UNDP in Ukraine

Duration:

Phase I: 01.09.2002 - 31.12.2007

Phase II: 01.01.2008 - 31.12.2010

Web-page: www.crdp.org.ua

WHAT IS OUR MISSION?

The Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme (CRDP) launched its activities based on the recommendations of the report "The Human Consequences of the Chornobyl Nuclear Accident. A Strategy for Recovery", initiated by the UN Agencies in February 2002.

CRDP cooperates with national government, international donor organizations, business, and non-profit sectors regarding Chornobyl related issues to develop the capacity of national institutions to deal with the effects of the Chornobyl catastrophe.

Тhe goal

The UNDP-led Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme aims at ensuring the return to normal life as a realistic prospect for people living in the Chornobyl-affected regions. This will be achieved via continuing support provided to the Government of Ukraine in developing and executing human development-oriented solutions for the entire region.

Due to the partnerships with international organizations, oblast and rayon state administrations, village councils, scientific institutions, non-governmental organizations and private businesses, CRDP supports community organizations in the implementation of their initiatives on economic, social development and environmental recovery as well as promotes information distribution about the Chornobyl catastrophe within Ukraine as well as internationally.

HOW ARE WE CARRYING OUT OUR MISSION?

In order to achieve its goals, CRDP is working in such areas:

Strategic solutions to support sustainable local economic development - provision of ongoing advisory support to the Government and assisting in the elaboration of development-oriented solutions for rehabilitation of the Chornobyl-affected regions.

Enabling local governance environment to foster economic development - enhancement of local authorities capacities to transparently define and implement local development strategies, deliver public services, and foster local economic development, including support of strategic planning at rayon level and enhancement capacities of local economic development agencies to provide services for business and authorities in the region.

Consolidation of community-based recovery and development - involvement of a larger number of affected communities in recovery and development processes, ensuring introducing of strong national ownership of the approach that addresses specific needs of communites, undergoing revision of radiactive-contamination zones and youth specific issues in the region such as access to ICT technologies and Internet. In addition, rendering assistance to community organizations in self-organization and self-governance, increasing their potential for implementing their own priority programmes of social, economic, and ecological recovery and development

Human security through local information provision - development of national capacities to sustain community-based information provision network for the Chornobyl- affected regions and enhancement of local authorities capacities to improve public awareness on human security issues in communities living around nuclear power plants based on the Chornobyl lessons learned.

Geography of CRDP’s activities:

CRDP works in the 4 worst Chornobyl-affected Regions (oblasts) in Ukraine, namely Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Chernigiv and Rivne Regions, which include 17 districts (rayons): Borodyansky, Ivankivsky, Kyivo-Svyatoshynsky, Makarivsky, Polissky (Kyiv Region), Brusylivsky, Korostensky, Ovrutsky, Luhynsky, Narodytsky, Olevsky, Emilchynsky (Zhytomyr Region), Chernigivsky, Ripkynsky (Chernigiv Region), Dubrovytsky, Zarichnensky and Rokytnivsky (Rivne Region).

OUR DONORS:

CRDP’s approach, focusing on community development, has not only begun to change the attitudes of the communities towards greater self-help, but has also led to a much more enthusiastic response from the donor community. At present, CRDP has acquired over USD 4 mln. Current CRDP donors include:

• UN Trust Fund for Human Security / Government of Japan - USD 1.178 mln.
• Canadian International Development Agency / Government of Canada - USD 1,2 mn.
• The Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency / Government of Switzerland - USD 473,000
• UN Development Programme - USD 934,000.
• UN Special Voluntary Fund - USD 287,000.
• The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - USD 110,000
• Louis Bonduelle Foundation - USD 6,400

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS in 2002-2008:

• Supported the improvement of national programmes for the mitigation of Chornobyl catastrophe consequences (research, round-tables, conferences, participation of CRDP's national and international partners in the dialogue). Provided the Government of Ukraine with advisory support on national policy and regional cooperation issues, including hosting of various round tables and providing support for studies on Chornobyl-specific policy issues. New National Programme on Chornobyl for 2006 - 2010 adopted by the Parliament of Ukraine, which incorporated key recovery-oriented recommendations. At the 20th Chornobyl Anniversary commemorative conferences, the UN/UNDP Chornobyl strategy was largely based on the UNDP/CRDP's experiences.

• Initiated and enlarged the work of the Chornobyl Economic Development Forum as a platform for working out a strategy of sustainable development of territories, attracting investment into the region, creation of the conditions for partnerships between businesses and authorities for recovery and development of affected territories.

• Advocacy and public awareness campaign on the developmental approach for Chornobyl implemented by CRDP through various activities like round-table meetings, donor visits, and pres-tirps resulted in more than 400 media publications: news reports and articles, TV and radio reports.

• CRDP strategic approach was shared at sub-regional level with colleagues of Belarus and the Russian Federation and acknowledged at the highest UN level in UN GA resolutions in 2005 and 2007.

• Successfully introduced in the region principle "Community organizations and authorities: partners on recovery and development issues". 279 community organizations (COs) were formed in 192 villages of Ukraine (involving over 20,000 community members), that resolve important socio-economic problems in the villages: reconstruction of water pipe-lines and gasification; reconstruction of schools, baths, village health centers, and ambulatories; creation of youth, public and service centers; etc. Community organizations implemented 190 recovery and development projects totalling over UAH 18 mn.

UAH 6,6 mln. of which were contributed by CRDP.

Nearly 200,000 people benefited from community-driven development projects supported by UNDP/CRDP. Community organizations successfully mobilized significant financial resources for implementation of their own priority projects. On average, for the implementation of one project, a community organization itself contributed 20% of the total amount, local village and rayon authorities - 40%, CRDP - 31%, other sponsors - 9%.

• CRDP supported the establishment of 8 Regional Economic Development Agencies, 3 in rayons of Zhytomyr Region (Brusyliv, Korosten and Ovruch), 2 in Kyiv Region (Borodyanka and Ivankiv), 1 in Rivne Region (Dubrovytsya) and 1 in Chernihiv oblast (Ripky rayon). One more agency in Rokytne rayon (Rivne Region) is in the process of registration. The Agency of Regional Economic Development in Brusyliv rayon provides everyday consultation to private entrepreneurship and those active citizens who want to establish private business. The Agency ensures equal opportunities for everybody regardless of gender, age and race.

• CRDP has developed a model for Youth centres - an institution specially designed to respond to young people's needs. A Youth Centre is composed of a gym, computer, equipment and internet, and meeting room for self-organized trainings, classes, etc. As a result, the Youth Centre has become both a human resource centre and a social enterprise for the village. During 2004-2007, CRDP supported the establishment of 36 Youth Centres in Chornobyl-affected areas.

• Development of ICT raises the opportunity for youth development in Chornobyl-affected rural areas: two internet clubs at local schools and 8 at rural youth centers offer the opportunity to enjoy everyday virtual communication with peers from around the world.

• In cooperation with leading scientific institutions, developed and distributed information materials (brochures, booklets, a film, posters, CDs - in total about 20 titles) regarding the Chornobyl catastrophe consequences and conditions for secure living in contaminated territories. Conducted a series of trainings for teachers and medical workers on issues of radiation security and healthy life styles.

CRDP developed the film ‘Alphabet of Understanding' and publication ‘Teachers Guidebook on the Chornobyl Accident', which have been supported by the Ministry of Emergencies for mass production and dissemination in 2007.

OUR OBJECTIVES AND TASKS FOR 2009-2010:

• Provide support in developing small- and medium-sized businesses to improve competition. Support for implementation of international investment programs;
• guide subventions from the State budget for projects that will support attractiveness of the investment climate of regions and will have a high level of social effectiveness;
• establish and test local economic development models on the basis of social partnerships of authorities, businesses and communities;
• develop and implement joint projects (programmes) together with international organizations for the rehabilitation of radioactively-polluted territories and affected people;
• conduct joint international scientific research to generate practical recommendations in mitigating Chornobyl fallout consequences;
• continue dialogue regarding the new strategy of international cooperation to resolve problems concerning mitigation of accident consequences;
• support initiatives directed towards ensuring social-economic development of affected territories by engaging international and national volunteers;
• support international partnership building for technology exchanges and private experiences activities.

Please, visit our web site http://www.crdp.org.ua