Chernivtsi Hosts Fourth Municipal Office of Economic Development Meeting
On March 26-28, Chernivtsi hosted the fourth "Municipal Office of Economic Development (MOED) Meeting" an event organized within the framework of USAID's Local Economic Development (LED) project. With more than 70 representatives from 34 cities attending, along with representatives from InvestUkraine and several Oblast administrations, the event was significant because it gave one of our partner cities, Chernivtsi, an opportunity to present its accomplishments in detail and to show conference participants concrete developments in the city as a result of its cooperation with LED. More ...

Corporate Givers Taking Philanthropy to the Next Level
U.S. Ambassador William B. Taylor addressed businesses and invited guests attending a Business Leader Seminar on social change philanthropy that took place on February 6th at the Opera Hotel. The seminar introduced new philanthropy approaches based on business models, such as venture philanthropy and social entrepreneurship. More ...

USAID Support of Ukraine’s WTO Accession Process Pays Off
On February 5, 2008, the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council aproved Ukraine’s accession package. The Verkhovna Rada must now ratify WTO membership by July 4, 2008, and the country will formally accede to WTO membership 30 days afterwards. WTO Membership will create a more conducive environment for increasing trade and investment in Ukraine and improve access for Ukrainian goods and services to the 151 WTO Members’ markets. The WTO rule-based system is expected to increase transparency and investor confidence, reduce the cost of doing business in Ukraine, and create new economic opportunities for the Ukrainian people. More ...

Ukrainian Judges and Chiefs of Court Staff Discuss New Rules of Conduct
A two-day international conference, focusing on the need to implement new rules of conduct for court staff members took place. The event was organized by the State Judiciary Administration of Ukraine and the Council of Judges with support from USAID’s Ukraine Rule of Law Project. Attended by about 50 Ukrainian judges and chiefs of court staff, the conference opened with remarks by senior representatives of the Council of Judges and the State Judiciary Administration, and by Earl Gast, USAID Mission Director in Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus. More ...

USAID Assistant Administrator Menarchik Delivers Aid to Help Victims of Zasyadko Explosion
Dr. Douglas Menarchik, Assistant Administrator for the Europe and Eurasia Bureau of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), today handed over medical equipment to the Donetsk Oblast Hospital of Occupational Diseases. The $50,000 worth of emergency equipment will help miners poisoned by the methane gas during a November 18 methane exposition in the Zasiadko mine. More ...

Ukrainian Media Partnership Unveils More than 500 New “Stop AIDS” Ads in 18 Ukrainian Cities in Honor of World AIDS Day
In honor of World AIDS Day on Saturday, December 1st, largest outdoor operator in Ukraine’s, group of companies BigBoard, is doing what it does best – providing advertising space. However, in this case, the company is donating 300 billboards and 240 city light spaces free of charge, as part of its commitment to the Ukrainian Media Partnership to Combat HIV/AIDS (UMP). The total value of the donated advertising space is roughly equivalent to 385,000 USD and represents one step in the company’s ongoing involvement with the Ukrainian Media Partnership. More ...

Honouring Efforts of Ukrainians to Counter Human Trafficking
On October 18, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mission in Ukraine in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine held the Third Annual Counter-Trafficking Awards Ceremony to honour the individuals and organizations that had distinguished themselves with dedication and courage in the struggle against human trafficking. More ...

“Interregional Stock Union” Receives New Equipment for Creating an Independent Stand-By System
USAID Mission Director Earl Gast and World Bank financial sector expert Michel Noel participated in a media event announcing a back-up system for one of Ukraine’s leading financial depository system. More ...

MOU on Public-Private Partnership Signed in Alchevsk
On September 14, 2007, Mission Director Earl Gast, Alchevsk Mayor Vladimir Choob and Chairman of the Board of the International Union of Donbas Sergei Taruta signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a comprehensive economic and community development initiative for the city of Alchevsk, entitled, “Partnership for the Future of Alchevsk.” More ...

Securities Exchange Commission Reports on Results of Electronic Disclosure System Pilot Project
USAID’s Capital Markets Project (CMP) together with the Securities and Stock Market State Commission (SSMSC) held a press conference on July 25 on the results of a joint Electronic Disclosure System (EDS) pilot project. More ...

USAID Commemorates 15 Years of Partnership with Ukraine
USAID commemorated its 15th anniversary in Ukraine with a jubilee event on July 21, which included remarks by Ukrainian politicians and government officials, as well as the launch of a traveling photo retrospective, entitled "15 Years of Partnership." More ...

Ukraine Takes a Step Forward to Reduce Corruption in Higher Education
Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Valentyn Teslenko and USAID Regional Mission Director Earl W. Gast announced the launch of the Ukrainian Standardized External Testing Initiative at a press-conference on June 22. More ...

USAID Recognizes Ukrainian Mayors Contribution in the Implementation of Modern Budget Techniques
On June 21, William B. Taylor, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, and Earl W. Gast, USAID Regional Mission Director in Ukraine, presented mayors of 24 Ukrainian cities with awards recognizing their significant contributions to the successful implementation of Performance Program Budgeting (PPB). More ...

Poll: Over Half of Ukrainian Citizens Find Corruption “Acceptable Way to Get Things Done”
U.S. Ambassador William Taylor, along with Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and First Deputy Head of the Presidential Secretariat of Ukraine Ivan Vasiunyk, who co-chair Ukraine’s Threshold Country Program Executive Board, today participated in the launch of an effort to involve civil society in reducing corruption. More ...

Global Development Alliances in Ukraine
The United States Government, as represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Ukraine, invites applications from U.S. or Non-U.S. organizations, non-profit or for profit entities to form Development Alliances to carry out activities in support of the USAID/Ukraine’s development objectives as described in this Annual Program Statement (APS) -http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?oppId=13072&mode=VIEW. More ...