Mykolaiv, Ukraine, 18 September 2023 – The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) procured and delivered 24 water dispensers and 30 electricity generators to the municipality of Mykolaiv. The equipment, installed over the past three months and funded by the European Union, is being used to help ensure an uninterrupted supply of clean water. The transfer was performed within the Support to Alternative Clean Water Supply Services initiative.

The provided equipment enables the provision of free access to fresh water for more than 39,000 city residents daily. In addition, 30 emergency electricity generators were provided to ensure an uninterrupted water supply, especially during the approaching winter season, given the possible blackout due to the damage to the energy infrastructure.

Stefan Schleuning, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine stressed the importance of continuously contributing to Mykolaiv's resilience and recovery. "We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure seamless infrastructure functionality, safeguarding critical services, and providing essential support to Mykolaiv residents,” he said. “This is especially important given the scale of earlier shelling and infrastructure damages."

UNDP Resident Representative Jaco Cilliers said the project highlights the EU’s and UNDP’s unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of all Ukrainians. "Thanks to the support of the European Union, we were able to bring vital clean water supply services to Mykolaiv,” he said. “Every drop of clean water represents hope, health, and a step forward in our collective commitment to a more resilient future for this community and indeed beyond to all of Ukraine."

Background: The "Support to Alternative Clean Water Supply Services" initiative was financed by the EU as a follow-up to the "Homeowners of Ukraine for Sustainable Energy Solutions (HOUSES)" project.  This project was initiated in response to the crisis stemming from the ongoing war. Launched in 2018 by the EU and UNDP in Ukraine, the HOUSES project aimed to mobilize homeowners throughout the country to instigate energy efficiency improvements in multi-apartment buildings. Over its 34-month implementation period, the project assisted 6,104 homeowners’ associations (HOAs) and helped establish 2,288 new HOAs in Ukraine. For those interested in learning more about HOAs and their operations, we invite you to join a complimentary series of online courses titled “HOAs: the ABC of Success.” These courses were collaboratively developed and released with the online education platform, PROMETHEUS.

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