Project summary:  

The project is designed to address the complex humanitarian, recovery and development challenges emerging in Ukraine as a consequence of the military aggression of the Russian Federation, with a special focus on supporting Sumy Oblast's recovery processes. It underscores the importance of delivering programming that prioritises efforts to protect development gains alongside the provision of time-critical assistanceby taking a two-pronged approach built around the Humanitarian-Development Nexus. In the short term, it focuses on supporting locally-led crisis responses, including social stabilization and mending the social fabric. In the medium term, the project aims to bolster institutions and mechanisms that deliver justice, enhance social cohesion, and foster community-led reintegration of veterans. 

The project’s strategy seeks to uphold the rule of law and the respect of human rights through the effective functioning of rule of law, security, and justice service provision across national, sub-national, and community levels ensuring fair and equitable hearings and redress for war-related crimes.

It fosters a sense of belonging and inclusion, through the establishment of dialogue platforms and channels for community-wide consultation and decision-making on matters related to safety, security, and recovery planning that include individuals and groups at the intersection of multiple vulnerabilities. Across all project’s activities, synergies are created and leveraged between local residents and authorities to strengthen their collective ability to respond inclusively and effectively to challenges during the return and recovery process. 

The project also addresses the gendered impacts of the war, ensuring a strong focus on gender equality and women's empowerment. By promoting women’s leadership and participation in decision-making processes, the project will ensure that women and girls have equitable access to basic needs, administrative, legal, medical, and psycho-social services, and livelihood support.

The project is part of UNDP’s broader area-based development approach to resilience and recovery, with special emphasis being placed on the role of internally displaced people (IDPs), returnees, young women and men, and veterans in the recovery of host communities.