Source: Zaporizhia Regional State Administration
A two-day training on “Project Writing and the State Fund for Regional Development” started in RSA as part of the international technical aid project “Partnership for Local Economic Development” (PLEDDG). The event welcomed the representatives of RSAs, Municipal Executive Committees, and heads of the RSA structural units and amalgamated territorial communities engaged in direct coordination of the work and development of the projects eligible for being implemented at the costs of the State Fund for Regional Development.
Zinaida Boyko, Chief of RSA’s staff, reminded that the State Fund for Regional Development has been operating in Ukraine since 2012. Today it serves as a powerful driving force for development of regions and acts as a catalyst for upturn of investment activity and inflow of private investments in territorial communities’ development. Its funds are to be directed to financing of the projects having crucial value for the development of regions.
The experience obtained over the last years shows local specialists’ downplaying the detailed work namely on development of the projects able to promote economic growth of the territory.
The international technical assistance project “Partnership for Local Economic Development and Democratic Governance” (PLEDDG) calls for training for the communities of the region to generate high quality and effective projects specifically dedicated to regional development. PLEDDG Project is being implemented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and funded by Global Affairs Canada. It is the third year in a row already that the Project’s experts have delivered trainings on preparation of the projects to become eligible for SFRD funding.
– This year, the state budget of SFRD allocates funds in the amount of 6 billion UAH, with 195.3 million UAH allocated for Zaporizhia region. The resources of the fund serve as a significant source for implementation of the projects of public interest for the region. That being said, the legislation governing the issue of the State Fund of Regional Development has undergone amendments. As per 2017, no less than 10% of the Fund’s resources shall be targeted to each of the following areas: sport infrastructure development; development of energy efficiency of education and health care institutions, — said Zinaida Boyko.
As part of the training, the Project’s expert Vasyl Kashevskyy dwelled on the question of the pillars of state fund for regional development operation in detail and gave practical advice on project preparation.
The expert also assured that the participants were able to put both their knowledge of key changes in legal framework and practical advice on the project preparation details in practice in the near future.
It is expected that in April, pre-qualification of investment programs and regional development projects eligible to obtain SFRD funding for the year of 2019 will be announced.