Brussels, 16 September 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and the Government of Denmark are joining forces in a new, three-year project, titled Mykolaiv Strategic Partnership, to accelerate reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv Oblast. This new phase of partnership is a crucial component of Denmark’s commitment to Ukraine’s long-term recovery and has a total budget of over US$36 million. 

The Mykolaiv Strategic Partnership is part of a broader effort to support Ukraine’s recovery from the full-scale invasion, in which Denmark has been a steadfast partner, providing extensive support. This project, which began on 1 July 2025, and is scheduled to run until 30 June 2028, will work in close consultation with Mykolaiv authorities to ensure a coordinated and effective response.

The project’s main objective is to normalize life for the local population, facilitate the reintegration of the displaced population, and address the specific needs of vulnerable groups. The initiative will focus on three key areas of intervention:

1. Strengthening Local Governance: Building the ability of local authorities to lead the reconstruction and recovery process, while also helping them prepare for EU integration.
2. Improving Living Conditions: Physical reconstruction of critical and social infrastructure and improving access to quality public services.
3. Facilitating Economic Recovery: Rapidly restoring the local economy to create sustainable employment and livelihood opportunities.

Mykolaiv Oblast has been heavily impacted by the ongoing war, with significant destruction of infrastructure and economic disruption. This partnership builds on UNDP’s existing work in humanitarian demining, which have been essential for making land safe for agricultural production and economic activity.

The partnership is built on the lessons of previous area-based programmes and will use an area-based recovery approach, tailored to the specific context and needs of Mykolaiv Oblast. This integrated, participatory, and inclusive methodology will implement multi-sectoral programming to address complex challenges and achieve key outcomes, such as creating durable solutions for displaced people, and promoting inclusive economic growth. The project will work with local authorities, civil society, and the private sector to ensure the recovery effort is effective and aligns with the region’s development strategies.

The partnership project also aims to address structural inequalities, with a focus on promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. It will work to increase women’s participation in the labour force and decision-making roles, and will address issues like gender-based violence and access to essential services. Additionally, the partnership will support the development of a regional environmental monitoring system to protect public health and improve livelihoods, responding to urgent needs such as water pollution caused by the war.

Lene Mandel Vensild, Ambassador for EU’s Foreign and Security Policy for Denmark, commenting on the new partnership, said, “We believe that true solidarity means not just reacting to the immediate crisis, but also investing in the long-term recovery and prosperity of a nation.”

Oleksii Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine and Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, said: “Together with UNDP and our international partners we’re working to ensure that every community affected by the war receives not only rebuilt infrastructure, but also an improved quality of life. We are scaling up successful examples of comprehensive recovery to the entire country. This recovery is green, inclusive and digital, and meets European standards – an approach that builds trust in state policy and stimulates further support from international partners.”

UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, Auke Lootsma, commenting on the new partnership, said, “This is what it means to be a true partner: to invest in the long term, to support a country on its journey toward a more prosperous future, and to stand together in the face of immense challenges.”

Media enquiries:

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