USAID ERA to Procure Driving Simulators to Advance and Modernize Vehicle Training and Instructions in Ukraine

AGRI-Ukraine Export Logistics Support

02 December 2024

On November 27, the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club Association (UCAB), together with the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), and with the support of the Directorate for Vocational Education of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, held a roundtable discussion to help advance the deployment of modern vehicle driving trainer simulator solutions in Ukraine using a USAID-funded grant.

Over 130 representatives from agricultural and logistics companies, as well as vocational education leaders and instructors explored opportunities on how these technologies are deployed internationally, help enhance the quality and consistency of training deliver, best serve the competency needs of private sector employers, and encourage inclusivity.

UCAB will select five vocational institutions for USAID ERA to procure modern simulators to train drivers and operators for agri-logistics machinery. The training simulators will cover logistics operations on equipment such as telescopic handlers, front-end loaders, trucks, tractors, combines, and potentially port cranes. This equipment will help students operate various machinery, record training outcomes, and allow instructors to review and analyze performance.

Also included are ten business trips to agribusinesses, five training sessions for the selected institutions’ representatives, and a final event – UCAB Agro-Technology Day 2025 for 60 participants.

The year-long grant, launched in October 2024, aims to enhance the export potential of agri-logistics companies, and increase exports. The planned grant activities include attending international conferences, business trips, partnership building, and support for vocational education institutions.

Contact Information for UCAB:
Alla Kravchenko, Expert on Academic Cooperation and Training Development

Phone: +38 097 0304533

Email: kravchenko@ucab.ua

How the Odesa Phytosanitary Laboratory Supports Grain Exports

AGRI-Ukraine Export Logistics Support

29 November 2024

The Odesa Regional Phytosanitary Laboratory modernizes while still providing essential services to agricultural exporters as operations return to the big Odesa ports. The laboratory analyzes grain crops using cutting-edge molecular diagnostics equipment and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for plant disease detection. USAID, through it’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), supplied the laboratory with equipment and consumables.

The laboratory processes up to 30 samples daily for various tests. In 2024 alone, its specialists analyzed over 24,000 samples and conducted more than 80,000 tests. While this is slightly less than in previous years (over 27,000 samples in 2023 and more than 29,000 in 2022), modernization increased the quality and speed of analyses.

PCR testing equipment allows for real-time plant pathogen detection, reducing the time needed to issue phytosanitary certificates required for export to ensure the timely delivery of agricultural products to global markets. While undergoing the accreditation process, the lab has begun conducting potato analyses using PCR testing.

Acting Director of the Odesa Phytosanitary Laboratory, Kateryna Abuselidze, shared,
“Previously, analyzing potatoes could take up to seven days. Thanks to the equipment provided by USAID ERA, the process is now three times faster. This allows our clients to obtain results quickly, ensuring their agricultural products continue their journey to countries waiting for them. It’s inspiring that, even during wartime, Ukraine continues to feed the world and deliver grain to global markets.”

In April 2024, a remote workstation opened at Reni Port. USAID ERA provided a full set of equipment, consumables, and PCR tests. During the beginning of the war, specialists in Reni conducted about 15% of all tests. However, as exports returned to Odesa, this figure dropped to 2-4%. Still, the Reni branch remains essential, enabling quick sample processing and minimizing logistical costs for clients.

While technological advancements have increased efficiency, they have also raised the cost of analyses. For example, a PCR test for a potato sample now costs $60, compared to $35 using the older method. This price difference reflects the high accuracy of modern methods, which clients are willing to pay for, given the quality assurance.

USAID ERA supported 10 of 25 phytosanitary laboratories in all of Ukraine, providing consumables for daily testing.

USAID ERA subcontractor Tetra Tech, is developing project documentation for the modernization of Ukraine’s border crossing points

Modernization of the BCPs

29 November 2024

The USAID Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA) is collaborating with the American consulting company Tetra Tech and the French company Egis in Ukraine to modernize border crossing points (BCPs) along Ukraine’s western borders. As part of this collaboration, project documentation is being developed for six road BCPs located on the borders with Poland, Hungary, and Moldova. Updated and modern infrastructure will strengthen Ukraine’s export potential and integrate the country into international trade and logistics networks.

As part of this partnership, Tetra Tech and Egis, together with USAID ERA technical teams, the State Customs Service, and the Agency for Restoration, conducted site visits to six BCPs to assess the scope of work.

For the Rava-Ruska BCP in the Lviv region on the border with Poland, the technical assignment has already been agreed upon with the State Customs Service. Engineering surveys and analysis of existing facilities have commenced, and project documentation is being prepared.

At the Chop (Tysa) border BCP in the Zakarpattia region on the border with Hungary, the technical assignment has been agreed upon with the Agency for Restoration. Necessary geodetic and technical surveys have been conducted, and work on preparing project documentation is underway.

For the Mamalyha and Rososhany BCPs in the Chernivtsi region on the border with Moldova, technical documentation is being developed, geodetic studies are being carried out, and technical assignments are being coordinated with the relevant authorities.

At the Mohyliv-Podilskyi BCP in the Vinnytsia region on the border with Moldova, geodetic and geological surveys are being conducted. Discussions are ongoing regarding the concept for reconstructing administrative buildings, optimizing traffic flow schemes, and implementing other measures to improve conditions for pedestrians, drivers, and passengers.

For the Starokozache BCP in the Odesa region on the border with Moldova, inspections of structures are being conducted, geodetic surveys are being performed, and technical assignments are being coordinated with the Agency for Restoration.

The global consulting company Tetra Tech has many years of experience in infrastructure, environmental, and energy sectors and actively employs modern technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), ensuring precision and compliance with international standards. The company collaborates with government organizations and agencies worldwide, implementing projects focused on infrastructure development, climate change mitigation, disaster recovery, and sustainable solutions.

Egis is an international company operating in over 100 countries with a team of 19,500 professionals. For more than 30 years, Egis has been actively involved in modernizing Ukraine’s infrastructure, implementing hundreds of projects in transportation, energy, water supply, civil and industrial construction, environmental protection, and other sectors. Today, Egis plays a key role in Ukraine’s reconstruction, implementing critical infrastructure projects, supporting sustainable development, and assisting through international partnerships and financing.

ERA is part of a large-scale USAID initiative that foresees an investment of $115 million in modernizing Ukraine’s western BCPs during 2023–2026. The funding is directed toward supporting the Ministry for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, the Agency for Restoration, the State Customs Service, and Ukranian Railways. It is expected that the modernization of BCPs will reduce waiting times at the border, increase the capacity of crossing points, and improve conditions for businesses and freight transportation. These efforts will help Ukraine strengthen its position as a significant partner in global logistics networks and contribute to the country’s economic growth.

Emergency & Energy Response Coordinator

27 November 2024

Kyiv/Odesa

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 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.

ENERGY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE (EER) SUPPORT

As one of USAID’s most flexible activities that responds to emerging and/or emergency needs, ERA is expanding its interventions that assist Ukraine businesses, communities or individuals in the fall and winter (September 2024-December 2025). The goal is to minimize the impact on the Ukrainian people and economy given recent power deficits. This is an adaptive component and ERA may also need to respond to other emergency needs in the face of ongoing Russian aggression and attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Emergency & Energy Response Coordinator is responsible for coordinating EER interventions with Technical and Operations teams to ensure they are implemented according to schedule and to the best quality, as well as for monitoring and reporting on their progress. The Emergency & Energy Response Coordinator is based in Kyiv or Odesa and reports to the Energy Response Manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Emergency & Energy Response (EER) Coordination and Reporting:

Collect and provide regular information and updates on EER interventions to the Director for the Environment and Emergency Response and Energy Response Manager.
Produce weekly/biweekly/quarterly and annual reports and presentations on EER activities and performance results coordinating inputs from relevant staff.
Review and analyze the EER Technical Team reports to ensure clear and timely information is provided to the management for prompt decision-making.
Maintain accurate project documentation and records.
Prepare accurate and timely field reports and other project documentation as required.
Keep respective activity records in the DAI corporate system (TAMIS).
Collaborate with other departments and teams to ensure alignment with overall goals and objectives.
Assist with translation / interpretation when requested.

Procurement and Inventory of goods: in coordination with the Procurement and Inventory Teams:

Coordinate gathering information and documents for procurement procedures, Environmental Assessments, and inventory and transfer of the goods and equipment purchased for the EER private partners.
Monitor procurement and delivery progress and ensure that activities are aligned with the USAID ERA plans and performance indicators.

Monitoring & Evaluation: in coordination with the M&E Team:

Support the MEL team in conducting necessary data collection to report against EER performance indicators.
Coordinate and analyze data to measure project impact and outcomes.

Support identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learned for organizational sharing and learning.

Communication: in coordination with the Communications Team:

Contribute to development of monthly equipment delivery and event schedules.
Facilitate the organization of public events, mission visits, and work in close coordination with Admin/Logistics/Communications to make all necessary arrangements.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Project Management, Economics, Business/Public Administration, or related fields.
Minimum two (2) years of experience supporting project coordination or management with an international organization is required.
Proficiency in office software applications (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.)
Excellent professional communications and negotiation skills and who can relate to people at all levels of an organization.
Ability to work independently and in close cooperation with a team remotely.
An energetic, thinking-forward, and creative individual with high ethical standards and an appropriate professional image.
An extremely well-organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus.
Fluent English and Ukrainian communication skills, both oral and written.

JOB EXPECTATIONS:

In this position, you are expected to share the DAI four core values:

Integrity: commit to civil and ethical behavior, play by the rules, and do the right thing;
Responsibility: be accountable to clients, partners, grant recipients, beneficiaries, colleagues, and communities where we work. If you fall short, you own up, fix the problem, and get it right the next time;
Excellence: adhere to the highest technical and professional standards in innovation, learning, and service;
Global Citizenship: respect the cultural diversity and treat everyone everywhere with professionalism and dignity to make the world a better place.

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: December 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: December 11, 2024.

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

USAID ERA participates in the Government of Ukraine’s presentation of the Strategy for the Development of Border Infrastructure with the EU and Moldova

Modernization of the BCPs

27 November 2024

On November 22, representatives from USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) attended the presentation of Ukraine’s Strategy for the Development of Border Infrastructure with the European Union (EU) and Moldova. The document, presented by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, outlines key actions and priorities through 2030.

Deputy Minister Serhii Derkach facilitated the event, which was also attended by Head of the Agency for Restoration Serhii Sukhomlyn, representatives of regional military administrations, the State Customs Service, the State Border Guard Service, as well as experts from the relevant directorates of the European Commission, USAID, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the European Union (EU) Advisory Mission in Ukraine, and other local and international organizations.

“The full-scale Russian invasion has significantly altered Ukraine’s logistical routes. The blockade of ports and the suspension of air traffic have made road transport a vital element of our economic stability for both imports and exports. To adapt Ukraine’s border to meet the demands of transport and passenger flows, we have developed a clear strategy and operational plan. These documents include specific steps and measures to increase cargo throughput, prevent queues, and ensure comfort for those crossing the border. The key is the timely implementation of all planned measures so that businesses and citizens can experience tangible results. We expect our partners to consider this strategy in their projects as well. Its implementation will mark an important step toward integrating Ukraine into the European transport space,” noted Deputy Prime Minister for Ukraine’s Restoration and Minister for Communities and Territories Development, Oleksii Kuleba.

A key priority of the Strategy is increasing the capacity of border infrastructure. The document has already received approval from key government bodies and is expected to be adopted by the Government by the end of the year. Notably, its approval is one of the indicators of the Ukraine Facility Plan, with a completion deadline set for the end of 2024.

“The Strategy focuses on several key objectives. Primarily, it aims to enhance the capacity of border infrastructure through the reconstruction of existing border crossings and the construction of new ones, including access roads. Other goals include introducing joint controls with neighboring states, reducing wait times, and establishing networks of service areas. To achieve these goals, clear tasks and expected results have been defined. An essential part of the Strategy is monitoring its implementation, for which the document includes specific indicators,” stated Deputy Minister Serhii Derkach.

The Strategy covers the development of 42 border crossing points (BCPs) with all of Ukraine’s western neighboring countries, including the reconstruction and construction of BCPs with Poland (6), Slovakia (5), Romania (11), Hungary (6), and Moldova (14). It also plans for the construction of new BCPs, including Bila Tserkva/Sighetu Marmației, Bila Krynytsia/Climăuți, Ruska/Ulma, and Shepit/Izvoarele with Romania, and Velyka Palad/Nagyhódos, and Diyda/Beregdaráz with Hungary. The operational plan accompanying the Strategy outlines the necessary tasks and measures for border development, including cost estimates, funding sources, and implementation timelines for construction and upgrades.

“Developing border infrastructure is a crucial step toward strengthening Ukraine’s economy and its integration into the European Union. USAID ERA actively supports Ukraine’s efforts to modernize border crossing points, reduce wait times, and create favorable conditions for exports and cross-border movement as a whole,” emphasized Kirsten Pfeiffer, ERA Deputy Chief of Party. “We are proud to contribute to the implementation of this Strategy, which outlines clear steps to achieve its goals, and we will continue collaborating with partners to turn these plans into reality.”

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 trade and export volumes.

USAID Improves UGTC Trade’s Grain Loading Operations at the Port

AGRI-Ukraine Export Logistics Support

26 November 2024

USAID, through its Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), delivered a mobile loader with feed hoppers to UGTC Trade. The equipment is installed in Odesa Oblast and will strengthen UGTC Trade’s grain and oilseed loading capabilities, shorten the logistics chain from producer to end recipient, and enable the company to offer better prices to agricultural producers.

The new mobile loader will support UGTC Trade to export approximately 30,000 tons of grain monthly. Before receiving the equipment, they either used third-party services to load the ships or sold products on “Free Carrier” (FCA) terms, handing grain to other companies with loading facilities that handled the port operations. This arrangement limited UGTC Trade’s ability to offer better prices to farmers, as they had to factor in the additional costs. Now, with the new USAID-provided equipment, UGTC Trade can independently handle loading operations and offer better prices to agricultural producers, creating a shorter logistics chain from producer to end recipient.

Despite Russia’s constant attacks on Odesa Oblast, UGTC Trade maintains stable operations.

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.