AgroInvest Quarterly Report: January – March 2011

The purpose of AgroInvest is to provide technical assistance to accelerate and broaden economic recovery in Ukraine and increase the country’s contribution to global food security efforts. AgroInvest will achieve this objective by supporting a stable, market-oriented agricultural policy environment, stimulating access to financial services for small and medium producers (SMPs), and facilitating a more effective market infrastructure for SMPs.

The scope of work identifies three main components, refined into six tasks, as follows:

  • Component 1: Support a Stable, Market-Oriented Environment
    Task 1-a: Accelerate Market Oriented Reforms
    Task 1-b: Strengthen Industry Associations
    Task 1-c: Provide Public Education for Land Rights
  • Component 2: Stimulate Access to Finance
    Task 2-a: Sustainable Access to Financial Services for SMPs Provided
  • Component 3: Facilitate Market Infrastructure for Small and Medium Producers
    Task 3-a: Producer Organization Development
    Task 3-b: Develop Wholesale Markets and Other Market Infrastructure

AgroInvest is a five-year project, extending to an estimated completion date of January 24, 2016. The scope of this project encompasses the following US Foreign Assistance Framework Program Areas: 4.2 Trade and Investment, 4.5 Agriculture, 4.6 Private Sector Competitiveness, and 4.7 Economic Opportunity.

QUARTERLY HIGHLIGHTS

The AgroInvest project was launched on January 25, 2011. The home office start-up team flew to Ukraine within three days of contract signing to facilitate technical, financial, logistical, and administrative mobilization. In February and March, the project team focused on technical and administrative start-up activities that included fielding expatriate staff, recruiting local staff, work planning, project registration, project introduction to local partners, selection of office space, and office equipment procurement. Key activities and accomplishments during this period included:

  • Key personnel including Chief of Party (COP) Craig Bell and Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) Oleksandr Kaliberda mobilized within two weeks of contract start date.
  • Work planning workshop with participation of key partners, short-term experts, and USAID carried out.
  • AgroInvest Year 1 Work Plan drafted, submitted, and approved by USAID.
  • AgroInvest Performance Monitoring Plan drafted, submitted, and approved by USAID.
  • AgroInvest staff presented project to U.S. Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission.
  • A land market roundtable discussion co-organized in collaboration with the Local Investment and National Competitiveness (LINC) project in response to a request from the State Agency for Land Resources.
  • Grain quotas brief provided to USAID.
  • Scope of work (SOW) prepared for Agricultural Policy Environment and Food Security Assessment.
  • Preparation initiated for Policy Environment and Food Security Assessment.
  • Preparation initiated for Regulatory and Institutional Constraints to SMP Finance Assessment.
  • Preparation initiated for Rapid Assessment of Legal and Institutional Framework for Industry Associations.
  • Letter of intent signed with the Agrarian Markets Development Institute outlining anticipated areas of collaboration.
  • Six long-term staff hired for project start-up with individuals identified to fill the majority of remaining vacancies in the Kyiv project office.
  • Project registration process launched with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food (MAP).
  • AgroInvest project office identified that meets location, space, security, and cost requirements.
  • Computer and office equipment procurement tender announced.

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