WYG

The purpose of the project is to establish an enabling environment for sustainable social and economic regeneration in the Donbass region of Ukraine. The project works with the Oblast Administrations in Donetsk and Lugansk, selected raions and a range of state bodies, other donor organisations and NGOs. 80% of the project is targeted at Lugansk Oblast - being the poorer of the two and recognising that Donetsk is one of the few net contributors to the federal budget of Ukraine.

The Donbass has been in a state of decline for many years as the old coal, iron and steel industries, along with the associated heavy engineering and machine building, have dramatically reduced. Social and economic decline at the local level is high.

Working in both Oblasts and in selected raions, the objectives are to:

• Complete a programme of capacity building/institutional development in Oblast and raion administrations
• Establish a policy environment at Oblast level which promotes and enables economic growth
• Develop and test sustainable models of comprehensive social mitigation and economic regeneration in pilot raions which can be replicated throughout the Oblasts and the rest of Ukraine
• Establish practices that support a more inclusive political culture

Offices have been set up in both main cities and through a process of local consultation, priorities are being set for each Oblast and a strategic development plan drawn up with measurable targets for promoting an enabling environment for job creation and labour redeployment. In all, over 23 activities are planned in a coordinated approach.

The activities will be supported by the establishment and management of two grant fund schemes. The first will fund community development projects whilst the second will facilitate business start-ups. WYG International specification and procurement experts will assist in the refurbishment of community buildings in order to create valuable community resources. Institutional development activity is a major component and is being extended to community level in Lugansk mirroring current work in Donetsk so as to directly impact on reduction of inequalities. Financial support will also be provided in the form of direct resource transfer.