Public Oversight of Recovery: The Case of Vocational School No. 26 in Kremenchuk

Vocational School No. 26 in Kremenchuk was damaged during a Russian attack on the Amstor shopping mall. The blast wave shattered windows, damaged doors, and destroyed interior finishes and furniture. Due to the severe damage, the institution was unable to operate fully.

What Was Done as Part of the Recovery Efforts:

• Over 160 m² of windows were replaced, including the restoration of window sills, exterior flashings, and mosquito screens;
• Some emergency repairs were carried out by the institution itself immediately after the damage occurred;
• Further works were implemented through public procurement procedures in compliance with established regulations;
• The administration ensured transparency of documentation and provided access to the site for inspection.

How the Monitoring Was Conducted

Experts from the NGO “Insha Zhinka” (as BRP subgrantees) carried out a comprehensive review of the recovery process. It included:

• a site visit and on-the-ground assessment of the completed works;
• analysis of tender and financial documentation (including data from Prozorro, Spending, DREAM, and DARU);
• surveys of the facility’s users — students and teachers.

This approach makes it possible not only to verify whether the documentation corresponds to the actual state of affairs, but also to take into account the experience of those who use the restored facilities on a daily basis.

Monitoring Findings

No abuses were identified as a result of the review. Procurement procedures were conducted transparently, and contractors performed the work properly. Importantly, all parties were involved in the process — the institution’s administration, the local community, and civic experts.

This case demonstrates that combining openness on the part of the contracting authority with systematic public oversight creates the conditions for high-quality and accountable recovery.

BRP is part of the "The Recovery Spending Watchdog" project, implemented by the Center for Economic Strategy, the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, and the portal administrator - the NGO "Technologies of Progress" with the support of the European Union in Ukraine.