Kyiv, 22 October 2025 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, in partnership with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), has launched a new approach to school reconstruction – one that lets communities themselves set the priorities.

Thanks to the “Build Back Together” principle, the recovery process now starts with dialogue. In recent weeks, five schools across Kyiv, Lviv and Volyn oblasts held meetings in their  communities — attended by more than 260 people, including parents, teachers, students and education officials — to discuss and agree on what should be rebuilt, and how.

UNDP Ukraine representative Andrii Podenezhko says that the format being used is simple but transformative.

“This approach gives communities a real voice in the recovery process,” Podenezhko says. “When parents, teachers and students help decide what their schools need most, reconstruction becomes a collective mission”. 

Experts present preliminary technical assessments, which communities then validate or adjust based on their daily experience of school life, Podenezhko explains. The outcome is a shared list of priorities that reflects both safety requirements and the real needs of children and teachers, he added.

During the meetings, the attendees identified the most urgent reconstruction needs, focusing on repairing roofs and replacing outdated windows, upgrading heating systems, and improving sports and shelter facilities. Energy-efficiency measures such as insulation, waterproofing, and the installation of solar panels were widely supported, alongside façade restoration to preserve the schools’ character. 

Accessibility was another shared priority, with plans for ramps, adapted entrances and inclusive spaces to ensure that every child can learn in safety and comfort.

The reconstruction of these five schools will directly benefit more than 3,100 students and over 300 teachers. Overall, more than 5,000 people will return to modern, safe and inclusive learning spaces through the “Re-Envisioning Educational Facilities in Ukraine” project.

The next steps in the project include the development of detailed design documentation based on the agreed priorities, the procurement of contractors through open tenders, and the launch of construction work. School communities will continue to be informed and involved throughout the process.

This approach reflects a larger shift in Ukraine’s recovery – building back not just better, but together. By involving people directly in decisions about their schools, reconstruction becomes more transparent, more relevant, and more sustainable, turning damaged buildings into modern, safe, and inclusive spaces where future generations can thrive.

Background

According to the latest Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4), the full-scale war has damaged or destroyed more than 3,373 educational facilities across Ukraine, with estimated losses to the sector exceeding US$9.6 billion. Over 740,000 children are studying in mixed or remote formats due to the lack of safe air raid shelters, and more than 40,000 teachers have left the profession since 2022. Needs for education recovery through 2035 are projected at $32.9 billion, including $23.7 billion for infrastructure rebuilt to Build Back Better standards.

Through the “Re-Envisioning Educational Facilities in Ukraine” project, UNDP in Ukraine, supported by AECID, is helping to restore schools to be safe, energy-efficient, inclusive, and future-ready. By involving students, parents, teachers, and local authorities in decision-making, the project ensures that recovery becomes not only an investment in infrastructure, but also in human capital and Ukraine’s future.

Media enquiries: 

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications and Advocacy; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org