Memorandum of Cooperation signed to support inclusive economic and social recovery in Ukrainian communities

As Ukraine looks towards inclusive recovery, the country faces new demands that require responsiveness and innovation. This includes bringing Ukrainians home and ensuring their communities have a working inclusive economy, public services, and social supports. The country’s new Ministry of Recovery took the next step in addressing this challenge today.

Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Tawnia Sanford Ammar, Alinea International’s Field Director for the SURGe Program. SURGe is the Support to Ukraine’s Reforms for Governance Program, funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Alinea.

Larisa Galadza, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, was present to witness the signing ceremony, formalizing this important partnership.

The agreement signed today outlines collaboration to support the Government of Ukraine in extending its capacity to respond to the needs of its citizens as it embarks on its early recovery process.

“In too many of our communities, the Russian attacks forced citizens to flee their homes and livelihoods,” said Deputy Prime Minister Kubrakov. “We need to help our communities restore themselves, their economies and ensure social protection. These conditions are essential to support successful resettlement. Thanks to this project, we expect that war-affected communities will receive the tools and necessary expertise to attract financing, launch, and support reconstruction projects.”

In February 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Kubrakov requested assistance from Alinea to help local governments design inclusive recovery projects based on citizen needs identified at the community level, starting with the most damaged communities in Ukraine, and at the same time, develop tools and methodologies to eventually help all communities assess their recovery needs.

“Recovery will be undertaken community by community,” said Sanford Ammar who has been living and working in Ukraine for nearly 15 years. “We are supporting communities in identifying the most pressing needs of their citizens, so they can determine their priorities in implementing recovery projects that directly respond to their needs.”

As the Ministry undertakes this process, the Alinea team will help the Ministry identify and represent the needs of all Ukrainians as the Government of Ukraine begins work with international partners on the economic and social recovery of communities damaged by the war.

**View the official announcement here. Ukrainian version follows.**

Contact: Kristy Thomson | Communications Manager | kthomson@alineainternational.com

🇺🇦 Підписано Меморандум про співпрацю для підтримки інклюзивного економічного та соціального відновлення українських громад.

На шляху до інклюзивного відновлення Україна стикається з новими викликами, які вимагають оперативного реагування та інноваційних підходів. Зокрема, це стосується повернення українців додому та забезпечення їхніх громад інклюзивною економікою, державними послугами та соціальною підтримкою. Сьогодні новостворене Міністерство відновлення України зробило ще один крок для вирішення цього завдання.

Меморандум про співпрацю підписали Віце-прем’єр-міністр з відновлення України – Міністр розвитку громад, територій та інфраструктури України Олександр Кубраков та Танія Санфорд Аммар, директорка Alinea International в Україні та директорка проєкту “Супровід урядових реформ в Україні” (SURGe), який фінансується Урядом Канади та реалізовується компанією Alinea International Ltd.

Пані Надзвичайний і Повноважний Посол Канади в Україні Лариса Ґаладза долучилась до церемонії підписання, яка офіційно засвідчила це важливе партнерство.

Меморандум передбачає співпрацю, спрямовану на підтримку Уряду України у посиленні його спроможності реагувати на потреби своїх громадян на початковому етапі відновлення країни.

“Повномасштабне вторгнення російської федерації змусило жителів багатьох наших громад залишити свої домівки”, – сказав Олександр Кубраков, Віце-прем’єр-міністр, – “Ми повинні допомогти громадам відновити їхню економіку та забезпечити соціальний захист людей, які там проживають. Ці умови є необхідними для того, щоб забезпечити успішне повернення наших громадян додому. Завдяки проєкту ми очікуємо, що постраждалі від війни громади отримають інструменти та необхідну фахову підтримку для залучення фінансування, запуску та підтримки проєктів з відновлення”.

У лютому 2023 року Олександр Кубраков звернувся до Alinea з проханням допомогти місцевим органам влади розробити інклюзивні проєкти відновлення на основі потреб громадян, визначених на рівні громад, починаючи з найбільш постраждалих від війни громад в Україні. Також міністерство потребує підтримки для розробки інструментів та методологій, які допоможуть усім громадам оцінити свої потреби у відновленні.

“Відновлення буде відбуватися громада за громадою”, – сказала Танія Санфорд Аммар, яка вже майже 15 років живе та працює в Україні. “Ми допомагаємо громадам виявляти найбільш нагальні потреби населення, аби вони могли визначити пріоритети в реалізації проєктів з відновлення, які б відповідали цим потребам”.

Команда Alinea допоможе міністерству визначити потреби українців, адже Уряд України розпочинає роботу з міжнародними партнерами над економічним та соціальним відновленням громад, що постраждали від війни.

alinea’s whistleblower policy

1.1 Purpose

The following Whistleblower Policy has been established to provide guidance to Alinea International employees and sub-contractors on how to deal with known or suspected improper conduct within the organization. The objectives of this Policy are to:

Create awareness of the Policy and available whistleblower protections
Act as a reference guide to potential whistleblowers wishing to make a disclosure
Define the structure of the whistleblower system, including reporting and investigation procedures, whistleblower protections, and confidentiality, among others
Improve the communication and transparency in the processes associated with whistleblowing and assure protection against derogatory consequences, namely reprisals and detrimental action
Complement the current communication channels between employees, sub-contractors and immediate managers, and hierarchical channels flowing to the President and Senior Management team
Provide guidance to all parties involved in either whistleblowing or whistleblower protection.

1.2 Scope

Alinea requires all employees and sub-contractors to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. All employees and sub-contractors of Alinea are required to comply with applicable laws and regulations of Canada and the countries where we operate. Any allegations of known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources will be dealt with in accordance with this Policy, and reasonable steps will be taken to protect those who come forward with allegations. Alinea’s Whistleblower Policy covers both internal and external whistleblowing, and establishes the controls and procedures for dealing with allegations of malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is intended to encourage employees and sub-contractors to report known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources and to enable Alinea’s Senior Management team to address and correct inappropriate action. It is the responsibility of all Board of Directors’ members, the Senior Management team, employees and sub-contractors to report concerns about known or suspected malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is applicable to all employees and sub-contractors of Alinea International.

1.3 Reporting Procedures

Alinea recognizes the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices and supports the making of disclosures that reveal improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. Our internal controls and operating procedures are intended to detect and prevent malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. As detailed in Alinea’s Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals, employees and sub-contractors are encouraged to share complaints and/or concerns regarding ethical or legal violations with their immediate managers. If the employee or sub-contractor is not comfortable speaking with their immediate manager or is not satisfied with the response, they are encouraged to speak with the Gatineau or Calgary Office Managers, the Vice Presidents or, as required, the Chief Financial Officer. All members of the Senior Management team are required to report complaints and/or concerns about suspected ethical or legal violations in writing to Alinea’s Ethics Committee who has the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints and/or concerns. In the event that the complaint and/or concern is about the President, it should be raised by the employee or sub-contractor to their immediate manager or the Ethics Committee who will determine how the investigation will proceed. All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective measures will be taken if warranted by the investigation. Alinea’s Ethics Committee is responsible for acknowledging receipt of the suspected violation and notifying the whistleblower of the outcome of the investigation. Anyone filing a written complaint concerning suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Personal grievances or complaints related to employment are not covered under Alinea’s Whistleblowing Policy. For cases such as this, employees and sub-contractors are advised to first refer to Alineas Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals when considering a disclosure under the Whistleblowing Policy. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

1.4 Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality is crucial to ensure reprisals are not made against the whistleblower. Alinea is committed to safeguarding the identity of the whistleblower and to protecting the whistleblower against detrimental action taken in reprisal for allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. The Ethics Committee is responsible for ensuring whistleblowers are protected from direct and indirect detrimental action, and that the culture of the workplace is supportive of suspected allegations being made. Any employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

1.5 Review

Alinea is committed to implementing ‘best practice’ policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources (as defined by this Policy) and the management and protection of whistleblowers making allegation(s). This Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it meets the objectives of relevant legislation and remains effective for Alinea, and may be changed at the discretion of the Board of Directors at any time. For allegations of fraud, securities law, or human rights concerns, or when you are not satisfied or uncomfortable with following the Company’s open door policy, individuals should contact the Company’s Ethics Committee directly.

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Alinea – Ukraine Announcement