Center for Policy Studies
International Policy Fellowships
Nador utca 11, H-1051 Budapest, Hungary
Your name, position Roman Y. Korinets, Strategic Area Manager, the Coordinating
Council on the Agrarian Policy, under the Cabinet of Ministries of Ukraine
Name of Fellow you have assisted Andrei Marusov
1. What, in your opinion, have you and your Fellow/program/project gained
from your cooperation thus far?
I received an opportunity to consider the issue of the information support
of the land and agrarian reforms from the standpoint of the Fellow. I believe
that the research of the role and potential of the rural raion mass media
for informing rural population about land and agrarian reforms has been especially
useful for both of us. I will have to come back to its results in order to
rethink them thoroughly. I am confident that the Fellow gained very important
experience of not only analyzing the governmental policy but of thinking
over practically feasible measures to be implemented, in order to make the
research relevant to decision-makers.
2. Do certain areas of this Fellow’s work need improvement? Which
areas?
Yes, some of them do: it is necessary to strengthen the planning and organization
of the research. In such cases, to my mind, the methods of mathematical analysis
should be more broadly used.
3. In your opinion, does your Fellow’s project make a significant
contribution to the field?
Those who have an information – govern the world. The peasant who knows
something – is not yet the peasant who can do something but, at least,
he knows how to reach the stage when he will be able to do it. And it means
that he knows how to become more competitive, more entrepreneurial and more
well-off. The Fellow’s project will assist in rethinking an existing
information policy and to build more effective new one, if it will be necessary.
4. Would the project be important to other countries in the CEE/fSU region?
I guess that the project will be important for other postsoviet countries
because they are still similar.
5. Could the proposed policy research make an impact on the policy environment
in specific countries or regions? (Policy makers, experts and policy research
community)
After the project completion the work on the problem under consideration
will not be over. We agreed with the Fellow to continue the research with
the purpose to come up with the proposals for the government of Ukraine.
The deeper analysis of the local printed mass media will, perhaps, allow
for developing recommendations for the given regions.
6. Is the timetable for the project realistic?
The most part of the timetable has been realistic. Though, the survey of
raion newspapers' editors negatively influenced its implementation. It is
necessary to take into account excessive caution of the editors because they
depend too much upon the local authorities from which they receive the very
significant financial assistance.
7. Could the project benefit a large number of people?
It is unlikely that the project per se will do. But effective decisions,
being developed and implemented on the basis of the research results, will
have the chance to benefit large number of people.
8. Does the Fellow show evidence that he/she can think strategically about
the relevant project and/or field?
Yes, he can think strategically though he does not have enough experience
to think in practical terms.
9. If the Fellow were to re-apply for continued OSI funding for follow-up
work associated with the project, would you support continued funding?
Yes, I would support, under the condition of increasing the planning and
proper timing of the research.
10. Are there other appropriate funders that may support the project?
As far as I know, the projects close to this issue (or being the part of
more broad projects) are supported by many international organizations, including
USAID, TACIS, DFID, World Bank, etc.