Kyiv, 26 November 2024 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, in collaboration with the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine and with financial support from the Government of Japan, has launched the Academy of Inclusive and Transparent Local Recovery and Development.

The academy aims to equip the country’s local authorities with the necessary knowledge and tools to prepare recovery and strategic development planning documents, create human-centred projects, and ensure there is transparency and accountability in decision-making processes.

On the basis of pilot projects and testing of the methodology, within the next phase, UNDP will begin supporting 20 selected partner communities in inclusive and transparent recovery planning and strategic community development.

The Academy of Inclusive and Transparent Local Recovery and Development is intended to raise awareness among local government officials about initiatives, methodologies, and tools that can help them effectively plan and organize inclusive processes for preparing recovery and strategic development documents for local communities. 

Representatives of 10 pilot communities that have already received comprehensive support from UNDP in 2023-2024 for preparing and implementing recovery and development planning documents, will share their practical experience and best practices with new partner communities in the role of mentors.

The first session of the academy, held on 20-22 November in Kyiv, was attended by representatives from 30 communities across Ukraine. Over the next few months, 20 communities will receive comprehensive support from UNDP in preparing recovery and strategic development planning documents, prioritizing recovery and development projects, assessing corruption risks, and developing local anti-corruption programmes. Furthermore, the support will include initiatives for building the capacity of local government representatives in various aspects of governance, enhancing the role and participation of civil society and young people, and engaging businesses in recovery and community development processes.

Lesia Didenko, Director of the Department for the Implementation of Priority Regional Development Projects and Critical Infrastructure at the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, emphasizes that a comprehensive approach to community recovery and strategic development is vital: “Community recovery is only possible through joint efforts, strategic planning, and close cooperation between communities, the government, and international partners,” Didenko says. “Thanks to the support of UNDP and the Government of Japan, we’re providing local authorities with the necessary knowledge to help create successful recovery and development projects. This will allow communities not only to overcome the effects of the war, but also to lay the foundation for sustainable development in the future.”

Tetiana Lomakina, the President's Commissioner for Barrier-Free Environment, highlights the importance of considering the interests of all community members during recovery: “Today, when we’re rebuilding something in the community, it’s important to remake it better than it was,” Lomakina says. “We must take into account the interests of all community members, regardless of their age, gender, or health status – including those who have been injured or wounded while defending us at the front, those who have worked for years in the community and have lost mobility due to age, and those who are raising the next generation of Ukrainians. There’s a lot of work ahead to rebuild affected communities. It's very important that this recovery is in line with National Barrier-Free Standards.”

Rana El-Houjeiri, Senior UNDP Advisor in Ukraine, stresses the importance of teaching communities to create recovery plans and attract investment to implement them even in wartime: "Supporting local communities in creating investment projects is a crucial step towards Ukraine’s recovery,” El-Houjeiri says. “We believe that communities can become the driving force of change, and together with the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, we’re providing them with the necessary resources and knowledge to achieve this goal.”

Media inquiries:

Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications, UNDP in Ukraine, yuliia.samus@undp.org