Voznesensk, Ukraine, 11 January 2024 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the governments of Denmark and Sweden, has opened a Recovery and Development Office in the war-torn community of Voznesensk in Mykolaiv Oblast. The office will play a key role in a nationwide initiative led by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine to coordinate international cooperation at the local level.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the community of Voznesensk has suffered severe infrastructural damage and socio-economic disruption. Active military hostilities resulted in the destruction in Voznesensk of more than 700 residential buildings, health care and educational facilities, and crucial transport infrastructure, such as a road bridge and two railway bridges. Currently, the community hosts 37,400 residents, including 3,700 internally displaced people.

The newly established Recovery and Development Office, which features advanced facilities and expert advisors, will provide vital support for the community’s recovery and development. As a communications hub, it will bring together local authorities, international organizations, media, civil society, and the business sector.

The office will assist in project prioritization for donors and programmes, promoting sustainable development through an Integrated Recovery Mechanism. To optimize this, UNDP, with the assistance of its international partners, has developed specific tools and guidelines, formed a working group, tested methodology, conducted training, and equipped the office with supplies and furniture.

Nick Hartmann, UNDP Deputy Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and Central Asia, highlighted UNDP’s steadfast commitment to the sustainable development of Ukraine. “Since the outbreak of the full-scale invasion, UNDP has provided critical support to local authorities and communities throughout the country,” he said. “The Office we opened today underscores the importance of coordinating recovery efforts, ensuring that all stakeholders work closely and cohesively. Our responsibility transcends mere assistance; it involves forming partnerships that enhance the efficacy, inclusivity, and resilience of these efforts, shaping a more robust foundation for future development.”

As of today, UNDP has helped launch ten Recovery and Development Offices, with four of them operating at oblast level in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv, and two in Dnipro (supporting Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts). At community level, six additional offices have been set up in Sumy, Nizhyn (Chernihiv Oblast), Mykolaiv, Pervomaiskiy (Kharkiv Oblast), Kamianske (Dnipropetrovsk Oblast), and Voznesensk (Mykolaiv Oblast). 

The Recovery and Development Offices were established with financial support from the EU and the Government of Sweden. Support for the Recovery and Development Offices in Mykolaiv Oblast is also being provided by the Government of Denmark.

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