KYIV, 12 September 2024 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with the generous funding from the government of Japan, has provided 400 tablets to social workers. The initiative aims to improve the quality and timeliness of the assistance provided by social workers, through the use of new digital solutions.  

During the full-scale war, delivering social services to citizens quickly and effectively has become critically important. 

Kostiantyn Koshelenko, Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitisation, emphasized the importance of timely and good-quality social service delivery in wartime, and hailed the consistent support from UNDP in Ukraine and the Government of Japan in achieving this goal. 

“Our goal is to make social services more accessible, especially during these difficult times,” Koshelenko said. “With the new tablets, our workers will be able to respond more quickly to citizens' needs, which is an important step in modernizing the social support system. We’re grateful to the government of Japan and UNDP in Ukraine for this valuable and consistent support. 

“This spring, with funding from the government of Japan, UNDP in Ukraine purchased and delivered 200 electric scooters to the ministry. These scooters allowed social workers to assist people more effectively, even in areas with significantly damaged infrastructure.  

“Today's delivery of 400 tablets is the next step in modernizing social services. They will further enhance the efficiency of social workers, enabling them to provide assistance faster and better.” 

Olena Ursu, UNDP Ukraine Democratic Governance Team Leader, highlighted the importance of this assistance in addressing the crisis caused by Russia's full-scale invasion. 

"UNDP in Ukraine continues to support the Ukrainian government to ensure resilience and effectiveness in crisis situations,” Ursu said. “We believe that such technical equipment will help the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine build productive, uninterrupted, and efficient working processes during the war and ensure equal access to social services for all citizens. This is a step forward towards a more inclusive and resilient society.” 

The acquisition of tablets for social work specialists is an important step in modernizing social assistance and improving its quality and timeliness. These devices are expected not only to ensure better mobility and accessibility, but also to improve data management, communication, and citizen engagement. By procuring tablets for social workers, UNDP is supporting the ministry’s initiatives on inclusivity and flexibility, which ultimately benefits all citizens in need of assistance. 

Background: 

The tablets were purchased as part of the UNDP project “Promoting Human Security in Ukraine through Response to the Multidimensional Crisis Caused by War,” which is funded by the government of Japan. Japan is the largest government donor to UNDP in Ukraine, providing significant financial assistance totalling U.S. $241 million since 2022.  

The project aims to bolster human security in Ukraine by responding to the multidimensional crisis caused by the war, focusing on areas of high vulnerability due to the war. This support is designed to strengthen the government’s crisis management system, facilitate early recovery, and improve the delivery of essential services to vulnerable populations. 

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