The majority of municipalities in Ukraine face numerous infrastructural problems, particularly in the residential sector - management of the houses is extremely inefficient, there is a lack of resources for maintenance of housing stock. As a result, roofs that leak, flooded basements, worn out internal networks and porches that badly need a reconstruction.
Almost USD 90 billion needed for modernization of the systems in housing and municipal sector in Ukraine according to Anatoliy Blyzhiuk, the Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Municipal Economy. The national budget funds cannot not provide even 1% of this sum according to the Minister.
The answer to challenges of post soviet mentality and infrastructural problems is Association of Co-Owners of Multi-Apartment House (ACMHs, Ukrainian condominiums). ACMH is a non-profit union, which is created by owners of residential living premises and non-residential premises situated in multi-apartment house for facilitating operation of shared property and management, servicing and operating indivisible and mutual property.
Establishing the condominium the residents shift their perception from `the State will solve the problems of our house` to the vision ‘We can improve the condition of our house ourselves’. Thus, people become empowered, they start trusting their neighbours and the Power of We makes miracles.
Up to now, 17 041 ACMHs were created in Ukraine which covered about 15% of all multi-apartment houses. Newly created organizations need support and consultancy.
UNDP Project “Municipal Governance and Sustainable Development Programme” is providing support to condominiums through seed grants for implementing their projects. These projects include reconstruction of basement pipes/systems of cold and warm water supply, sewage and heating roof reconstruction, premises repair, sport grounds construction and many other projects.
Also, the Project organizes trainings on establishing ACMHs and even elaborated the standard educational programmes for ACMHs in partnership with relevant Ministry.
The Power of We is a strong force in tackling any problem but it is particularity important for renovating outdated housing and municipal economy facilities in Ukraine.
The intensity map show the ACMHs established in 24 Regions of Ukraine and provides the information about ACMH projects implemented in partner municipalities under UNDP/MGSDP support (under support of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Canadian International Development Agency and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ukraine).
Galyna Smirnova, UNDP/MGSDP Monitoring and Communications Officer
