About the project

The Swiss-Ukrainian project “Ukraine`s Cohesion and Regional Development ”, UCORD is implemented with the support of Switzerland via Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation by NIRAS Sweden AB.

UCORD is a project that provides comprehensive support to regional development agencies (RDAs) and regional development reform. We strengthen the capacity of RDAs to coordinate regional recovery and development, set priorities and create partnerships for the implementation of projects in the areas of SME support, clustering, water supply, sanitation, waste management, culture and creative industries. Involving RDAs in project implementation is an important component of the process of strengthening their institutional capacity.

We also cooperate with other regional partners to form a common voice in the process of developing regional development policies. The results obtained in the pilot regions will serve as the basis for future decisions and scaling up successful practices across the country.

The first phase budget: 16’940’000 CHF

Main goal

Citizens, businesses and public authorities contribute to and equally benefit from recovery actions and coherent regional development that fosters improved quality of life, resilience, peace, and social cohesion in Ukraine.

The main objectives of the first phase

Regional development agencies are inclusive multi-stakeholder platforms for practical support in the recovery of Ukraine through the implementation of harmoanised national, regional, and local recovery and development strategies.

Public authorities at all governance levels effectively cooperate and join forces with the private sector to support the recovery process and ensure the provision of quality public services critical for the environment in the pilot oblasts.

Citizens and public authorities become fully integrated into local, regional, and national cultural spaces through culture-sensitive and conflict-sensitive dialogue on strategic issues of societal development in the pilot oblasts.

Three priorities of the first phase

Regional Development priority provides for the development of regional policy in Ukraine by supporting and strengthening Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in pilot regions.

Development of Environmental Services (WASAW) priority focus is on improving the provision of public services in the WASAW sector (water supply, sanitation and waste management) with a focus on the environment.

Social Cohesion through Culture priority aims to build social cohesion through culture, dialogue and creative industries.

Expected results

RDAs become modern and reliable service providers for all hromadas in an oblast through the development of a transparent governance structure and the institutional strengthening of RDAs.

RDAs are capacitated to lead the design and implementation of the recovery plans and the renewed regional strategy development and implementation, uniting public authorities, business, civil society, academia, and development partners.

Recovery process and regional development are effectively coordinated by the Government of Ukraine catering to the needs of oblasts and hromadas.

Regional / inter-municipal projects in water supply, sanitation and waste management developed and implemented in the pilot oblasts, coordinated by RDAs and in accordance with regional recovery and development plans.

RDAs and regional and local authorities are capacitated to design investment intensive projects in line with the regional recovery plans.

National and regional policies on WASAW sector recovery and service provision improved with advisory/expert support.

Increased contribution of culture and creative industries (CCIs) to regional development and social cohesion.

Enhanced culture of dialogue on strategic development issues among citizens and public authorities at all governance levels.

Partners

National

Regional

Local