Financial Systems and Agrarian Policy Dialog Project Quarterly Report from October 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012

The project aims to support the implementation of pre-harvest financing mechanisms in Ukraine, improve legislation governing the grain warehouse receipts system, and facilitate public-private dialogue to promote more transparent and market-oriented agricultural policies. During the Mobilization Period, which spanned from August 10, 2012, to October 1, 2012, AMDI accomplished several key activities. The project team conducted sessions with local consultants and partners, introduced AMDI and the project team, and prepared a package of documents for signing a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. The team also mobilized consultants and assigned them tasks according to the project's objectives, drafted a 1st Year Work Plan and Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, and submitted them to the Agreement Officer Representative. The project team prepared explanatory notes, policy notes, and comparative tables for the 1st reading of the Certificate of Agricultural Products (CPR) Draft Law and the Indemnity Fund for Grain Warehouse Receipts (IDF) Draft Law. The draft laws were adopted in the 1st reading on September 6, 2012, and the project team provided support for the Working Group (WG) to prepare legislation for the first reading. The team also organized one Min APFU Public Council CAMAD meeting on September 21, 2012, where the draft laws were considered. The project team provided expert inputs for harmonization of five standards with international requirements and drafted a work plan for rural labor market development. Additionally, the team drafted four Policy Notes upon the Ministry's request and participated in several conferences, seminars, and roundtables. The team released two monthly E-digests and developed the FSAPD Project Page on the AMDI Web-Site. The FSAPD Project has made significant progress in its first quarter, with the project team participating in the consideration of six draft laws, eight WG meetings, one conference, four seminars, two roundtables, and five experts' meetings. The team has also drafted six policy notes, two explanatory notes, and released two monthly E-digests. The project's geographic focus is Ukraine, with a specific emphasis on the agricultural sector. The project's timeframes are from August 10, 2012, to December 31, 2012, with a focus on the first quarter of the project. The project's recommendations include the implementation of pre-harvest financing mechanisms, improvement of legislation governing the grain warehouse receipts system, and facilitation of public-private dialogue to promote more transparent and market-oriented agricultural policies. The project's key findings include the successful adoption of the CPR and IDF draft laws in the 1st reading, the participation of the project team in several conferences, seminars, and roundtables, and the release of two monthly E-digests. The project's methodologies include the preparation of explanatory notes, policy notes, and comparative tables, as well as the provision of expert inputs for harmonization of five standards with international requirements. The project's implementation details include the organization of one Min APFU Public Council CAMAD meeting, the provision of support for the WG to prepare legislation for the first reading, and the drafting of a work plan for rural labor market development. The project's geographic context is Ukraine, with a specific emphasis on the agricultural sector. The project's timeframes are from August 10, 2012, to December 31, 2012, with a focus on the first quarter of the project.