U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget A. Brink joined Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine – Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov, to announce the expansion of USAID support to 18 additional communities in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv oblasts.

Each partner municipality will receive comprehensive support to improve its local self-government institutional capacity, governance practices, service provision, and economic development. USAID’s support for these frontline communities will center on reconstruction and recovery.

Based on initial assessments of municipality capacity, USAID HOVERLA Activity will develop an individual support plan for each community. During the implementation of the plans, the USAID HOVERLA Activity will provide advisory and methodological assistance to selected communities via different instruments including training activities, webinars, sharing experience and best practices, and implementing local community projects. The plan will also ensure strengthened community capacity to respond to emergencies. Also, local self-governments will be able to use the tool of in-kind procurements, and grant programs will be available for civil society organizations.

Ms. Bridget A. Brink, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine:

“The United States is proud to stand with Ukraine and its frontline communities in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv oblasts to build capacity to enable transparent and accountable decentralization. This is critical to Ukraine’s recovery and future. In solidarity with Ukraine, the United States supports Ukraine’s communities as they defend their sovereignty and democracy against Russia's brutal aggression.”

Mr. Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine - Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine:

“We believe that the foundation of recovery should be based on the principle used in the EU and followed by our team at the Ministry: 'No plans without money and no money without plans.' The leadership role of communities in the process of reconstruction and further development is extremely important. Leadership is competence, capability, and responsibility. That's why we are introducing new tools that will primarily enhance the financial capacity of communities, utilizing opportunities for public-private partnerships, administering local taxes and fees, and the ability to take loans for all territorial communities - not only urban but also village and settlement.

Sincere thanks to the American people and the USAID HOVERLA Activity for the assistance and support to Ukraine and territorial communities on the path to democracy and good governance.”

Since 2021, the USAID HOVERLA Activity have been working with 80 municipalities in nine oblasts, specifically Chernihiv, Lviv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Volyn, Zakarpattia, Zhytomyr.

The USAID Governance and Local Accountability (HOVERLA) Activity assists the Government of Ukraine to further advance and implement the decentralization reform by strengthening the local self-governments’ service delivery effectiveness and accountability to citizens.