USAID ERA participates in Ukraine-Romania master plan presentation on enhancing border crossing points

Modernization of the BCPs

24 April 2024

On April 19, representatives of the USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) – Timothy Madigan, Chief of Party, and Cameron Berkuti, Border Crossing Points Director – participated in an intergovernmental presentation of the master plan for the Ukrainian-Romanian strategy for border infrastructure.

The presentation was attended by Serhiy Derkach, First Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, and Mustafa Nayyem, Head of the Agency for Restoration, and partners from Romania, including Dorel Fronia, strategic advisor on customs policy at the EU Advisory Mission Ukraine, and Irinel Ionel Scriosteanu, State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of Romania. Representatives of both countries’ State Customs and Border Guard services were also there.

While the master plan covers 14 border crossing points (BCPs), six of them are located in Bukovyna, a transitional land between Ukraine and Romania, which is of strategic importance. The plan involves the construction of new BCPs, as well as the modernization of existing BCPs on the Ukrainian – Romanian border. The Romanian side also plans to build rail connections to the Ukrainian – Romanian border to further boost cargo export and import operations between Ukraine and the European Union (EU).

Overall, the master plan aims to increase trade turnover and passenger traffic between Ukraine and the EU. In Bukovyna, the plan identifies Porubne-Siret and Bila Krynytsia-Klimeuts BCPs as high priority, Dyakivtsi-Rakovets and Krasnoilsk-Vicovu de Sousse BCPs as medium priority, and Shepit-Izvorele Sucevei and Ruska-Ulma BCPs as lower priority. USAID ERA is already working on three of these, which are Porubne, Diakivtsi, and Krasnoilsk.

“The USAID Economic Resilience Activity is working with the Ministry for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development, and the Agency for Restoration, to improve services and working conditions at Ukraine’s western border crossing points, including with Romania. We are targeting 42 crossing points to deliver different levels of support, ranging from short term to long term, to increase their capacity. It is vital that we synergize our efforts with the various stakeholders to ensure that we deliver results efficiently, which is why participation in this presentation is so important. The next step is to continue to look for opportunities for close cooperation with all stakeholders present here today and beyond,” said Timothy Madigan, ERA Chief of Party.

“Modernization of the border crossing points is an important task for us, as it will speed up the movement of goods and make it more comfortable for drivers and passengers. We are grateful to USAID and the American people for their continued and comprehensive support of Ukraine and the Agency for Restoration in particular,” said Mustafa Nayyem, Head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.

Background: USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is one of USAID’s core partners implementing the $350 million Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine) that was established in 2022 to bolster Ukrainian agricultural exports and alleviate the global food security crisis exacerbated by the war. Under AGRI-Ukraine, ERA partners with public and private companies to complement and leverage urgently needed grain transportation and transshipment investments.

ERA also directly supports the Government of Ukraine, including the Ministry for Restoration (MoR), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways, to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs). Modern and more efficient border infrastructure and customs procedures will reduce export costs and increase export capacity, enabling Ukraine to scale trade and advance its path to EU integration.

In 8 months, USAID ERA advances with the modernization of Ukraine’s border crossing points

Modernization of the BCPs

18 April 2024

Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million, through memorandums of understanding with the Ministry for Restoration , State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Ukrainian Railways and State Customs Service, to support upgrading of border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain trade and export volumes, and other critical infrastructure.

“Ministry for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development is working to increase export routes and develop transport links between Ukraine and the European Union. In cooperation with USAID ERA, work is already underway on the border crossing points, which includes the necessary modernization of both the checkpoints and the related infrastructure. Stable and regular exports contribute to the economic recovery of Ukraine, and thus the defense capability of our country,” commented Oleksandr Kubrakov, Vice Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine, Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine.

“USAID ERA is working on upgrading 42 border crossing points on Ukraine’s western borders, which include railway and road BCPs, and we have already visited 20 roads and 7 railway BCPs as part of these efforts. These priority BCPs are crucial for Ukrainian exports and require improvement to create new export routes. We started with the rapid upgrade of the highest priority BCPs, i.e., we commenced with what could be replaced quickly, ordering products or services from Ukrainian manufacturers and contractors and facilitating exports already. At the same time, we signed a contract with Miyamoto International Ukraine, which is working on the design for the reconstruction of old cargo terminals and the construction of new cargo terminals at several BCPs. After 8 months of work, I’m proud to say that we have good results to show.”– Cameron Berkuti, ERA Border Crossing Point (BCP) Director.

USAID ERA contractor Artmetal Ukraine has completed the installation of a total of 33 modular structures or prefabricated buildings (prefabs) at four high-priority road BCPs. In the Volyn region, bordering Poland, 10 prefabs (4 sanitary modules and 6 offices) were installed. Ten (2 restrooms, 4 administrative buildings, and 4 offices), and 11 (7 offices, 3 passport control facilities, and 1 canopy for weighing scales) were installed at two BCPs in the Zakarpattia region on the border with Slovakia and Hungary, respectively. In the Chernivtsi region, two prefabs were installed for use as restrooms. Each module is fully insulated, furnished, equipped with HVAC systems, and connected to utilities – electricity, water, and network – providing good working conditions to the State Customs and Border Guard Services of Ukraine, and comfortable restroom facilities for travelers.

“A total of 29 state border crossing points are under the responsibility of the Agency for Restoration. Their modernization is an important task, as it will allow us to speed up the movement of cargo, as well as make the movement of drivers and passengers more comfortable. We are grateful to USAID and the American people for their sustained and comprehensive support of Ukraine and the Agency for Restoration in particular,” said Mustafa Nayyem, Head of the Agency for Restoration.

Simultaneously, USAID ERA contractors have begun repairing damaged pavements, stormwater slotted drains, and canopy cover over the checkpoints, painting the rail barriers and metal fence, replacement of traffic lane lines, markings, and traffic signs, replacing lighting systems to improve safety and security at these four priority BCPs.

These BCPs, as well as several others, also received various small-scale installations, such as water-filled road barricades, recycling trash bins, and one-ton commodity scales.

At six priority BCPs, 12 mobile dynamic vehicle scales have been installed, which can be easily moved to the places where they are most needed at the BCPs, minimizing the need to redirect trucks to stationary weighing stations. They are vital and versatile equipment that can be used for various vehicles and cargoes, providing flexibility in handling different weighing requirements.

By the end of May 2024, USAID ERA will complete the improvement of lighting systems at 17 road and rail BCPs. The work involves installing a total of 875 lamps, 310 of which have been installed at six BCPs so far in 2024. In December 2023, 479 LED lamps were installed at two BCPs, significantly boosting illumination at nighttime and enhancing security.

To meet UZ’s needs, USAID ERA delivered a total of 103 ICT equipment and other supporting materials, which include multifunctional devices (MFD), printers, laptops, computers, notebooks, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), as well as installed four 50-KW diesel generators at four rail BCPs located in the Volyn, Lviv, Zakarpattia, and Chernivtsi regions. This will ensure the continuity of daily operations during power outages and speed up the processing of shipping documents, including when transporting grain cargo abroad.

At the BCP in the Chernivtsi region, the installation of the three sets of three bogie exchange lifts each has been completed, which has the capacity to lift wagons weighing over 100 tons. These jacks are an effective way to replace bogies with wide gauge wheelsets (1,535 mm) with European gauge wheelsets (1,420 mm) and vice versa, which contributes to the accuracy of technological processes related to the rearrangement of cars and, accordingly, to the efficiency of cargo transportation by rail between Ukraine and the European Union.

“The logistics and export of grain and other essential agro-commodities from Ukraine under the current conditions are a challenge for the state, agribusinesses, and farmers. USAID’s ERA stands with Ukraine’s government and people, providing vital support that helps advance Ukraine’s economy because robust, dynamic, and inclusive economic recovery is critical to Ukraine’s future. At ERA, we believe supporting critical infrastructure such as border crossing points is vital to these economic recovery efforts.” – says Timothy Madigan, ERA Chief of Party.

USAID ERA contractor undertakes comprehensive technical and economic review for the construction of new water pipelines

17 April 2024

In the framework of supporting the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration) to upgrade Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA) sub-contractor, CDM Engineering Ukraine LLC conducted a comprehensive technical and economic review of the project and budget documentation developed for the construction of new main water pipelines connecting the Ingulets-Pivdenne Reservoir to a water pumping station (DVS-2) in the village of Tomakivka.

“The construction of the water supply system in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast is one of the largest and most important projects of the Agency for Restoration. The work was carried out in an incredibly short timeframe. I think this project will become the Agency’s trademark in terms of speed, quality of work, transparency and efficiency of budget funds. We are pleased to have partners who are consulting for us and supporting us in the realization of this important project for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,” said Mustafa Nayyem, Head of the Agency for Restoration.

CDM Engineering Ukraine specialists reviewed the technical aspects and cost estimates of the project documentation, developed recommendations to improve the quality of design and cost estimate documentation, and formulated the key issues that can have a significant impact on the sustainability and reliability of the water supply pipelines. Seventy-nine percent of the total number of 925 recommendations have been accepted by the Agency for Restoration for implementation. ERA sub-contractor Miyamoto also reviewed CDM Engineering’s reports and recommendations and suggested some additional improvements that will help the Agency for Restoration improve the efficiency of this project overall.

Based on the results of the analysis of the design documentation, the CDM Engineering Ukraine specialists are undertaking a pre-feasibility study, specifically an assessment of any potential negative consequences arising from implementing the project. They are also developing a long-term program to reduce this impact and formulating preliminary recommendations for improving the reliability and quality of water supply.

The pipeline has already been laid on the Khortytsia water supply system (DVS-2) to Tomakivka to Marhanets section, which is 77.9 kilometers long. Six pumping stations have been built, with four pumps installed at each station – two main and two backup pumps, with the water supply system connected to a filtering station.

The construction of the main water supply system is a key project of the Agency for Restoration. The total length of the water pipeline is 145 kilometers. The Khortytsia section (DVS-2) to Tomakivka to Marhanets section will supply water to the second link of the Nikopol to Pokrov water supply system. The construction of the section involves 318 workers, using 176 pieces of equipment.

The new pipeline will restore stable and centralized water supply for approximately one million people and industrial enterprises in the cities of Kryvyi Rih, Zelenodolsk, Apostolove, Nikopol, Marganets, and Pokrov, who lost their main sources of water supply due to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in June 2023.

Information Communications Technologies (ICT) Officer

17 April 2024

Kyiv

AGRI-UKRAINE GRAIN EXPORT LOGISTICS

USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is one of USAID’s core partners implementing the $350 million Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine) that was established in 2022 to bolster Ukrainian agricultural exports and alleviate the global food security crisis exacerbated by the war. Under AGRI-Ukraine, ERA partners with public and private companies to complement and leverage urgently-needed grain transportation and transshipment investments.

INFRASTRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS

ERA also directly supports the Government of Ukraine, including the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), the State Customs Service and Ukrainian Railways, to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs). Modern and more efficient border infrastructure and customs procedures will reduce export costs and increase export capacity, enabling Ukraine to scale trade and advance its path to EU integration.

About the job

The ICT Officer establishes and monitors the project IT infrastructure and supports implementation of new hardware and software for program operations or basic upgrades in coordination with ICT Coordinator. He manages the ICT network and computer equipment for the project and is responsible for the proper maintenance and functioning of the server and other equipment. The ICT Officer ensures that IT-related support to ERA beneficiaries/grantees is timely, compliant with USAID regulations, and implemented using best practices in ICT. The ICT Officer works in a team environment and coordinates efforts with Operations and Technical teams. The position is based in the ERA Kyiv office and reports to the ICT Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

In coordination with the ICT Manager support the DAI staff usage of ICT and office equipment.
Provide advice to local employees in ICT support on a daily basis upon request; inform them about with the timely updates of all software installed on ICT equipment.
Allow for smooth and stable work of ICT equipment (laptops, desktops, printers, network equipment, etc.). Solve hardware and software problems in the shortest terms possible;
Ensure stable and smooth functioning of networks, both LAN (wired and WiFi) and Internet connections, in office and other locations;
Maintain accurate ICT registries: registry of ICT assets, license registry, etc. Keep all the information up to date (license keys, license expiration, etc.).
Inform in advance the line manager about the expiration of licenses, and ensure the timely procurement request for the new licenses;
Maintain proper and efficient usage/storage of ICT and office equipment in line with Security regulations and DAI HO IT policy.
Implement and follow the ICT access rules, including the storage access level, passwords for personal PCs, regular password changes, encryption of most important data, etc.;
Ensure the correct maintenance of ICT and office equipment, both guarantee and post-guarantee.
Liaise and coordinate in a timely manner the maintenance and repair issues with the relevant suppliers/manufacturers/service providers.
In coordination with ICT Manager implement and support the backup system for the DAI data.
Ensure regular backups for all required data, proper backup accounting, and storage, in line with DAI HO IT policies;
Work with the Administration/Logistics team to maintain a list of the project’s IT-related inventory;
Coordinate checking systems in order to optimize performance and initiate recovery action after system failures;
Perform other duties, as assigned by the Senior Finance and Compliance Manager and ICT Manager.

About you

BA diploma in Computer Sciences, IT technologies, or equivalent.
Understanding of TCP/IP protocol stack;
Experience with mail systems (MS Exchange) and web servers (IIS, Apache) is a plus;
Experience with scripting languages (Windows/DOS batch) is a plus;
Working experience with MS SharePoint is a plus;
Knowledge of server maintenance is a plus;
Good written and spoken English;
Experience working in ICT Support in a humanitarian/recovery context is a plus;
Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.
Skills in finding and solving problems;
Responsibility, independence, attentiveness, ability to handle stress, diligence.

WE OFFER

Contract length: 12-month employment agreement with a possibility of extension.

Benefits Package:

28 calendar days of annual leave
10 days of internal well-being paid leave per annum
Medical Insurance for ERA staff and their families
Life Insurance for ERA staff
Coverage of all expenses for the business trips
Military reservation is possible and granted if you are on a relevant military register

Start date: June 2024

Application process

All applicants must send a cover letter and updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English to ukraine@dai.com

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

Closing date for applications: June 15, 2024.

For further information about DAI GLOBAL LLC, please consult our website era-ukraine.org.ua.

An additional phytolaboratory for grain analysis opened on the Danube

AGRI-Ukraine Export Logistics Support

16 April 2024

On April 10, the Odesa Oblast Phytosanitary Laboratory opened a second remote branch on the Danube with three employees. USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA) equipped the new laboratory with necessary equipment including, microscopes, laboratory scales, a bactericidal irradiator, a water treatment system, a set of weights, a laboratory hood, refrigerator, and consumables for conducting daily phytosanitary examinations such as Petri dishes, scissors, test tubes, gowns, and tips.

This new laboratory will expedite the phytosanitary examination process of grain, ensure uninterrupted work of agricultural enterprises, and improve logistics for exporting Ukrainian grain on the Danube.

“After Russia’s withdrawal from the “grain agreement”, security issues constrained grain shipment from the ports of Odesa. Companies pivoted and grain was shipped from the Southern ports (Izmail and Reni) instead, so opening an additional remote workplace was necessary. Every day, our main laboratory receives 20-150 samples for phytosanitary examination. The facility is only meant to handle 20 daily examinations, mainly samples of grain for export (corn, wheat, sunflower, rapeseed, soybean). Opening an additional remote location will help us speed up the analysis, because sample deliveries from the Danube to Odesa take a long time, delaying the ships in the port”, says the Acting Director of Odesa Oblast Phytosanitary Laboratory Kateryna Abuselidze.

USAID ERA is one of the key partners of USAID, which implements the Agricultural Sustainability Initiative of Ukraine (“AGRI-Ukraine”), budgeted at $350 million. This initiative was launched in 2022 with the aim of strengthening Ukrainian agricultural exports and mitigating the global food security crisis exacerbated by the war. As part of the “AGRI-Ukraine” initiative, USAID ERA cooperates with state and private enterprises to supplement and attract investments in transportation and transshipment of grain, which Ukraine desperately needs.

More about the initiative at the link.

USAID helps entrepreneur restart bakery in Lviv

15 April 2024

Entrepreneur Yevhen Molchanov re-established his bakery in Lviv with support from the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), after being forced to leave behind his business when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Yevhen started his first business, Good Bakery, in 2012 in Stanytsia Luhanska, Luhansk Oblast with the opening of a small grocery store, followed by the production of pastries. In 2020, USAID ERA co-financed his investment in new bakery equipment, which allowed him to get professional baking equipment that significantly helped him expand his production capacity and increase sales. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, he had no choice but to leave behind his home, business and native town, and move with his family to Lviv. Unfortunately, none of the new bakery equipment made the trip and he lost almost all his assets.

In response to the war, USAID ERA awarded new grants to entrepreneurs like Yevhen, who had lost their business and needed to rebuild. With a second grant from ERA, Yevhen got new ovens, a refrigerated table and cabinet, freezers, a generator, laptop and other equipment for re-establishing a bakery. With this equipment – and his experience, enthusiasm, and faith in the future – Yevhen opened Crazy Buns Bakery in Lviv.

“Fortunately, we were able to preserve the recipes that were developed with leading technologists back in Stanytsia Luhanska. However, we had to modify many of the products, since tastes are different here in western Ukraine,” Yevhen said. “There is also quite a competitive environment in Lviv in terms of craft bakeries, which requires us to keep up and be innovative with new product offerings to remain appealing to our consumers.”

Crazy Buns currently employs four staff, all of whom are internally displaced persons (IDPs). They bake over 15 types of pastries, baguettes, bread varieties, and buns. Yevhen already has plans to expand production, restore confectionary manufacturing, and supply products to a wider market.

“I am deeply convinced that there is nothing impossible in life,” Yevhen explained. “If you have a strong desire to do something, opportunities are sure to come your way. Even if you are going through terrible times, you should not stop – just keep pushing forward.”

Yevhen Molchanov at Crazy Buns Bakery in Lviv, which he was able to start with support from USAID after having to abandon his first bakery due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Crazy Buns has provided four IDPs with jobs, allowing to stay employed despite displacement from their hometowns.

Modern bakery equipment provided through a grant from USAID ERA is allowing Crazy Buns to compete in this competitive market in Lviv.

Crazy Buns founder, Yevhen Molchanov, has tailored some of his bakery’s products to suit tastes in Lviv, which he says differs from those back in his hometown of Stanytsia Luhanska, Luhansk Oblast.