When we talk about Ukraine's recovery, we often picture buildings being rebuilt, roads being repaved, or electricity being restored. However, true recovery isn't just about the number of structures that are reconstructed; it's also about how people feel in their city or community. For recovery to genuinely serve the people, it needs to be inclusive and barrier-free.

This belief led to the creation of the Barrier-Free Routes School in 2025. It's an initiative that provides communities with the knowledge, tools, and guidance they need to design accessible environments that truly focus on people's needs. The school, which is a collaborative effort between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, and is supported by the Government of Japan, is a key part of the larger push by the government and local authorities to ensure Ukraine's recovery is rooted in inclusion.

Why barrier-free routes matter

A barrier-free route is a continuous, safe, and convenient path that links the key places of daily life, such as a bus stop to a clinic, a school to a library, or a neighbourhood to a community centre. For many people – including those with disabilities or temporary injuries, the elderly, and parents with young children – these routes are crucial, as they determine whether they can access services and live on equal terms with everyone else in their community.

Ukraine's ongoing war has made this issue even more urgent. The number of people with injuries or health impairments has increased, while damaged infrastructure and outdated urban planning often prevent people from moving safely through their own communities. Inaccessible spaces worsen inequality, isolate vulnerable groups, and make recovery uneven. Applying the principles of barrier-free design, universal design, and accessibility standards ensures that we're not just restoring what was lost, but creating something better: environments that guarantee dignity, equality, and independence for everyone.

The broader Movement Without Barriers

The Barrier-Free Routes School is UNDP's contribution to the national programme “Movement Without Barriers” (Рух без бар’єрів), which is coordinated by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development. This programme is part of First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska's broader "Without Barriers" initiative.

The idea behind this is both simple and effective: communities must be the ones to drive the change, creating environments where everyone can reach their full potential. The programme provides local authorities with training, technical assistance, and resources to ensure that accessibility is not an afterthought, but a fundamental principle of all planning and recovery efforts.

This initiative is so important because it gives local governments the tools they need to embed inclusivity directly into their urban planning. It encourages collaboration among residents, experts, and local officials, making sure that accessibility is addressed systematically instead of through one-off, sporadic fixes. By focusing on sustainable planning, the programme helps prevent the repetition of past urban development mistakes and ensures that recovery efforts benefit everyone equally.

In the initial phase, 15 Ukrainian cities were chosen, representing a variety of regions and population sizes. These included the large cities of Kyiv, Dnipro, Lviv, and Odesa; the medium-sized cities of Ternopil, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Kropyvnytskyi, Chernivtsi, Poltava, and Vinnytsia; and the small towns of Bucha, Borodianka, Slavutych, and Opishnia.

The School in action

An analysis of the initial efforts to implement barrier-free routes showed that additional training for specialists was needed. As a result, teams from each of the 15 cities – made up of municipal officials responsible for creating and implementing the routes – were invited to participate. The first group of the Barrier-Free Routes School included 61 participants. During an intensive four-day training session, these teams learned about inclusive design methods, analysed international best practices, and reviewed relevant Ukrainian laws.

The training was just the beginning. The next step was mentoring sessions with experienced accessibility specialists. The teams are currently developing their barrier-free route projects in their respective cities. The final stage will be the project presentations in November, where communities will showcase their solutions and share their experiences.

Values driving change

The Barrier-Free Routes School highlights how accessibility reflects our shared values. It's all about creating environments where everyone, regardless of their age, health, or life circumstances, can live independently, feel safe, and actively participate in social life.

This perspective is particularly crucial right now. As the war damage continues to grow, there's a risk of prioritizing speed over quality in reconstruction. However, inclusive design doesn't slow down recovery – it actually makes it stronger. Accessible public spaces help build more cohesive and resilient communities, better prepared for future challenges.

Partnership and international support

The Barrier-Free Routes School is a great example of how powerful partnerships can be. With financial support from the Government of Japan, UNDP has been able to collaborate with the ministry to create and run a programme that addresses genuine local needs. Japan's ongoing support for Ukraine's recovery shows that they understand that true resilience comes from building an inclusive and fair society.

By investing in local expertise and offering mentorship, the initiative empowers municipalities to turn recovery into an opportunity for lasting change. It's not just about rebuilding what was destroyed – it's about doing it in a way that is more inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking.

Looking ahead

In November 2025, when communities present their projects, they will become models for others, inspiring them to adopt similar approaches.

But the school's impact extends far beyond individual projects. Its main goal is to change mindsets – shifting from seeing accessibility as a niche need for a few to recognizing it as a necessity that makes life better for everyone. By embedding inclusive principles into local governance and urban planning, Ukraine is building a foundation for a recovery that is not only fast but also fair. These first routes are just the initial step toward fully barrier-free cities and communities.

As a project coordinator working closely with these communities, I'm constantly inspired by the determination of the local teams. Despite the huge challenges brought on by the war, they're not just repairing what's been broken; they're rethinking what their cities and communities can become. They are proving that recovery can be barrier-free and that only by working together can we build a Ukraine without barriers – a country of equality, accessibility, and sustainable development.