The Grant Agreement aimed at implementation of ‘Community - Based Social Service Delivery’ Project was signed on September 27, 2018 at the World Bank Kyiv Representation. The signing ceremony was attended by Stepan KUBIV, First Vice Prime Minister - Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Satu KAHKONEN, World Bank Country Director for Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine, Shigeki SUMI, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine.

A grant of $ 2.85 million was donated to Ukraine by the Japanese Social Development Foundation (JSDF) through the World Bank Trust Fund. Japanese donor funds will enable creation of new models for social services provision in 30 amalgamated territorial communities of Odessa and Ternopil regions. Communities with the lowest financial and budgetary capabilities with a use of specially designed vulnerability methodology were selected to participate in the Project. The Project will be implemented by the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund (USIF), which has 18 years of positive experience in implementing international projects in the social sphere.

"We highly appreciate the World Bank and Japan confidence shown to the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund when choosing a Project implementing agency. I am convinced that our qualification and experience as well as active cooperation with donors, beneficiaries and other project participants will allow to implement the Project in a timely manner and with maximum benefit to the amalgamated territorial communities", - said Oleg Ovchinnikov, Deputy Executive Director of the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund, who attended the signing ceremony and discussed with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Mr. Shigeki SUMI and the head of the economic section of the Embassy of Japan to Ukraine Mrs. Ritsuko INOUE further interaction in the course of the Project implementation.

The Project will be implemented in two stages. At the first stage, community members will receive consultative support, analyze their needs and resources for social services provision. Potential providers of such services, including community members, will undergo appropriate trainings while organizations that already provide such services will get advisory support and equipment.

At the second stage, each of thirty communities will formulate an application for the implementation of a microproject to create an innovative model for providing social services. Special Committee for the selection of microprojects established by the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, with assistance of USIF and project coordinators from the regional state administrations, will identify ten best applications. Up to 140 thousand USD for repair and construction works, procurement of equipment and services will be allocated for each winning application (microproject). 

The purpose of the Project is to create new pilot and practical models for providing social services when both demand and offer for the service are created at the community level. The Project is expected to create a basis for the forthcoming powerful state program, which will be implemented throughout Ukraine. The Project will be completed in 2022. It is anticipated that by that time about 75,000 people will benefit from its implementation.