Contribution to the fund "OECD Ukraine Country Programme 2023-26"

Support to OECD for the OECD Ukraine Country Program, by strengthening Ukraine's OECD and EU agendas as well as its national reform and reconstruction plan, in line with international best practices, is expected to contribute to economic and social development and poverty reduction. The main global goals supported contribute to primarily 1 eradicating poverty everywhere in all its former everywhere, sub-goal 1 b Create sound policy frameworks at national, regional and international levels and support investment in measures to eradicate poverty. The grant refers to a Voluntary Contribution for a new Ukraine Country Programme established by the OECD and intended to start in autumn 2023 and run over four years. The OECD Country Programmes aim to offer a structured form of engagement with selected partner countries with proven willingness and potential to reach OECD standards, and which can therefore become a guide in their region. The Ukraine Country Programme is designed to help Ukraine deepen interaction with OECD bodies and adopt OECD standards and policies in several policy areas in a relatively short period of time. The program aims to anchor policy reforms and help bring the country closer to the OECD. Policy reforms also bring the country closer to the EU, which is a priority area for Sweden in support to Ukraine. Operations and activities that are intended to be carried out within the framework of the new Country Programme are analyses, studies and guidance in more than ten areas of great relevance to Ukraine's reform work, EU approximation and to achieve high international standards and practices. Ukraine's economy and wider policy areas such as budget, agricultural policy, integrity and anti-corruption, statistics, competition policy, public administration, education, infrastructure and environment are examples of some of the wider areas analysed. Analysis processes and results are expected to contribute to creating sound policy frameworks at national, regional and international levels and contribute to economic and social development and poverty reduction in Ukraine. Expected results of the country program are to offer tools for Ukraine for strengthened access and opportunity to reach international "best practices", tailored analyzes in a range of policy areas, strengthened quality in policy reforms with international standards, strengthened participation in OECD bodies, strengthened anchoring in long-term reforms, expanded network of international experts, stronger links with the entire OECD community. The OECD Ukraine Country Programme is expected to contribute to achieving important goals in an area prioritized for Sweden - support for Ukraine's reform efforts, EU rapprochement and reconstruction. The contribution comprises SEK 22 million divided into SEK 5.5 million over four budget years 2023-2026.