The International Renaissance Foundation establishes cooperation with bodies of local self-government

Oleksiy Orlovsky, Director of the Civil Society Impact Enhancement Program of the International Renaissance Foundation, met with Oleksiy Kayda, Head of Ternopil Oblast Council.

Oleksiy Orlovsky familiarized the Head of the Oblast Council with directions of operation of the International Renaissance Foundation. He noted that it is the biggest donor structure in the country. During the time of operation of the IRF in Ukraine, more than 120 million US dollars have been directed for development of the civil society in the country. These are programs for involvement of the public into processes of making decisions by bodies of local self-government, for free legal assistance regarding different issues, HIV-AIDS problem, drug addiction, issues of European integration, protection of the rights of inmates etc. In general, the Foundation operates under nine directions.

Oleksiy Orlovsky also noted that the IRF started one more program – the program for overcoming problems of the social-economic crisis (Anti-crisis Humanitarian Program).

“We have launched the Anti-crisis Humanitarian Program, for which about 20-25 million US dollars will be directed in Ukraine. Such tasks will be of priority in this project: Support of youth, employment of young people, organization of recreation camps etc. It is planned to fulfill these tasks on the principles of cooperation with bodies of local self-government”, said Oleksiy Orlovsky.

Oleksiy Kayda, Head of the Oblast Council, thanked the Program Director for his visit and reported that the Oblast Council works with foundations and NGOs that implement projects and programs that are important for the society. Support of a UN Project for Local Communities Development was one of the first steps of the newly elected Oblast Council. Thanks to the active work and precise fulfillment of the conditions of co-financing, the Ternopil area received about one million Hryvnia for fulfillment of the tasks of the project, despite the ongoing economic crisis. Oleksiy Kayda noted that the Oblast Council also closely cooperates in the direction of having transparency in forming of budgets and use of budgetary funds.

“Not always are bodies of authority eager to cooperate with public organizations, especially when they conduct monitoring of activity of authorities. Concerning that, the Oblast Council is interested to facilitate such an active position of public organizations. We demonstrated our openness and transparency many times and this is confirmed by the results of monitoring projects that were conducted by public organizations. The Oblast Council also conducts consultations with representatives of public organizations regarding development of the Dniester Canyon and creation of a national park; concerning implementation of state programs and their financing, the Council constantly emphasizes a necessity for having public control over use of the allocated funds”, noted Oleksiy Kayda.

The Head of the Oblast Council added that Ternopil Oblast Council is interested in cooperation with the Renaissance Foundation under different directions. “The Oblast Council is ready to provide co-financing for development and implementation of reforms of local self-government, housing and communal system, and development of green tourism. In my view, it is important to stimulate public activity of members of territorial communities in resolution of important problems. The Oblast Council is also interested to participate in the new humanitarian projects of the Renaissance Foundation. We also hope for close cooperation”, summarized Oleksiy Kayda.

Source: The Official Web-site of Ternopil Oblast Council

Photo – from the Official Web-site of Ternopil Oblast Council