On January 26, the Community-Led Inclusive Recovery (CLIR) initiative, which will provide expert support to 19 territorial communities from 7 war-affected oblasts in Ukraine for sustainable, inclusive, social and economic recovery, was launched in Kyiv. More than 300 communities from 11 of the most damaged oblasts of Ukraine have expressed their willingness to participate in the initiative.
The initiative is being implemented as a component of the ongoing international technical assistance project Support to Ukraine’s Reforms for Governance Project (SURGe), funded by Global Affairs Canada at the request of the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (the Ministry for Restoration). CLIR experts will provide select communities with expert support in the following areas: strategic management and planning, establishing partnerships with international organizations and attracting external investment, developing social services, supporting the development of recovery and development plans and strategies, implementing sustainable development principles, etc.
The communities were organized into 6 groups based on geographic proximity and common needs. List of communities:
- Kyiv oblast (Baryshivska, Hlevakhivska, Boyarska, Velyko Dymerska)
- Donetsk and Kharkiv oblasts (Oleksandrivska, Blznyukivska, Savenetska, Balakliyska)
- Dnipropetrovska oblast (Sofiivska, Pershotravenska, Apostolivska, Zelenodolska)
- Mykolaiv oblast (Bashtanska, Bereznehuvatska)
- Odesa oblast (Shabivska, Bilhorod-Dnistrovska)
- Chernihiv region (Kholmska, Koropska, Menska).
“Canada and Ukraine are longtime partners, and we are here to support Ukraine now and moving forward, especially the Ukrainian communities that need to plan for their recovery. Through the CLIR initiative, 19 communities will be empowered to plan and manage their own recovery priorities. We’re excited to work with the Ministry for Restoration on this timely and important initiative”, – said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Ukraine, Natalka Cmoc.
“During war, it is extremely important for the country that local communities become leaders in recovery. This is impossible without building deep competencies and effective institutions at the local level. The comprehensive expertise of the CLIR team in inclusiveness, gender and sustainability should be the key to effective recovery. A systemic approach will strengthen the capacity and resilience of local communities in the long term,”
added Oleksandra Azarkhina, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.
“The key objective of the Community-Led Inclusive Recovery initiative is to strengthen the capacity of Ukrainian communities to manage their recovery in an inclusive and gender-responsive manner, addressing the needs of all groups of residents. By working with CLIR’s team of experts, we strive to ensure that all selected communities gain the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to develop effective recovery plans, implement recovery projects, attract financial support, and play a leadership role in the recovery process across the country,” said Tawnia Sanford Ammar, Alinea International Country Director and Support to Ukraine’s Reforms for Governance (SURGe) Program Director.
The Support to Ukraine’s Reforms for Governance Project (SURGe) is an inclusive governance project in Ukraine implemented by Alinea International and funded by Global Affairs Canada since 2019.