USAID Supports the Development of a Business Community in Volyn Oblast

14 February 2024

The USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is helping to renovate the “Novo” Business Support Center in Novovolynsk, Volyn Oblast. The center will serve as a dynamic hub for entrepreneurial excellence, where aspiring and established entrepreneurs will gather to forge vital business connections, access pro bono legal counsel, and participate in different trainings to launch and manage their businesses.

USAID ERA provided over $50,000 in construction materials that the Novo Business Center will use to transform a 1960’s building into a vibrant, modern business support center. Renovation materials range from new windows and doors to materials for the interior renovation of the premises. Additionally, USAID ERA provided a generator for the business center to be used during power outages.

“In the business center, the representatives of local authorities will learn how to create projects, develop business initiatives, and unite entrepreneurs into associations for protection and representation on various levels,” explained Borys Karpus, Mayor of Novovolynsk. “Building entrepreneurial communities is very important for our city and country. I believe medium, small, and micro businesses should serve as the ground of our independent economy,” he continued.

With renovations already underway on a 200-square-meter area, the center is on track to complete its comprehensive makeover by July 2024, including replacing windows, doors, flooring, and water pipes. Additionally, installing glass partitions will carve separate workspaces, while decorative enhancements, like paint, will refresh the space. Over 4,000 private entrepreneurs and 800 limited liability companies are registered in the Novovolynsk community. According to the Mayor of Novovolynsk, the business center will serve as a magnet for them and new small and medium-sized businesses in Novovolynsk and other nearby communities.

ERA-supported “Novo” Business Support Center in Novovolynsk, Volyn Oblast, which received $50,000 worth of materials to upgrade into a modern business hub for the community.

Generator provided by ERA to be used during power outages so that the business center operations can run smoothly without interruption.

New windows and other materials provided by ERA will help insulate and modernize the business center.

USAID ERA Fosters Ukrainian Grain Export in 2023 

AGRI-Ukraine Export Logistics Support
13 February 2024

USAID ERA Fosters Ukrainian Grain Export in 2023 

In 2023, USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA) supported Ukrainian agricultural exporters within the USAID framework of Agricultural Resilience Initiative (AGRI). Following Russia’s brutal invasion on Ukraine, ERA provides necessary equipment to Ukrainian companies to enhance their grain export capacities, increase resilience, and work towards recovery.  

USAID ERA purchased 146 various units of equipment for 16 AGRI companies totaling over $12 million. Examples of equipment that ERA provided AGRI companies in 2023 include grain wagons, mega big bags, truck scales, grain samplers, telehandlers, generators, etc. Using USAID’s equipment, AGRI companies were able to export 203,000 tons of grain in 2023.  

What does resilience and recovery look like? AGRI companies tell us!  

In the spring of 2023, AgroKIM company, which belongs to IMK holding, received 7 telehandlers, 3 truck scales, and 3 generators from ERA. This equipment is actively used in AgroKIM’s production facilities in Poltava, Sumy and Chernihiv Oblasts.  

 “These powerful telehandlers helped us to relaunch the grain storage process and speed up the grain unloading process in our additional floor storages which have no mechanical loading/unloading equipment. One telehandler can load up to 1,000 tons of grain on a vehicle per day. It is a significant boost. Previously, we used old soviet machinery”, says Oleksandr Verzhyhovskyi, IMK’s Director of Operations.   

Between September and November 2023, AgroKIM exported 23,178 tons of grain. Of the total, 12,762 tons of grain was moved using equipment provided by USAID ERA, which is 10% of their annual export volume. 

Another AGRI company, NIBULON received 50 grain wagons and 2 mechanical grain samplers. The grain samplers were installed at their Danube subsidiaries and used to test grain quality input control. After installation, they were able to test 320 vehicles and around 7,500 tons of agricultural products per day. The old equipment only allowed them to process around 200 vehicles per day. 

“Rakoraf samplers provided by USAID ERA allowed us to speed up the unloading of grain from vehicles, sampling and transshipment for export”, says Valeriy Reutsoy, Director of Nibulon’s Elevator Department.  

Moreover, NIBULON utilizes their grain wagons to transportation grain between river and marine ports. NIBULON’s fleet consists of 212 grain wagons, 50 of which were provided by USAID ERA. NIBULON saved $1.7 million on equipment rental costs simply by owning their own wagon fleet. Between July and December of 2023, the company increased transportation from 10% to 23%, moving 164,000 tons of grain products.  

Trigon Farming Company, the Ukrainian subsidiary of Agronimo, received 550 mega big bags in 2023. Designed for grain transportation, these mega big bags hold 14 tons of grain. The equipment moved 7,659 tons of grain in October and November 2023, which is 50% of the total amount exported. Trigon Farming Company exported wheat, corn and soybeans to Türkiye, Romania, and Israel. 

 “The cooperation with USAID ERA helped our company increase grain export during the war. At the beginning of last year, we discovered how useful mega big bags can be for loading grain. USAID ERA procured these mega big bags upon our request. We transport 3 tons of grain each month with these mega big bags, and we used to do it with bags and trucks. We use the same mega big bag 2 or 3 times. All of these mega big bags are intact and are stored at our premises”, says Oleksandr Andreiev, Technical Director of Trigon Farming Company.  

Lastly, 3 telehandlers helped Astarta-Kyiv increase the volumes of grain moved from elevators in Poltava and Khmelntyskyi Oblasts for export.  In October and November 2023, using USAID’s equipment, Astarta-Kyiv exported 72,693 tons of grain (wheat, corn, and rapeseed). This is 10% of their total annual export amount.  

All this to say, in 2024, USAID ERA continues helping Ukrainian agricultural companies export grain to global markets.   

We would like to reiterate that the procurement of equipment is carried out within the framework of the Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI) – Ukraine, implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This initiative is aimed at mitigating a global food crisis exacerbated by Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine.   

Read more about the initiative 

USAID supplies five commodity scales toUkraine’s road border crossing points  

Modernization of the BCPs
13 February 2024

USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA) has supplied five one-ton commodity scales to three of Ukraine’s priority road border crossing points (BCPs). The Starokozache/Tudora BCP received one scale, while two scales each were delivered to the Rava-Ruska/Hrebenne, and Chop – Zahony BCPs. The scales, produced by a Ukrainian manufacturer, feature the full range of functionalities required by the State Customs Service of Ukraine. This include  capacity for the required tonnage, number of weighings per day, photo quality, and data storage, which are all crucial for fast and efficient customs declaration at the border crossings.  

This assistance is part of USAID ERA’s ongoing support to modernize priority BCPs between Ukraine and Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Poland. This initiative aims to increase efficiency, improve accessibility, and enhance the logistical potential of key BCPs for the export of Ukrainian goods, especially grain, whose export is vital for Ukraine’s economy and 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. 

Procurement Officer

12 February 2024

Kyiv

ERA BACKGROUND 

Ukraine’s efforts to win the future – emerging from Russia’s full-scale war ready to accelerate its development as a sovereign, independent, democratic, and prosperous state – require a dynamic, inclusive economic recovery. Through partnerships with the government and robust private sector engagement, ERA has supported economic growth and resilience in Ukraine since 2018. Following Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and subsequent occupation of the part of Ukraine, ERA shifted from its focus on Eastern Ukraine to cover development priorities across the country that address Ukraine’s urgent needs in export logistics and infrastructural improvements.

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 IMPROVEMENTSERA 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.

 BCPs Renovation and Upgrade:

  • Infrastructure Improvements: deliver equipment, architecture and engineering design and construction services at 9 priority (6 road and 3 rail) and up to 12 additional BCPs that improve traffic management systems, cargo processing, and terminal infrastructure and equipment for cargo and passenger processing, to increase exports and manage traffic more efficiently along the borders of Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
  • Standardization and Efficiency with Rapid Upgrades: target total of 42 BCPs with immediate upgrades such as prefabricated office structures and restrooms, pavement repairs, signage, barricades, and equipment for weighing and scanning that address urgent needs and improve user experience and perceptions of Ukraine.
  • Equipment and Traffic Management Systems:  procure mobile truck scanners, fixed and dynamic scales, luggage and hand-held scanners, and rail cargo equipment to increase export capacity and meet international standards for cargo processing; and develop and implement modern traffic management systems at select, high volume BCPs.

About the job

The Procurement Officer will help USAUD ERA by developing and procuring optimal and sustainable solutions to meet cost, quality, and service targets as defined and aligned with our procurement, supply chain, and partners and stakeholders. The Procurement Officer plays a pivotal role in ensuring integrity, fairness, and openness in procurement processes as well as adherence to policies, procedures, and controls. One of the core responsibilities of this position is to oversee and conduct the procurement of goods and services. The position requires relevant work experience in the field of large-scale procurements of sophisticated equipment and contracting, contract management, dispute resolution, managing interpersonal relationships and communication, and investigating/following up on vendor issues. The Procurement Officer will be responsible for overseeing and ensuring that complete procurement-related backup documentation is provided prior to submission to the Finance Team. The Procurement Officer reports to the Senior Procurement Manager and is located in Kyiv or Lviv or Odesa office.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Liaise with Program staff to ensure any requirements for procurement support are identified approved and procured in a timely, well-documented, and cost-efficient manner. Implement an annual planning process to streamline repetitive procurement of goods to increase competitive tendering and internal processes
  • Monitor and track procurement activities and delivery status of goods/services.
  • Ensure complete backup documentation for procurement purchases is submitted to Procurement Manager and Finance Team
  • Perform regular spot audits of procurement files to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance
  • Participate in external or internal audits as necessary
  • Ensure integrity, fairness, accuracy, and openness in procurement processes
  • Ensure DAI/USAID and FAR policies, and procedures are followed and enforced
  • Enforce the use of DAI’s operations & procurement system (TAMIS), etc.
  • Maintain electronic procurement records & files in various DAI system platforms
  • Manage solicitation bids and quotes from vendors in adherence with policies & approved requisitions and quarterly procurement plans
  • Oversee, monitor, track, and expedite all project procurement activities and delivery status of goods/services
  • Ensure pricing information is accurate and aligns with acquisition policies
  • Conduct price/cost/reasonability analyses
  • Review requisition documentation, cost estimates, statements of work, etc.
  • Help non-procurement staff understand the requirements for submitting accurate and thorough requisitions, cost estimates, statements of work, or determine other technical specifications
  • Determine source selection methods for complex procurement to ensure compliance
  • Prepare cost evaluation data and source selection documentation.
  • Through market research efforts, identify and qualify potential suppliers (and products/services)
  • Ensure that beneficial, ethical, and open supplier relationships are created and maintained according to procurement policies
  • Maintain procurement file system in DAI’s system
  • Help maintain an up-to-date list of providers by obtaining and organizing supporting documentation on activities
  • Effectively serve as a liaison between the program team and the financial team to provide the documentation necessary to issue the payments related to the activities.

About you

  • BA or Specialist degree or equivalent in Logistics, Management, Economics.
  • Minimum of 3 years’ experience in logistics and/or procurement.
  • Experience in the procurement of equipment for the transshipment of agricultural products may be an asset.
  • Strong knowledge of grain and bulk cargo export procedures may be an asset.
  • Strong knowledge of multi-modal transportation (truckload, intermodal, railcar, less-than-truckload) market including suppliers, industry information, and key cost drivers may be an asset.
  • Experience proactively engaging internal and external partners to identify and define potential opportunities and issues.
  • Excellent communications and personnel management skills and ability to relate to people at all levels of an organization and of different multi-cultural backgrounds.
  • Well-organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus. Excellent organizational skills with a willingness to take initiative and be proactive.
  • Proven integrity and ability to adhere to the rules, honor commitments, and meet the spirit as well as the letter of those commitments, stand up for what is right.
  • Strong time management skills, capability to manage time effectively and maintain control of all current project responsibilities, follow-up requests in a timely manner.
  • Ability to manage and prioritize multiple responsibilities and respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints; experience with enterprise accounting software, and Microsoft office suite; demonstrated knowledge of internal controls and processes.
  • Experience with USAID-funded projects is preferable.
  • Fluent in English and Ukrainian are mandatory, both written & spoken.

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: February 29, 2024.

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

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

11 February 2024

This International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we recognize the contribution of all the women and girls who contribute to the scientific and economic development of Ukraine. Professor Viktoria Voropaieva is one of 16 female teachers in Ukraine who took part in a five-month professional course on industrial hydraulics and pneumatics, collaborative robotics, automation of control systems and other topics organized by the International Development Company and Festo Company with support from USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity.  

“Most of our students now study online, so they urgently need modern tools to gain practical skills in remote control of robotic systems. The modules that we developed during this training effectively solve this problem, allowing students to calculate, design and program robotic tools and robotic systems for various purposes, develop algorithms for their operation,” says Viktoria Voropaieva, Professor of the Department of Automation and Telecommunications of the Donetsk National Technical University. 

The teachers will share this knowledge their engineering students at seven different universities in Ukraine, providing them with cutting-edge technical expertise and ultimately more professional oppotunities. 

Pre-design work at Ukraine’s road border crossing points with Romania begins under USAID ERA support 

Modernization of the BCPs
08 February 2024

Miyamoto Ukraine, a subcontractor of the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA), has started pre-design work and preliminary studies aimed at designing the expansion of the Diakivtsi – Racovăţ and Krasnoilsk – Vicovu de Sus road border crossing points (BCPs) located on the Ukrainian-Romanian border. 

During the technical visit to the BCP site, the Miyamoto Ukraine team met with representatives of the State Agency of Ukraine for the Restoration and Development of Infrastructure (SARDI) and the State Customs Service. The engineers compared the available design documents with the actual constructed facilities and checked the compliance of the planned work with the requirements of the legislation and construction standards in Ukraine. The planned expansion of the checkpoint will increase the throughput capacity for freight transport, which, in turn, will positively impact the flow of Ukrainian grain export through Romania. 

Natalia Chukanova, Chief Engineer at Miyamoto International Ukraine said, “In January, our team visited two border crossing points, Dyakivtsi – Rakovets and Krasnoilsk – Vicovia de Sus. During the working visit, we got acquainted with the facilities, inspected the territory and existing buildings and structures of the BCPs to clarify the scope of work required, and took photos of the current state of the facilities. We discussed the issues and possible solutions in advance. During the meeting, we talked to Customs officials about the technological process. We gathered all the necessary information for further implementation of the modernization of the state border crossing points of Ukraine.

She noted further, “The Miyamoto Ukraine team, which includes civil engineers, building inspection specialists and architects, is implementing all the planned work to modernize the BCPs and increase their capacity according to the planned schedule.”

In February, Miyamoto Ukraine engineers are scheduled visit two railway and one road BCPs in Zakarpattia and Lviv Oblasts to conduct a detailed inspection of the technical condition of the existing infrastructure and facilities and determine the scope of work required for their modernization and improvement.  

Mustafa Nayyem, Head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine noted, “29 BCPs on the western and southern borders of Ukraine have been transferred to the management of the State Agency for Reconstruction. Our task is to modernize these checkpoints and increase their capacity. I am grateful to our partners USAID and Miyamoto for their assistance on this important project.”  

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.