Poltava hosted the final regional meeting to present the Public Investment Management (PIM) reform currently being implemented by the Ukrainian Government. The event brought together over 400 representatives from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Poltava and Kharkiv regions – professionals who are pioneering a new approach to investment at local and regional levels.

The participants were provided with the theoretical framework, as well as practical tools and examples of successful implementation. They were also given explanations of the new procedures and requirements envisaged by the reform. Particular attention was paid to adapting the reforms to the local context by taking the specifics of communities and regions into account.

Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, said the following in his address to the participants:

‘This reform is the fundamental pillar of our future joint efforts to raise funds for infrastructure projects that will improve people’s lives. With the help of the strategy, each community and region can develop a vision for the comprehensive development of their territory. The Ministry is ready to assist local authorities in preparing and updating strategies that consider the needs of the population and demonstrate how these needs will be met.’

Meanwhile, Federica Dispenza, UNDP Ukraine Project Manager, emphasised:

‘The reform is part of Ukraine’s broader comprehensive recovery and a significant contribution of the Government to the development of transparent and accountable governance at all levels. In order for development to be evenly distributed across communities and territories, it is crucial that communities clearly understand and articulate their needs, including to international donors.’

What was discussed in Poltava?

The focus was on the key elements of the reform:

• a legislative framework that regulates the PIM reform;
• institutional support at local and regional levels;
• a new methodology for preparing public investment projects and programmes;
• strategic and medium-term planning serving as the basis for the entire process;
• the formation of sectoral portfolios;
• launch of the Single Project Portfolio (SPP).

Communities and regional military administrations have already started developing a Medium-Term Public Investment Plan (MTPIP). This plan provides the basis for future investment activity, offering a clear list of investment areas based on development strategies at the appropriate level.

DREAM: the digital core of the new reality

Viktor Nestulia, Head of the DREAM Project Office – a public investment management system – presented the rationale behind the transformation of the DREAM digital platform.

The new digital model will allow:

• unifying the creation, evaluation, and prioritisation of projects at all levels;
• implementing international management standards;
• creating a ‘single window’ for effective investment management – from the community to the state.

The DREAM Project Office will provide methodological support at every stage of implementing the reform. Webinars are already taking place to support communities in preparing their MTPIPs at the local level.

If you would like to provide feedback on awareness of the PIM reform and suggest ways in which it could be improved, please complete the survey: https://forms.gle/x3Ga7QdaKV1C77Pd7

See the description of the reform here: https://bit.ly/46auV5p

Eight cities. 3500+ participants. All of Ukraine in action

The meeting in Poltava marked the conclusion of a major regional series covering Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Kyiv, Lutsk, Mykolaiv, Uzhhorod, Chernihiv, and Poltava. These events provided a platform for open professional discussion and launched a new generation of reforms that are transforming the concept of investment management.

The event was held in partnership between:

Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, DREAM Project Office, Open Contracting Partnership, UNDP Ukraine, European Union, Government of Japan – within the framework of the EU4Recovery – Empowering Communities in Ukraine initiative and the project ‘Supporting Inclusive Recovery for Resilience and Security in Ukraine’.