USAID Empowers Louis Dreyfus Company with 85 Grain Wagons

AGRI-Ukraine Export Logistics Support
06 February 2024

USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) purchased 85 grain wagons for Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC), one of the largest foreign exporters of Ukrainian grains and oilseeds. ERA delivered the first set of 20 wagons to their elevators.  

LDC expects these wagons will increase grain exports by 111,000 tons per year and enhance their market independence. Additionally, LDC will be able to expand their geographic reach and load grain from previously inaccessible corners of Ukraine.  

LDC’s entire fleet consists of 660 grain wagons. Most of their grain wagons are fully operational, while a few wagons are stranded in Russia-occupied territories. LDC exports grain to countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe. 

The procurement of equipment for agricultural companies is carried out within the framework of the Agricultural Sustainability Initiative in Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine), implemented by the United States Agency for International Development, to mitigate the global food crisis exacerbated by Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine. 

More information about the initiative is available under the link.

Administrative Associate

06 February 2024

 Odesa

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 Administrative Associate provides assistance to the ERA Senior Management Team (SMT) in various administrative and operational duties upon request. The role is responsible for the maintenance of the office facilities and equipment in proper order. The Administrative Associate interacts with Finance and Procurement teams, meets and greets all Odesa office visitors; and works in close cooperation with a driver and a housekeeper/cleaning lady. The Administrative Associate is based in Odesa and reports to the Odesa Administrative Officer.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Office Administration:

  • Support daily administrative and operational needs of the Odesa office team, including office attendance coordination, booking meeting/events facilities, etc.
  • Manage office front desk, greet visitors, and handle incoming calls and electronic communications.
  • Coordinate mail delivery to/from the Odesa office by courier services providers.
  • Keep supplies in stock, communicate with vendors, and make sure that office facilities are clean and well-prepared for smooth operation and planned events (in coordination with the project’s cleaning person).
  • Assist in updating TAMIS modules and maintaining administrative and office supplies files.
  • Coordinate paperwork flow with vendors, service providers, and landlord, ensuring that all items are invoiced and paid on time.
  • Ensure proper functioning of office equipment, and order service maintenance of the equipment including water dispensers, air conditioners, fridge, coffee machine, printers.
  • Assist the ERA Senior Management team (COP, DCOPs) with administrative tasks upon request.

Travel and Logistics:

  • Make necessary arrangements for meetings and events, procure services for venues, catering, accommodation, and travel using DAI systems and complying with policies;
  • Make local and international travel arrangements for the project staff and SMT.
  • Coordinate work of Odesa driver in terms of in-city ground transportation arrangements, daily reporting, and transferring all the requested info to the Finance team.
  • Other assignments agreed upon with the supervisor.

Reporting:

  • Maintain accurate and complete operational record-keeping and filing systems and maintain project files.
  • Prepare accurate and timely reports and other project documentation as required.
  • Keep respective activity records in the DAI corporate system (TAMIS).
  • Perform other related tasks as requested by supervisor and SMT.

About you

  • BA or BS degree or equivalent experience.
  • 1+ years of administrative and/or logistics assistant experience.
  • Experience with USAID projects is preferred.
  • Fluency in English and Ukrainian.
  • Experience with Microsoft platforms (Word, Excel).

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: 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.

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: February 18, 2024.

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

USAID ERA installs three 50-kW generators for Ukrzaliznytsia

Modernization of the BCPs
02 February 2024

USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) has delivered three 50-kW diesel generators to the Chop – Záhony, Vadul-Siret – Vicșani, and Mostyska – Medyka rail border crossing points (BCPs) operated by Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ).  

Equipped with automatic voltage regulators, the generators will ensure a constant and stable power supply for the checkpoints, which serve as strategic export routes to Poland, Hungary and Romania, especially during the cold winter months. The generators will strengthen UZ’s logistics infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted operation to facilitate increased cargo turnover, grain export and passenger traffic at the rail BCPs.  

USAID ERA is working to modernize border crossing points to improve operational efficiency and cargo transportation logistics, and increase trade, grain export, and traffic flows in general. 

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 begins installation of prefabricated buildings at border crossing points in Volyn and Chernivtsi Oblasts 

Modernization of the BCPs
01 February 2024

 Artmetal Ukraine, a Dnipro-based company, under contract from the USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), has completed the installation of the first two of 10 modular buildings at the Yahodyn-Dorohusk road border crossing point (BCP) to be used as offices for Border Guard and Customs. 

From January 24 to 29, Artmetal Ukraine also delivered four modular buildings to be installed as restrooms for Yahodyn-Dorohusk and two for Porubne-Siret BCPs. The necessary power supply and other utility connections for all the prefabricated buildings will be done by the end of February to enable the facilities to become fully functional.The installation of the modular buildings will improve the working conditions of Customs and Border Guard and make it more comfortable for people crossing the Ukrainian-Polish and Ukrainian-Romanian borders. 

“I thank our partners from USAID for their systematic support of Ukraine’s modernization, in particular in strengthening Ukraine’s export capacity. The development of border crossing points will allow us to optimize their operation and, accordingly, increase trade turnover,” commented Oleksandr Kubrakov, Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine, Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine.

These facilities are the first of 33 units that will improve the operational efficiency of four key border crossing points on Ukraine’s western border: “Yahodyn-Dorohusk, Porubne-Siret, Luzhanka-Beregsurány, and Uzhhorod-Vyšné Nemecké, which are critical infrastructure facilities for Ukrainian grain exports. 

“The Reconstruction Agency is taking over 29 checkpoints, 23 have already been transferred to the Agency’s management, and repair work has begun at 11. Our task is to improve export logistics. We are grateful to USAID for its consistent systemic support of the Reconstruction Agency and participation in the development of the checkpoints,” said Mustafa Nayem, Head of the State Agency for Reconstruction and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.

As a leading grain exporter, Ukraine will benefit greatly from the optimization of its transportation systems through USAID’s major improvements at these two checkpoints. This modernization will ensure that Ukrainian grain can reach world markets faster and more efficiently, strengthening the local economy while contributing significantly to 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.    

Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian national university builds partnerships with susinesses 

26 January 2024

Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University (EUNU) raises the quality of higher education by partnering with leading Ukrainian agricultural companies such as PrJSC MHP, a large grain producer and meat processor. EUNU is one of 5 relocated educational institutions supported by USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA).  

“EUNU lost almost 100% of contacts with employers since most of them were also located in Luhansk Oblast. Now, the university seeks to reengage with relocated companies, and look for new partners in Kyiv and in Kyiv Oblast” says Serhiy Kudriavtsev, the Dean of Engineering Faculty of EUNU. “Collaboration between MHP and EUNU seems mutually beneficial.” 

January 17, USAID ERA supported a regular meeting between EUNU and the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club Association. Lecturers of Engineering Faculty and Informational Technologies Faculty of EUNU learned about MHP’s production facilities and the Energy Department and External Electricity Supply Network Maintenance Service operations. In return, the EUNU team made a presentation of its future laboratories. USAID ERA will support these facilities under the grant program “Modern Skills for Information Technologies, Engineering and Energy Sectors of Ukraine” by providing computers and other equipment to enable continued education during the war.  

Future collaboration is expected between EUNU and MHP in the form of working groups, potential professional training in laboratories, and future visits.   

USAID drives recovery of ukrainian producer of water purification equipment  

24 January 2024

With support from USAID, Ecosoft, a Ukrainian producer of water purification equipment, is now able to expand its range of products, create 26 new jobs, and reach the pre-war production volumes. Through Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), USAID provided two new injection molding machines which manufacture water filters and their accompanying disposable cartridges. 

Ecosoft’s facilities are located in Irpin, Kyiv Oblast and when Russia brutally invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the company’s production and storage facilities were shelled and partially destroyed. After the missiles damaged the equipment, Ecosoft was only able to restart the production of one type of water filter pitcher instead of a wide range of pre-war products. As a result, the company’s production volume fell by three times, and the sales decreased by more than two times the regular volume.  

With a grant from ERA (USD 426,236.92), the company was able to purchase new equipment in January 2024 and will start manufacturing products in mid-February 2024. Ecosoft plans to expand its range of water filter pitchers and disposable cartridges. 

“Our goal is to ensure every Ukrainian has access to simple and effective methods of water purification” says Yuriy Chechailiuk, Ecosoft’s Director of Operations. “Our production facilities were largely destroyed during the active phase of war. However, thanks to the support of our partners and the well–coordinated work of our employees our company continues to increase production capacities and provide customers with high quality products.” 

In the summer of 2022, ERA also supported EcoSoft in developing a production flow model for the company as part of the USAID ERA initiative launched to ensure sustainable operations of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) relocating business operations throughout Ukraine. With ERA’s help, the company could optimize the warehouse space by 20 percent and reduce the use of packaging significantly. ERA specialists also developed options for the layout of the new production facility, drafted a business plan, financial plan, and sales plan, and selected grant programs for scaling up production. 

Ecosoft is the lead producer of water purification equipment in Ukraine. They have 200 employees and export products to 60 countries worldwide.