About UNDP in Ukraine

As the development arm of the United Nations, UNDP supports strategic capacity development initiatives to promote inclusive growth and sustainable human development. Through partnerships with national, regional, and local governments, civil society, and the private sector, UNDP strives to support Ukraine in its efforts to eliminate poverty, develop people’s capacity, achieve equitable results, sustain the environment, and advance democratic governance.

Today Ukraine is facing its most serious challenges since achieving independence in 1991. The conflict in the east forced more than one million people to leave their homes to save their lives. Recovery and Peacebuilding of the conflict-affected areas, as well as support of internally displaced people (IDPs) are among the top priorities for UNDP in Ukraine.

Humanitarian aid is very important but is not enough. There is an urgent need for systemic response to the needs of internally displaced and people living in conflict-affected areas that goes beyond provision of short-term shelters. Working in close partnership with international partners and Ukrainian government UNDP Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme employs a holistic approach responding to the needs of the people in need and strengthening social cohesion and mutual understanding, at the same time preventing excessive social pressure on the host communities.

UNDP is helping to restore critically important social and economic infrastructure and effective work of local governments in eastern Ukraine; to create jobs and spur entrepreneurship among IDPs and host communities; and to promote peace and reconciliation.

What do we want to accomplish?

UNDP’s strategic objective in Ukraine is to assist the country in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals contained in the Global Agenda 2030. It does so through work on three pillars:

-          Governance reform

-          Environmental and energy policy reform for innovative green and clean economic growth, and

-          Recovery and peacebuilding in conflict-affected areas.

We are guided by the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Conventions to which the Government of Ukraine is committed. A central theme for the Country Programme is the linkage between governance reform and human development.

UNDP works in partnership with the Government of Ukraine, UN agencies, development partners, civil society and local communities to help identify local solutions to meet global and national development challenges through a range of interventions that combine UNDP’s expertise and comparative advantage.

What are our results?

Since 1993 UNDP has assisted the government of Ukraine in developing solutions for the transition from a planned to a market economy and for establishing democratic systems.  UNDP’s engagement and partnership with national and sub-national institutions has been a catalyst for laws and policies as well as strengthening institutions in preparing the country for deeper global integration.  

UNDP has strengthened the capacities of the state and civil society institutions to engage effectively in policy reform, legislative and enhanced regulatory processes.  Special efforts were made to strengthen civil society to engage actively in the development process. Gender equality and women’s empowerment is another area where the work of UNDP has been recognized by national partners and civil society organizations.

In addition to the work at the policy level, UNDP has partnered with national and local authorities, community based organizations, private sector and UN agencies to deliver measurable improvements in people’s lives.  Working at the community level, UNDP has demonstrated the effectiveness of participatory governance for identification and implementation of local development solutions. 

Who are the decision makers?

The Resident Coordinator heads the UN Country Team in Ukraine.

UNDP works in close collaboration with the Government of Ukraine through a number of key Ministries, Departments and Agencies. The implementation of UNDP programme activities are carried out by Implementing Partners as appropriate, including national and local Government partners and civil society actors.

How many are we?