KYIV, Ukraine, 12 January 2023 – The Government of Japan announced a contribution of US$95 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support comprehensive efforts that respond to the multidimensional crisis caused by the war. The new partnership agreement – the largest to date to UNDP Ukraine — will help advance recovery and restoration of human security in Ukraine.   

This most recent contribution, which is in addition to the US$4.5 million received from Japan last April to support emergency Explosive Ordnance (EO) clearance and debris removal, will go towards restoring vital infrastructure, enhancing community security, promoting human rights and securing access to justice in regions hardest hit by the invasion. It also will be used to expand programmes that protect communities from explosive ordnance and environmental hazards.

Ivana Živković, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director for the Regional Bureau for Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States, said Japan’s increased contribution was much-appreciated and would have a significant impact on restoring vital infrastructure and sustaining the resilience of individuals, communities, and institutions: “Ukraine’s priority now is to ensure a safe return for its citizens by restoring infrastructure and expanding public services,” she said. “We are helping to make that happen through investments like these to strengthen the Government’s capacity and resilience.”

To implement this programme, UNDP will work closely with the government of Ukraine to fortify the government’s leadership and ownership of restoration and recovery from the war crisis, while taking  a multistakeholder, multidimensional and multi-partner approach to supporting the people in Ukraine. In line with Government priorities, the programme focuses on five key areas: (1) Restroing essential infrastructure, particularly energy infrastructure; (2) Removing debris and harzaraous objects for safe reconstruction, (3) protecting the civilian population from explosive ordnance and mines;  (4) strengthening government capacities in crisis response and management; and  (5) enhancing community security, human rights and access to justice for all people. 

Kuninori Matsuda, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine, said “Japan, as this year's G7 chair country, together with the G7 countries and the international community, including the UN organizations, will continue to provide support and assistance to the people of Ukraine as we did last year. This project is unique in that it provides manifold assistance in a number of areas, drawing on the knowledge and experience that UNDP has accumulated through its diverse assistance activities in countries around the world.” Also he pointed out that Ms. Ivana Zivkovic's visit to Ukraine is testament to the importance UNDP attaches to this project and the high expectations it has for its effectiveness.

Oleksandr Kubrakov, Vice Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, thanked Ukraine’s international partners for supporting the country in its fight against Russian invasion. “The Government, together with international partners, is working on the implementation of ‘survival projects,” Kubrakov said. “This includes restoring transport connections with the liberated territories, creating conditions for the safe return (of residents), and supporting regional economies.”

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org