USAID ERA participates in “BLACK SEA GRAIN.EUROPE-2024” Conference 

29 February 2024

On February 27-28 in Prague, the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA) joined the international conference “BLACK SEA GRAIN.EUROPE-2024.” The event brought together leading players in the agricultural market and served as a platform for agribusiness leaders to share their experiences and ideas.   

ERA key partners, leading agribusiness operator Agromino and Grain Trading Company Almeida Group LLC, also attended the event, along with Kirsten Pfeiffer, USAID ERA Deputy Chief of Party, and Bill Mays, USAID ERA AGRI Director.  

Agronimo presented its activities in Ukraine aimed at increasing the agricultural sector’s efficiency through introducing innovative technologies, while Almeida Group spoke about grain logistics, emphasizing the importance of sustainable and efficient supply chains.  

The conference has become a unique platform for establishing cooperation between Ukrainian and international producers, grain and oilseed processors, traders, logistics companies, banking and investment institutions, as well as representatives of government and industry associations

USAID ERA encourages closer cooperation between Ukrainian and European operators to explore new ways of doing grain business and help mitigate the global food crisis. 

USAID supplies bogie exchange lifts to improve the efficiency of rail cargo operations 

Modernization of the BCPs
23 February 2024

The USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA) has installed the first set of four bogie exchange lifts for Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) at a railroad border crossing point (BCP) on the Romanian border. The remaining two sets from the USAID ERA total order of three sets are to be installed in March. Each set, which comprises four bogie lifts, can lift cargo weighing more than 100 tons.   

The lifts are an efficient way to change wheel bogies to move trains and wagons from the wider gauges to standard gaugesand vice versa, thereby eliminating the idle time associated with the replacement of bogies, enabling faster cargo movement between Ukraine and the EU. The installation of the 12 lifts will allow handling an additional 24 cargo per day, which will increase the capacity and efficiency of UZ’s cargo operations. For more than 15 years, this regional branch of UZ has not purchased any new lifts for any of its railway stations.  

The lifts are supplied by “TRADING HOUSE” MASHSERVIS” LTD (the actual manufacturer of the lifts is a subsidiary of Plasma Company LLC), a leading Ukrainian company based in Kharkiv that manufactures and supplies equipment for Ukraine and Europe, which won the USAID ERA competitive tender. Since 2006, the company has grown from a small commodity trading company to a manufacturer of industrial equipment, gradually developing and expanding into new areas of production. 

At the beginning of the war in Ukraine unleashed by Russia, the company’s operations were suspended, and they had to abandon many areas of development and some services. Four months later, they gradually began to resume production. At present, the company has identified the main areas of work that it plans to develop in the future – the manufacture of railcar jacks, shunting devices for moving railcars, grab bars, winches, gearboxes, thermal equipment, and mining equipment.  

Today, the company produces almost all the parts needed to manufacture the equipment on its own. The trading house buys all the material for the manufacture of equipment from reliable suppliers from Ukraine and European countries, which ensures stable production. The main customers of “TRADING HOUSE” MASHSERVIS” LTD, are large metallurgical enterprises, ports, enterprises with railway infrastructure, mines, elevators, quarries, and mining and processing plants.    

Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the company sold 50% of its equipment on the domestic market and 50% was exported. For now, “TRADING HOUSE” MASHSERVIS” LTD, sells 80% of its products on the domestic market and 20% are exported. 

The company approaches each order individually. For example, as per ERA’s request, a 3D model of the equipment to be manufactured was developed, load calculations were performed, and only then was the production launched. It was hanks to the ERA order, that the company was able to set up a line for bogie exchange lift production, which created new jobs. 

The company has a large fleet of machine tools, so it manufactures almost all parts on its own. This makes it possible to control production at every stage. The manufactured equipment is checked for quality by the technical control department. In some cases, the company orders the services of a third-party expert to check the equipment.    

“TRADING HOUSE” MASHSERVIS” LTD ensures high quality standards through the ISO 9001 quality management system and complies with international safety and sustainability standards. The company’s products also comply with such standards as technical specifications and the State standards of Ukraine. 

As a reminder, ERA is modernizing Ukraine’s key rail and road border crossings with Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Poland. This initiative aims to increase efficiency, improve accessibility, and increase the logistics capacity of key border crossings for Ukrainian exports. Grain, whose exports are important not only for Ukraine’s economy but also for global food security. 

Background: Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million to support the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), Ukrainian Railways (UZ), and State Customs Services, to upgrade border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain trade and export volumes.  

 

USAID ERA delivers modular buildings for installation at key road border crossing points in Zakarpattia Oblast

Modernization of the BCPs
22 February 2024

Under the USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), ArtMetal Ukraine, a Dnipro-based company, has delivered 21 prefabricated buildings (prefabs) for installation at two key road border crossing points (BCPs) in Zakarpattia Oblast on Ukraine border. The commissioning of the prefabs is scheduled for February and early March. The modular buildings, or prefabs, are to be equipped with the necessary functional equipment. They will improve border control processes and speed up customs procedures, and potentially reduce waiting times at the borders between Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovakia. 

 

At the same time, the sanitary modules previously delivered to the BCP on the border with Romania are successfully connected and ready for use. One of the modules is inclusive, with a ramp providing unimpeded access for people with disabilities. Each sanitary module is equipped with the necessary set of sanitary equipment. 

The modernization of BCPs contributes to creating a more accessible and comfortable environment for all categories of people crossing the border and enhances Ukraine’s ability to operate its border crossings effectively, which stimulates the local economy by ensuring the export of Ukrainian goods to international markets. 

Background: Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million to support the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), Ukrainian Railways (UZ), and State Customs Services, to upgrade border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain trade and export volumes. 

Border Crossing Point (BCP) Deputy Director

Modernization of the BCPs
19 February 2024

Lviv

Position Overview

The Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is focused on facilitating the increased flow of commodities from Ukraine through its EU borders to prepare for better integration with the European Union. Between 2023-2026, USAID is dedicating $115 million to support the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), Ukrainian Railways (UZ), and State Customs Services to upgrade border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain trade and export volumes, transportation routes, and passenger traffic. ERA is upgrading border crossing points (BCPs) and adjacent cargo processing infrastructure to increase trade and integration capacity through both short-term rapid upgrades and longer-term improvements.

ERA is looking for an energetic and highly organized candidate to work alongside the BCP Director to oversee construction management, personnel management and training, and quality assurance to support Ukrainian border crossing point upgrades. Candidates must be willing to relocate to Lviv, Ukraine (a maximum of 25 percent remote work may be approved) for the life of the project, which is set to conclude in August 2026.

Expected key functions:

The BCP Deputy Director will provide senior technical leadership and management for the ERA BCP Team to enable it to

  1. Assisting the BCP Director in providing quality review, training, mentoring, and follow-up with the BCP staff to ensure the quality of products, reports, trackers, projections, etc. Provide management, technical, and organizational skills to improve the quality of internal and external deliverables to USAID and counterparts.
  2. Developing and updating progress monitoring control schedules and Gantt charts, including awards/delivery, completion, and financial projection management. Ensure BCP workplan targets are met.
  3. Developing analysis and monitoring progress as far as financial projection, budget, LOE, etc.
  4. Updating BCP-related sections of the work plan and BCP progress tracking and adherence to the work plan and performance targets. Conduct regular follow-ups on team members to ensure successful completion, submission, and documentation of all components.
  5. Collaborating with the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) and cross-functional teams as needed on routine technical updates, monitoring and evaluation, environmental compliance, communications, client reporting, procurement, and budget projections.
  6. Performing other functions assigned by the BCP Director on a BCP component needs and assessment.

Required qualifications:

  • 5-7 years of mid-to senior-level experience in overseeing engineering design and construction program management and quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC), or related field, equivalent to a Deputy Chief of Party, component lead or senior management position;
  • Strong personnel and project management skills;
  • Strong technical, financial, analytical, quantitative, critical thinking, and conceptual skills to analyze issues and develop monitoring and control tools and recommend and present solutions and/or options;
  • Excellent computer skills, especially in computer-assisted design software, Microsoft Project, and Excel; able to develop Microsoft Project Gantt charts to monitor engineering level of effort (LOE), schedules, and cost for several projects.
  • Experience in monitoring, updating, tracking, and following up on the project workplan and progress schedule related BCPs and any related AMELP indicators
  • Significant experience in field assessment, design, and construction of small- and medium-scale infrastructure;
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills in English are required; verbal skills in Ukrainian and/or Russian are advantageous.
  • Highly energetic and skilled in developing and tracking tool(s) to monitor the Level of Efforts and budgets, schedules for accomplishing activities, and financial projections and produce a high level of oversight and visibility for all the elements of the BCP programs.

Preferred qualifications:

  • A university-level degree in civil engineering or a related field, such as industrial engineering, engineering management, or architecture. Experience in relative fields will be considered in lieu of a degree in these areas.
  • Mid-level experience in managing construction projects funded by USAID; knowledge of USAID rules and regulations on procurement and construction, highly desired.
  • Experience in construction activities, quality assurances, and control is preferable.
  • Familiarity with Ukrainian construction and engineering regulations is preferable;
  • Experience in mentoring and training staff across relevant functions.

WE OFFER

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

Benefits: all benefits envisaged by the Labor Code of Ukraine, corporate medical insurance for employees and immediate family members.

Start date: March 2024

Application process

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

Closing date for applications: March 5, 2024.

For further information about DAI GLOBAL LLC, please consult our website dai.com.

ERA Presents “City and its Heroes” project in Berlin

16 February 2024

Facilitated Discussions on What it Means to be Human & Films Illuminating the Bravery of Ukrainians in Berlin 

Café Kyiv 2024, the annual event dedicated to Ukraine, presents the documentary “Cities and their Heroes” and an exhibition of 90 photographs, created with the support of USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA). The event will be held on February 19, 2024, and is organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. 

“Cities and their Heroes” consists of 6 documentaries and 90 photographic stories and texts about ordinary Ukrainians who stayed true to their human values during a inhumane war. 

These stories challenge the audience to reflect on their own lives. Teachers, security guards, healthcare workers, managers, entrepreneurs, public employees, and even unemployed individuals; all of them, Ukrainians. When the war started, everyone found themselves in various circumstances and places. Each of their unique skills allowed them to make bold choices in critical moments.

The exhibition and documentaries are part of “Space of Humanity” section, that also feature: 

  • “Book of Humanness” Multi-object 
  • Exhibition of Anton Lohov and Serhiy Kondratiuk 
  • “The Face of Azovstal” Special Project 
  • “The Path of a Hero” Special Project 

Discussions will be held on February 19th: 

  • “Humanness and Religion” facilitated by Oleh Turiy, Ukrainian Church Historian, Director of the Institute of Church History of Ukrainian Catholic University  
  • “Dignity, Freedom, and a Human”, featuring Vakhtang Kebuldze, Ukrainian Philosopher, Professor of the Department of Theoretical and Practical Philosophy at Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University, and Andriy Dakhniy, Ukrainian Historian of Philosophy, Head of Department of History of Philosophy at Ivan Franko Lviv National University. 

 

Lviv Politechnic National University received Metrological and IT Equipment for Laboratories 

14 February 2024

On January 8th, USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) provided modern metrological and IT equipment to Lviv Polytechnic National University through a grant agreement. USAID’s goal of the grant program is to better technical skills and inclusive conditions for workforce development in the machine-building sector of Ukraine. Over 100 students of the Railway Transport and Machine–building Departments and the professors benefit from the new equipment bolstering their practical research. Furthermore, the university plans to cooperate with business entities and provide defectoscopy services to the community.  

The laboratory in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering received magnetic powder, ultrasonic flaw detectors, a visual measurement control set (mirror, probes, a magnifying glass with a flashlight), and standard samples for metal analysis. The university also received IT equipment, including an interactive educational system to support individuals with vi sual disabilities, an electronic stationary video magnifier, interactive whiteboard, a projector, a laptop with a program for screen access and magnification, a headset for a language classroom, analog audio panels for students and an audio concentrator, a monitor, an acoustic system, computer mice, and a color inkjet printer. Uniquely, this equipment will allow students and teachers with inclusive needs to participate.  

The Deputy Director of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Transport of Lviv Polytechnic, Yaroslav Bolzhelarskyi explains that due to the regulation change in March 2024, requiring railway wagons to have a safety certificate, the university’s laboratory will be in high demand. With the shortage of these specific laboratories, the university hopes to fill in the market gaps with the new equipment. For example, “with the help of the defectoscopes, we will be able to carry out research on wagons by performing a non-destructive analysis”, continues Yaroslav Bolzhelarskyi.  

“This is a significant upgrade for our university. We haven’t updated material resources since before the full-scale invasion”, says Oleg Sokil, Professor of the Department of Administrative and Financial Management at Lviv Polytechnic. “This equipment will help us provide students with in-demand skills within the labor market. Our graduates will be able to perform modern research. It will also expand our opportunities for cooperation with business entities that need metal detectors. This equipment brings education and business needs closer” he explained. 

Background: Assistance to agricultural producers and infrastructure companies is part of the Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI) – Ukraine, implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It aims to help Ukraine increase its capacity to produce, store, transport, and export grain.