USAID ERA delivered a front-end loader to Kernel

AGRI-Ukraine Export Logistics Support
26 December 2023

USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA) delivered a front-end loader to Kernel. The equipment will be used at the company’s terminals for the transshipment of agricultural products in Odesa region. One such loader can load about 1,500 tons of grain per day. 

Recently, the USAID ERA delivered three generators to the Kernel company – with a capacity of 800 kW. 500 kW and 200 kW, and a cabinet of automatic reserve input. They will ensure the uninterrupted operation of Kernel enterprises in Odesa without reducing the productivity of assets, even in the absence of a centralized electricity supply. 

In October, the USAID ERA  purchased 19 powerful generators for the needs of agricultural exporting companies. 

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.

Miyamoto Ukraine is conducting technical inspections of unfinished cargo terminals in the Zakarpattia and Volyn regions

Modernization of the BCPs
19 December 2023

USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is upgrading Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain export logistics, and as part of this, from December 6 to 8, subcontractor Miyamoto Ukraine undertook a visit to inspect three key priority BCPs near Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.

During the visit, the Miyamoto team inspected the condition of the unfinished terminals at the two road BCPs in the Zakarpattia region, and surveyed the area designated for the expansion of the cargo terminal at the road BCP in the Volyn region. Miyamoto Ukraine had formed three teams, with each team consisting of engineers, building inspection specialists, and architects, and assigned to work separately on different BCPs. The technical inspection of these BCPs is scheduled to continue until the end of December 2023, after which they will start preparing the draft report on the unfinished terminals. Following the December visit, the pre-design survey of the Volyn region BCP will commence in December 2023.

“The team of professionals at Miyamoto Ukraine is helping us with the resolution of the most complex and socially important reconstruction projects. The modernization of checkpoints is among the most urgent. This is about the development of economic potential, transportation of humanitarian and military cargos. We thank our partners for their help in these important projects,” says Mustafa Nayyem, the Head of the Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (SARDI).

Miyamoto Ukraine has formed three teams, each consisting of engineers, building inspection specialists, and architects. Each team has been assigned to work separately on different border crossing points (BCPs). The technical inspection is scheduled to continue through December 2023, after which they will start preparing a draft report on the unfinished terminals.

 

Miyamoto International has an official presence in 27 countries worldwide. The Ukrainian branch boasts an engineering team of approximately 128 professionals based in Ukraine. This team will provide design and quality assurance for the BCP construction work under ERA. Miyamoto Ukraine is also actively collaborating with the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine and working with regional and military administrations in various parts of the country.

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 helps private business to grow their capacities

AGRI-Ukraine Export Logistics Support
18 December 2023

On November 28, the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA delivered to the company “Private enterprise “Fenix Agro” scales for weighing road transport with grain. The scales will be used at the company’s facilities in the Cherkasy region – at grain warehouses in Uman. Now, the company is making a concrete foundation – a base-site for installing scales. They plan to complete these works by the end of January 2024. Then they will be able to use the scales. 

 The company had no scales suitable for weighing grain cars and rented scales from partner companies, spending time (because you had to go to the scales), fuel and money to pay for these services. The new scales will allow us to properly organize the reception, storage and shipment of grain from warehouses used by the company to large grain trucks, including directly for export. After the installation of scales, it will be able to weigh up to 750 tons of grain per day. 

PE “Fenix Agro” has operated since 2010 as a specialized trader and supplier serving a large agricultural community of farmers united in the First Ukrainian Agrarian Cooperative (PUSK), whose total land bank is more than 200,000 hectares. The cooperative unites 74 farmers in the central and western regions of Ukraine. The staff of PE “Fenix Agro” is more than 120 employees. 

Since 2020, the company has started selling grain crops for export. First of all, they sell agricultural products of the cooperative – corn, wheat, rapeseed, sunflower. The enterprise is rapidly increasing grain exports, as well as supplying feed raw materials and fuel for agricultural partners. Since March 2022, the enterprise has started active export activities and sold almost 16,000 tons of agricultural products for export. In the incomplete year of 2023, export volumes increased to 80,000 tons. The company plans to increase export volumes in the future. 

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.  

Information Communications Technologies (ICT) Officer

15 December 2023

Kyiv/Lviv

Since 2018, USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) has focused its activities on eastern Ukraine. In 2022, it expanded its geography of cooperation to other regions due to Russia’s full-scale invasion and occupation of part of Ukraine. In 2023, given the military and political circumstances and challenges, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) changed ERA’s priorities.

ERA is one of the implementers of the U.S. Government’s Interagency Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI – Ukraine), which aims to support Ukrainian agricultural production and exports and help address the global food crisis exacerbated by Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine. USAID supports the Government of Ukraine, including working with the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI) and the State Customs Service, through ERA, to modernize border crossing points to improve grain trade and exports, passenger traffic, and perceptions of Ukraine. ERA is also implementing the Economic Stability and Recovery Initiative (ESRI), which focuses on job retention and creation and assists small and medium-sized enterprises.

USAID ERA prioritizes work on AGRI and rehabilitating EU-facing border crossing points (BCPs). The AGRI component is extending its technical assistance to Ukrainian Agri-traders and logistics companies supporting them in increasing capacity and potential of grain export logistics. The BCP component includes complex construction management and procurement of equipment and service for BCPs to become more efficient in processing big cargos of grain and other commodities through the border.

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 wellbeing paid leaves 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: January 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: January 01, 2024.

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

AGRI Private Partnerships Officer

15 December 2023

Kyiv

Since 2018, USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) has focused its activities on eastern Ukraine. In 2022, it expanded its geography of cooperation to other regions due to Russia’s full-scale invasion and occupation of part of Ukraine. In 2023, given the military and political circumstances and challenges, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) changed ERA’s priorities.

ERA is one of the implementers of the U.S. Government’s Interagency Agriculture Resilience Initiative – Ukraine (AGRI – Ukraine), which aims to support Ukrainian agricultural production and exports and help address the global food crisis exacerbated by Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine. USAID supports the Government of Ukraine, including working with the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI) and the State Customs Service, through ERA, to modernize border crossing points to improve grain trade and exports, passenger traffic, and perceptions of Ukraine. ERA is also implementing the Economic Stability and Recovery Initiative (ESRI), which focuses on job retention and creation and assists small and medium-sized enterprises.

USAID ERA prioritizes work on AGRI and rehabilitating EU-facing border crossing points (BCPs). The AGRI component is extending its technical assistance to Ukrainian Agri-traders and logistics companies supporting them in increasing capacity and potential of grain export logistics. The BCP component includes complex construction management and procurement of equipment and service for BCPs to become more efficient in processing big cargos of grain and other commodities through the border.

About the job

The AGRI Private Partnerships Officer is responsible for working with private AGRI logistics companies, grain traders, and agricultural holdings, both public companies and private-owned companies. This role requires a strong knowledge of the AGRI commodity export industry, including logistics and supply chain management. The AGRI Private Partnerships Officer will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with private sector AGRI companies and traders, working with them to identify and address challenges to the export of AGRI commodities, and supporting them in implementing best practices for AGRI products export and logistics. The AGRI Private Partnerships Officer is based in Kyiv and reports to the AGRI Deputy Director.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Develop and maintain relationships with both private sector companies and state partners to promote the export of AGRI commodities.
  • Work with private sector partners to identify and address challenges to the export of AGRI commodities, including logistics and supply chain issues.
  • Support private sector partners in implementing best practices for AGRI commodity export and logistics.
  • Facilitate communication and coordination between private sector partners and other stakeholders, including government agencies, international organizations, councils, or trade unions.
  • Collaborating with the AGRI Team, elevate agricultural logistics and transportation capabilities, facilitating the streamlined and punctual export of agricultural commodities to global markets.
  • Work closely with other USAID ERA teams to ensure that private sector engagement is integrated into all project activities.
  • Join and closely follow the efforts of the AGRI team in promoting, reconstructing, and repairing various agricultural commodities export facilities.
  • Creates meeting memos with key bullet points to circulate among SMT upon request.
  • Follows-up requests to or meetings with beneficiaries upon request.
  • Contributes to project planning, monitoring progress, and ensuring that objectives are met within budget and time constraints.
  • Timely delivers all the ecological standard documents (ERC, EMMP, and others upon request).
  • Verify to their best knowledge the potential reputational and compliance risks (Know-Your-Client).
  • Analyze the private agricultural market and propose a strategy of partnership with selected beneficiaries.

Reporting:

  • Prepare accurate and timely field reports and other documentation as required.
  • Monitor and report on the progress of private sector partners in expanding and improving the export of AGRI commodities.
  • Support the MEL Team with deliverables, as it relates to private partnerships.

About you

  • Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, business, economics, or a related field.
  • At least 8 years of experience working with private agricultural logistics companies and grain traders.
  • Seamless cross-functional teamwork skills to elevate agricultural logistics and transportation capabilities, facilitating the smooth and timely export of agricultural products to global markets.
  • Strong knowledge of the AGRI commodity export industry, including logistics and supply chain management.
  • The ability to prioritize competing tasks, set realistic deadlines, and manage time efficiently.
  • Experience working with USAID or other international development organizations is a plus.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Fluent English and Ukrainian are required.

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: January 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: January 01, 2024.

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

USAID ERA modernizes lighting systems at road border crossing points in Volyn and Zakarpattia regions

Modernization of the BCPs
14 December 2023

On December 6, USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) began the upgrade of lighting systems at key crossing points on the borders with Poland and Slovakia, by replacing and installing 479 LED lights. The work will continue throughout December and early January. These two border crossing points (BCPs) are among the first nine priority BCPs receiving USAID ERA’s rapid modernization assistance, which is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s export-logistical infrastructure including ports, rail, and road transport, to increase operational efficiency.  

“The modernization of border crossing points is an important component in strengthening the export logistics infrastructure as a whole. Particularly important for us are the crossing points on the borders with Poland and Slovakia. The two BCPs where work is currently underway are among the nine that are being supported through USAID’s rapid modernization assistance. The new lighting systems will improve the operation of the BCPs and significantly help in the uninterrupted movement through them,” says Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery of Ukraine – Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine. 

The crossing points with neighboring Poland and Slovakia are important export gateways for Ukraine and have strategic significance in the country’s export logistics. Timely and substantial upgrades, such as these lighting systems, improve the overall functionality of the BCP infrastructure. Therefore, such updates are crucial for ensuring the continuous flow of goods from Ukraine, guaranteeing grain export. 

“Border crossing points have become strategically important for development, and support of export and import. With the start of the war, part of the border was closed, effectively shutting down ports. At the same time, we made a huge leap towards European integration. We thank our partners for their help. On our part, we started implementing changes at the crossing points, which will provide comfort for users,” says Mustafa Nayyem, the Head of the Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (SARDI).

Timothy Madigan, ERA’s Chief of Party remarks on USAID ERA’s modernizing of BCP activities: “Every step in the modernization of Ukraine’s infrastructure opens new horizons for its economic development and international integration. Systematic updating of key border crossing points not only enhances Ukraine’s export capacity but is also a symbol of resilience and progress in the face of challenges. These lighting system upgrades provide not only a brighter road for transport but also a brighter future for the country.”

 

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.