Ukraine Country Development Programming Framework 2007-2011 A Step back To whom it may concern: Canadian Technical Assistance programming has supported democratic and market reforms since the beginning of Ukraine's Independence in 1991. Initially the programming was under the Ministry of External Affairs and later in 1995 through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). In the period of the 1990's few would disagree on the major positive impact Canadian programming had on Ukraine. This impact was due to the large number of Canadians who were committed in ensuring Ukraine's success as a newly independent country. These successes were maintained throughout 2002-2006 largely as a result of a wide and public consultative process both in Ukraine and in Canada which resulted in the development of a broadly supported and publicly debated country development programming framework entitled "A Path to Reform Ukraine Programming Framework 2002-2006". Towards the end of the existing paper in 2005-2006, organizations and individuals began questioning and even informally requesting from CIDA the need for public consultations in Canada and Ukraine. In order to continue the success and public support of the Canadian Technical Assistance program in Ukraine. Towards the end of 2008 these consultations never materialized and to-date there is no publicly distributed document that clearly outlines CIDA's strategy for programming in Ukraine. Projects are currently being approved and implemented without a programming framework that has undergone public consultations. Under the previous framework and through the public consultation process it was considered that the programming functioned in a fully transparent manner. CIDA also outlined the clear steps and conditions for unsolicited proposals that follow the publicly available CIDA strategy for programming in Ukraine. Without the existence of the programming framework and the clarity and rules that are needed for organizations and citizens to participate whether on a competitive or unsolicited basis, puts this program in jeopardy and is a move backwards from the earlier transparent and progressive approaches to programming in Ukraine. To ensure continued success and full public support in Canada's programming in Ukraine, it is strongly requested that any internal draft which exists within the Canadian International Development Agency dealing with CIDA programming in Ukraine be released publicly as soon as is reasonably possible. This document should form the basis for public consultations sanctioned and supported by the Minister for International Cooperation.

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