UNDP and the Government of Canada continue to expand the network of mobile Administrative Service Centres serving Donetsk Oblast communities

Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast, 5 April 2021 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, in partnership with the Government of Canada, has transferred a mobile Administrative Service Centre (ASC) to Kurakhove community in Donetsk Oblast.

The mobile ASC, a specially equipped truck, will drive to remote areas near the “contact line” as well as to exit and entry checkpoints between government-controlled and non-government-controlled areas, providing administrative and social services to residents of the community who live in remote or difficult to access locations.

Ashley Mulroney, Director of Canadian Development Program in Ukraine, said that Canada is proud to support the mobile service delivery network in the conflict-affected communities of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. “We hope this mobile ASC will help the Kurakhove community to ensure that each and every member of the community has access to quality administrative, social and legal services. A needs-based and citizen-focused service provision is a key priority for Ukrainian Government and we are happy to support this effort and make sure it reaches the most vulnerable conflict-affected Ukrainians.”

The mobile ASC will provide services almost identical to those that are currently available at stationary centres. For example, people will be able to:

• apply for subsidies and receive help from the government;
• register their own business or real estate;
• obtain a child’s birth certificate;
• obtain a certificate showing they are parents of a large family or a child from a large family;
• apply for and obtain a pension certificate, and;
• receive passport services.

Manal Fouani, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine, said that developing a public and administrative services network is an essential element of the reform agenda.

"We’re striving to systematically support local authorities in bringing administrative services closer to vulnerable groups in remote communities," Fouani said. "Together with partners, we’re thinking of sustainable ways and methods to operate the service system and keep pace with the times, and meeting new digital standards."

Fouani also stressed that the priority is to ensure that children, young people, people with disabilities, the elderly, internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups are not left behind.

"UNDP supports institutions in eastern communities of Ukraine in applying innovative approaches to mobile public service delivery, and promotes best practices in bringing them closer to the public."

The vehicle has four workplaces for ASC specialists, social services specialists, pension fund specialists, and specialists on free legal aid. The mobile ASC is equipped with all of the necessary technical infrastructure and communications and is specially equipped for persons with disabilities.

Kurakhove Mayor Roman Padun thanked international partners and the UN Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme for their systematic support.

“Mobile ASCs have become a symbol of positive transformations in communities, in particular in eastern Ukraine," Padun said. "This mobile centre will bring services even closer and make them more accessible to residents, regardless of where they live. We're sure that the consumers of Kurakhove's administrative services will be satisfied."

The procurement and other technical arrangements, worth U.S. $180,000 (about UAH 5 million), were carried out under the UN Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme with the financial support of the Government of Canada.

Background

The United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme (UN RPP) is being implemented by four United Nations agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Twelve international partners support the Programme: the European Union (EU), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, and the governments of Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden & Switzerland.

Media enquiries

Maksym Kytsiuk, Communications Specialist, the UN Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme, maksym.kytsiuk@undp.org, +380 63 576 1839