|
The projects of assisting Ukraine’s regions in developing and implementing economic development strategies are being implemented by the Foundation in partnership with leading international consultancies and in close cooperation with local governments. Similar projects are being realized in Ukraine for the first time ever. Monitor Group was chosen following a transparent tender procedure in order to ensure the first pilot projects execution following best international practice. The company has an extensive record in realization of projects that target the improvement of a region’s economic competitiveness all over the world.
The background for the realization of the regional economic development project was the study of Ukraine's competitiveness implemented by the Foundation in partnership with the World Economic Forum. As part of the project, the Foundation held roundtables in regional centers across Ukraine in June-July 2008. Following the regional discussions and meetings with local governments, the Foundation and international experts analyzed 27 potential regions and selected two – Donetsk Region for the regional economic development project and Lviv – for the city economic development project. In September 2010, the Foundation started devising the economic development strategy for a third region - Dnipropetrovsk Region.
The selections stemmed from three criteria:
1. Availability of economic resources; economic and administrative bases developed by local governments, as well as their experience and the accumulated potential in the region to realize this kind of project;
2. Possibility for other regions to take advantage of the positive experience acquired during the realization of the project;
3. Possible positive impact of the regional economy on the economic growth of the whole of Ukraine.
The economic development projects have two stages.
In Stage 1 the project team assesses the area’s economy and then develops a long-term economic vision of the region as well as identifying and prioritizing key barriers to competitiveness. After that one determines and analyzes all possible clusters in the area’s economy. Applying its own cluster analysis methods, one prioritizes clusters and identifies those capable of driving the growth of that particular economy in a favorable environment. Within each project two clusters are prioritized for development are selected after consultation with local representatives and an additional comparative analysis. The last phase of Stage 1 identifies key barriers to the development of the selected clusters and develops strategies to improve the clusters’ competitiveness with a set of clear practical recommendations.
Stage 2, which actually makes the project different from a variety of other regional strategy development projects, establishes the structure and efficient mechanisms for the practical implementation of the recommendations incorporated into the strategies. The Foundation and partners help each region to build its own capabilities to implement the strategies and assess performance on their own after the Foundation and international consultants complete their participation in the project.
Each of the regions sets up three-level structures to ensure project effectiveness and make use of the regional development’s strategic potential: Competitiveness Board, Executive Board and working teams.
The strategies for the economic development of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk Regions and the City of Lviv as well as all of the Foundation’s other projects aim to ensure the economic growth of Ukraine in order to improve the welfare of all Ukrainians.
 |
Foundation for Effective Governance
23F Kudrjavska Street Kiev 04053, Ukraine
Reception: +380 44 501 41 00 PR Department: +380 44 501
41 07 Fax: + 380 44 501 41 05
e-mail: feg@feg.org.ua |
|
