State Agency of Automobile Roads of Ukraine (Ukravtodor) launches an anti-corruption project with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Thus, the department will become the first government institution in the country to reform management and procurement practices following the recommendations of the EBRD consultants.

So in March, a kick-off meeting was held on the development and implementation of the Anti-Corruption Action Plan for the road industry of Ukraine. The meeting was joined by representatives of the EBRD, bank's consultants and the management of Ukravtodor. The implementation of the reforms is part of last year's agreement between the bank and Ukravtodor.

Then the Agency managed to attract a loan of 450 million euros for the reconstruction of almost 300 km of the M-05 Kiev-Odessa road and the construction of the Northern Bypass of L'viv within the framework of the President's programme "Big Construction". In addition, the parties agreed on changes in four aspects of Avtodor's work: procurement systems, improving traffic safety, developing infrastructure for electric transport, and fighting corruption.

The Basel Institute on Governance (Switzerland), which works in partnership with the Ukrainian law firm Sayenko Kharenko, will help with the implementation of the reform of Ukravtodor.

Over the past year, we managed to restart the road industry - unified procurement rules were created, independent technical supervision and additional control of design decisions were introduced. We worked to prevent corruption risks by digitizing management processes and improving executive and financial discipline. Pilot project with EBRD gives chance for these changes to become irreversible

Alexander Kubrakov, Chairman of Ukravtodor

It is expected that by May of 2021 the consultants will study and analyse the procurement and management processes in Ukravtodor from the point of view of preventing corruption. Based on this data, the Anti-Corruption Action Plan will be finalized in July 2021. The consultants will oversee the implementation of the reform in Ukravtodor and its divisions until 2023.