Second Phase of EU4Recovery Project Launches
The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme have announced the launch of the second phase of the EU4Recovery project—Empowering Communities in Ukraine. This phase involves a €50 million commitment through 2028. The initiative aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of local authorities, invest in human capital, and foster the socio-economic recovery and development of civil society. This support is crucial as Ukraine continues to rebuild its social fabric and local governance amidst ongoing conflict.
The EU4Recovery project was launched in 2022 as a joint EU-UN initiative. Its first phase, implemented from 2022 to 2025, focused on ensuring the continuity of essential services, enhancing community safety, and supporting the most vulnerable populations. Between 2023 and 2025, 447 individuals received training in first aid and emergency response. Of these, 389 became certified emergency medical technicians, while 58 healthcare workers obtained basic first aid certificates.
Key Project Achievements
The project has also provided support to 57 healthcare facilities across nine Ukrainian regions. An analysis of social services was conducted in six regions, covering 358 communities, leading to the development of six regional programs for social service development. Communities received 39 specialized vehicles for social service delivery, and over 1,200 social workers from 11 regions underwent training. Nearly 9,000 people in nine regions benefited from improved social services, and 29 new mobile service units became operational in communities.
Furthermore, the project supplied 12 mobile and 7 modular Administrative Service Centers (ASCs), enabling 222,684 people to access essential administrative services. Mobile assessment teams received four specially equipped vehicles and modern equipment for building inspections. Damage assessments were carried out in 11 communities.
Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration, Oleksiy Kubra, expressed gratitude to the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme for their support, emphasizing the importance of moving forward with the joint implementation of the project's second phase.
The second phase of EU4Recovery will concentrate on several key areas, including:
- Enhancing the institutional capacity of local authorities in recovery planning;
- Planning and delivering essential services;
- Investing in human capital and socio-economic recovery;
- Developing civil society and supporting social cohesion.
The launch of this second phase underscores the continued commitment of international partners to Ukraine's recovery from the devastating impacts of war. This substantial financial initiative targets not just infrastructure but also the vital development of human capital, which is fundamental for the country's long-term stability. The funding through 2028 will enable a comprehensive approach to restoring social and administrative services, which is expected to significantly improve the quality of life for Ukrainian citizens.