Today, on the 25th of May, 2021, the webinar on the preparation and implementation of PPP projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals was conducted. It was organized by the UNECE and the Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine.
This event is part of a Joint Programme “Promoting strategic planning and financing for sustainable development on national and regional levels in Ukraine” which is being undertaken by a group of United Nations agencies at the request of the Government of Ukraine. The Programme is aimed at the optimization of managerial and budgeting efforts on national and regional levels as well as the engagement of new funding sources and increasing the efficiency in resource allocation. This will facilitate the fulfillment of the ambitious long- and medium-term development goals, aligned with the SDGs.
The event was designed to help representatives of the public and private sector, who are directly involved in the preparation and management of PPP projects, deepen their knowledge of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in the context of PPP mechanism usage. 144 persons, including 7 speakers, have participated in the event.
The webinar was opened by the representatives of UNECE, Tony Bonnici and Antonin Menegaux. They have enlightened the audience about the UNECE approach and tools for aligning PPPs with the SDGs. Particular attention was given to The UNECE “People-first” approach to PPPs and the UNECE People-first Infrastructure Evaluation and Rating System (PIERS). PIERCE includes 22 benchmarks within 5 main outcomes that must be achieved according to the UNECE “People-first” approach. Those outcomes are access and equity; economic effectiveness and fiscal sustainability; environmental sustainability and resilience; replicability; stakeholder engagement.
Tetiana Bessarab, the managing partner in “Bessarab and Partners Attorney at Law” law firm, has told the participants how to Identify and implement People-first PPP projects, taking into consideration the specificity of the Ukrainian context. She has also shared the results of her analysis of gaps in Ukrainian PPP legislation, regarding the UNECE model “People first PPPs for the UN SDGs”.
The head of The Investment Department of the Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine, Julia Skubak, has presented the key conclusions from the analysis of the current state of legislation of Ukraine regulating PPP (and concession projects) and recommendations regarding its improvement to fulfill SDGs. Recommended actions are aimed at aligning current legislation with the UNECE model “People first PPPs” and are motivated by the gaps, identified in the planned policy, legislation and enforcement of the law, compared to the main outcomes that must be achieved according to the UNECE “People-first” approach.
“Since PPP is one of the indicators of 17 SDGs, instrumental to achieving SDGs, and considering the long-term and backbone nature of PPP projects, their implementation must take into account SDGs, adapted to Ukrainian context. Relevant PPP forecasting, program and regulations should be reviewed or revised in the context of the SDGs.”, noted Ms. Skubak.
You can learn more about it, by downloading Julia Skubak’s presentation at the link below.
Especially useful was the report by Anand Chiplunkar, the former Director of the Urban and Water Division of Central and West Asia Department of Asian Development Bank. Mr. Chiplunkar has illuminated the subject of environmental sustainability and resilience in People-first PPP projects tailored to the specificity of the Ukrainian context.
He detailed the main elements of environmental sustainability and highlighted the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency, rehabilitating degraded lands, reducing waste, water consumption and wastewater disposal, protecting biodiversity, assessing risks and response potential for disasters.
Amanda Leffen, CEO of Human Right 2 Water, highlighted the nuances and challenges that participants may face in engaging stakeholders in the identification, preparation and implementation of People-first PPP projects as well as practical aspects of building effective interaction with them.
The workshop has ended with a discussion of the proposed changes and the outcomes that are planned to be achieved as a result of their adoption.
The video recording of the webinar is available at the link below: