Further Support to the Re-employment of Ex-officers

Location

Ukraine

Duration

2000 - 2002

Donor

European Commission - Tacis

Budget

2.000.000 EURO

Description and Deliverables

The overall objective was to support the process of civilian re-employment of OLOs in the different regions of Ukraine. This was done through support to the National Coordination Centre (NCC) as beneficiary and the Regional Centres for Employment (RCEs), which have been established during the former project.

Under the previous Tacis project a network of eleven Regional Centres for Employment (RCEs) were set up with the aim of supporting the re-training and subsequent re-employment of military officers. We proposed to build on that, but tempered with the lessons we have learned from our experience of creating over ambitious and unrealistically wide ranging targets. We therefore propose to focus this new project on a fixed number of those components which emerged as the most promising in the previous project and to work with only those RCEs that have demonstrated a potential to and awareness of the need to develop their services and sustainability.

The project provided support in the following areas of expertise:

Institutional support to the NCC as the executive body responsible for the Complex Program, including the development of a business plan for the NCC with particular emphasis on the reinforcement of the links between the NCC and the RCE network.
The identification and selection of a limited number of RCEs which are closest to the original concept and which have a proven results oriented track record and the potential for sustainability. These RCEs received advice and consultancy services through the existing Central Working Group.
Further reinforcement of a network between these RCEs, including Internet connection, workshop organization, etc.
Further support to a limited number of project groups (officers' groups set up to promote and replicate viable SME ideas within the framework of the first Tacis project) and the strengthening of their ties to the RCE network.
Provision of a database of potential foreign investors and business partners for the project groups as an additional service to be provided by the RCEs.
A pilot project to develop a military asset transferred to the NCC from the Ministry of Defence (managed workspace that would provide officers with facilities to set up and develop their businesses over a fixed term on a concessionary basis).

Foreign and local expertise provided as follows:

assist the NCC in elaborating a new Complex Programme and a realistic business plan & financial allocation system, provide policy advice to NCC and RCEs
train NCC and RCE staff
execute EU/CEEC and internal study tours
execute job fairs in different regions
develop and maintain a database, elaborate public relations and external resource site (web site)
make concepts for re-employment of OLOs: create a consulting and resource ability for OLOs employment and start ups
support the project groups established to implement their business idea (incl. budgetary support)
Support to the RCE, NCC and OLO network to access transfer, manage and utilise ex-military assets to generate employment opportunities
publish a handbook, organise a dissemination and awareness conference

Further activities:

project management and reporting
Information dissemination