we feel the lack of knowledge, lack of specialists able to effectively use these resources,” said Vyacheslav Nehoda, First Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine.

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