Vinnytsia Regional Association of Local Self-Government Bodies

History

 

Vinnytsia Regional Association of Local SelfGovernment Bodies is an association that is devoted to protect the interests only of local self-government bodies. VRALSGB is a nonprofit organization that brings together local self-government bodies of Vinnytsia region to realize its statutory objectives.

The Association was founded on April 23, 2012 at the Constituent meeting of authorized representatives of local self-government bodies of Vinnytsia region (53 councils) within the framework of the project “Creation and development of the activities of the Association of local self-government bodies of Vinnytsia region” that was co-financed under the program “Polish development assistance” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Poland in 2012 with the active support of  Vinnytsia Regional Council, VRC NGO “Ukraine-Poland-Germany” and Wielkopolska Center for Education and Self-Government Courses (Wokiss).

The Association is a non-profit organization that brings together more than 500 local councils (about 80% of the total) and one of the most powerful in Ukraine.

 

WHY EXACTLY VRALSGB?

 

  1. We are constantly developing and improving our work

The main tasks of the Association are to provide its members with information, methodological and practical services that facilitate economical, social and cultural development of local communities, their establishment as self-sufficient versatile developed entities of self-governments.

The Association has a qualified staff including the specialists with knowledge of foreign languages (English, Polish and German) who are always ready to provide appropriate support and assistance to the communities’ representatives.

So, at present the executive body of VRALSGB is a Secretariat based on two centers: Center for communications, external relations and fundraising and Center for organizational and legal support, investment capacity development and use of internal resources.

More about the work of the Centers – http://sg.vn.ua/centri/

 

  1. We maintain a constant contact with the local communities of Vinnytsia region

It has been established an effective communication with local self-government bodies. We hold meetings, training activities and working meetings – online and individually. It has been launched a system of rapid response to the needs/problems of the communities, visits to communities of the experts on “hot problems”.

 

  1. We represent the interests of the Associations communitiesmembers at the regional and state levels

The Association is an apolitical organization but it serves as a platform for discussion. So, VRALSGB collects, systematizes problematic issues from communities and submits them for consideration to the Regional Council, relevant committees of the Verkhovna Rada, organizes meetings including online between the representatives of the communities, deputies of the Verkhovna Rada and representatives of profile ministries.

 

  1. We have established a network of expert support to the communities according to the current challenges and issues

In order to improve a work with communities and provide a wider range of services the Association has updated a group of experts-consultants who will provide advisory and legal assistance to the officials of local self-government bodies – members of the Association in the exercise of their powers.

Currently highly qualified specialists are involved who will provide these services to the members of the Association in accordance with their requests and appeals. More about the group of experts – http://sg.vn.ua/home-business-3/grupa-ekspertiv-konsultantiv/

 

  1. VRALSGB has established and is constantly expanding a network of partnerships

The Association cooperates fruitfully with a number of international organizations, in particular the cooperation concerns joint implementation of the projects aimed at developing local communities within Vinnytsia region. Now VRALSGB cooperates with more than 12 partner organizations from Poland, Italy, France, Georgia, Azerbaijan and the USA and also with a number of domestic organizations. More details – http://sg.vn.ua/partneri/

We help to set up both internal and external relations for our members as well.

 

  1. We have experience in fundraising and gladly share it with our members

The Association has experience in writing and implementing grant projects. So, we have already implemented about 10 projects with involvement of international partners; have projects under implementation; at the stage of consideration by the grantors and a considerable number of drafts for future projects. All projects of the Association are aimed at the development of local communities within Vinnytsia region.

In addition, the Association is an Administrator of the regional project contest within local communities.

On a regular basis consultations are held for the communities’ representatives on project writing, finding appropriate grants and work with donors. The Association conducts and disseminates a monitoring of actual grant proposals for Vinnytsia region.

 

 

 

  1. We are informational open

The Association constantly openly informs about its activities and also disseminates information about the activities of its members.

So, since 2012 the Bulletin of Vinnytsia selfgovernment – information-analytical publication for the heads and specialists of local self-government began to be published.

The Association website is constantly filled, where all information about its members and partners is placed, the news about both the members of the Association and those who may be useful for them are highlighted. The site contains the information about the activities conducted by the Association, best practices and database of grants, contests and projects provided by Ukrainian and international organizations and funds to the development of local communities within Vinnytsia region.

The Association has social networking pages Facebook” (in Ukrainian and English languages), “Instagram”, “Twitter”, “Telegram”, “LinkedInwhich are constantly filled with information about our activities, useful documents, publications, news, reports about the best practices, etc.