ODESA, MAY, 18th, 2009, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE – Outpatient clinic will be opened under International Project “Community Based Approach to Local Development” in Bilgorod-Dnistrovsk Raion, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

According to Oksana Remiga, as of 7 May, the Project “Community Based Approach to Local Development” adopted for financing three micro-projects of the communities: “Opening an outpatient clinic in the village of Britovka, Bilgorod-Dnistrovsk Raion” initiated by social organization “Nadezhda” (Hope), total value 100 thousand UAH; “Improvement of accessibility of the village of Radisne, Ivanivka Raion, to normal-quality fresh water” (repair of artesian well), initiated by the “Radostnenskiye Istochniki” Village Committee, total value 137 thousand 873 UAH; “Improvement of Study Conditions of Children by Energy Saving” (replacement of doors and windows of Banovka school) initiated by Peoples’ Self-organization Organ “Vdirodzhennya 1” (Renaissance 1), total value 161 thousand UAH.

Preparation of three more micro-project offers was finished. The projects are to undergo consideration 22 May.

6 Community projects are at the stage of finalization.

As Context-Prichernomorie reported before, 18 May, Odesa Oblast State Administration signed an agreement with UNO Development Programme in Ukraine about implementation of the project “Community Based Approach to Local Development” on the territory of the oblast, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

The project aims at improvement of living conditions of country citizens by mobilization of the communities. The creation of a favourable environment for social-economic development will be carried out at the local level by the communities’ self-organization, developing and implementing small social initiatives in Ukrainian villages. The project is financed by the European Union and UN Development Programme in Ukraine.

In July, 2008, the target Raions were selected. The target Raions of Odesa Oblast are: Artsyz, Bilgorod-Dnistrovsk, Bolgrad, Ivanovka, Kodyma, Kotovsk, Savran, and Frunzovka Raions. Belyayevka Raion is in the reserve list.

While selecting the Raions we took into consideration two main criteria: we chose the poorest Raions, needing help and we counted readiness to cooperate. We have four implemented projects so far. The funding for Odesa Oblast makes 250 thousand USD for financing over 40 micro projects. The project has 5 priorities: health, ecology, energy saving, water supply, and local transport (exactly school and kindergarten buses). This money is of course not enough to solve all the problems in Ukraine, but we hope the result will be improvement of living conditions and the citizens will further develop the model without any assistance from the outside. The project presupposes 50-percent financing of the micro-projects. Officially the project finishes in February, 2011.