The EU and the United Nations Development Programme announced an additional investment of EUR 35 million into the Resilience Building and Recovery Programme for Ukraine.
The funds will be used to support recovery of war-affected communities, according to the statement published on the website of the EU Delegation to Ukraine.
Ambassador Matti Maasikas, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, said the new contribution aligns with the key priorities of the EU Emergency Support Programme for Ukraine, while supporting the practical implementation of a number of reform prerequisites for EU accession, including strengthening the rule of law and supporting structural economic reforms.
Interim UNDP Resident Representative Jaco Cilliers said UNDP welcomes the expanded partnership with the European Union.
“We have worked closely with the EU in Ukraine over the past decade through various programmes,” he said. “EU’s strategic support has been essential in helping ensure government at all levels in Ukraine remains resilient and able to fulfil its leadership role in all humanitarian and crisis response efforts.”
The new contribution will support initiatives aimed at strengthening the resilience and early recovery of communities in selected target regions of Ukraine by expanding access to quality public services such as healthcare facilities, strengthening community security and public safety, and enhancing the strength of the social connections at local level. The project will employ digital technologies and solutions as much as possible to address the identified development challenges, for example provide assistance to citizens hosting displaced Ukrainians. Overall, there are more than 6 million displaced Ukrainians in the country, who were forced to flee from the war.
A particular emphasis will be made on youth engagement and on local solutions that link humanitarian response to early recovery planning.
Women and men veterans will be one of the key target groups for assistance under the expanded programme, given their specific vulnerability and the pivotal role they will play in peacebuilding and development activities at the end of the war.
As a reminder, in November, the United Nations Development Programme Ukraine, with financial support of the EU, acquired and provided 14 automated external defibrillators to Ukrainian healthcare facilities.