KYIV, 13 October 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine today signed a financing agreement, officially launching the implementation phase of the Renewable Energy Solutions (RES) Programme. This agreement secures EUR 16.5 million in funding for UNDP to accelerate the deployment of green energy across Ukraine’s public infrastructure.

The financing agreement was signed in Kyiv by Alona Shkrum, First Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories, and Christophoros Politis, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine.

The signing marks the final step in securing the specific funds for UNDP’s role in the two-year initiative, which is backed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) through an Investment Grant Agreement between the EIB and Ukraine, and funded by a grant from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) through its International Climate Initiative (IKI). The overall RES Programme is a collaborative effort between the EIB, Ministry for Development, UNDP, and the German development agency GIZ.

The EUR 16.5 million allocated through this new agreement will be dedicated to installing and maintaining decentralised renewable energy sources – such as solar panels, heat pumps, and battery storage – on vital public buildings. Priority will be given to essential social infrastructure, including schools, kindergartens, and hospitals. A key objective is to support these institutions in achieving “prosumer” status, meaning they can generate their own power and feed surplus energy back into the grid, significantly reducing utility costs and reliance on centralised systems.

At the signing, Alona Shkrum, First Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories, highlighted the importance of decentralisation in Ukraine’s recovery efforts.

“Energy independence is not just a long-term strategy for Ukraine; it is a necessity for recovery right now,” Shkrum said. “By installing modern renewable energy solutions for our schools, kindergartens, and hospitals, even in frontline regions, we are not only cutting energy costs but, crucially, we are ensuring continuity of services for our most vulnerable categories of citizens even in the event of grid disruptions. This partnership translates global support into tangible, sustainable resilience at the community level.”

Christophoros Politis, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Ukraine, emphasised the partnership’s alignment with green transition goals.

“This agreement allows us to move swiftly from planning to action, rebuilding better and greener,” Politis said. “By helping public buildings become ‘prosumers,’ we’re creating a modern, decentralised, and climate-resilient energy system. Critically, solar panels on schools and hospitals will sustain essential services – education and health – directly linking service provision to community resilience. UNDP is proud to make this green transition a reality for communities across Ukraine.”

The RES Programme forms a critical part of the wider efforts to restore, modernise, and integrate Ukraine’s energy system with the European Union framework.

Background:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its member states. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment to contribute towards EU policy goals.

Media enquiries:

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications. Email: yuliia.samus@undp.org