Kyiv, 5 March 2026 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with financial support from the Government of Germany, has provided essential digital and remote-sensing equipment to five Ukrainian communities to enhance their capacity to collect, analyse, and use spatial data for recovery planning.

Communities in Balakliia (Kharkiv region), Kyinka (Chernihiv region), Malyn (Zhytomyr region), Olshanske (Mykolaiv region), and Kalynivka (Kyiv region) received laptops and field-ready remote‑sensing tools, including GPS‑enabled devices and equipment supporting aerial and field data collection. The equipment will enable local authorities to conduct rapid damage assessments, collect field data more accurately, and carry out geospatial analysis essential for effective recovery planning.

The equipment handover was part of UNDP’s support to local authorities under the “Strengthening Evidence-Based Recovery in Ukraine” project, and will contribute to the operationalisation of the Knowledge Hub for Recovery and Development (Knowledge Hub) – an expert network designed to strengthen the capacity of war-affected communities to apply data and digital tools in planning, monitoring, and decision-making processes.

A spokesperson for Kyinka hromada emphasized that the project was not just a matter of the provision of equipment, but about fundamentally changing the culture of governance. “We’re moving from reactive problem-solving to proactive development planning, and from fragmented solutions to systematic spatial analysis,” the spokesperson said. “Our goal is to become a capable and digital community that can not only recover, but strategically plan its future.”

Head of the Balakliia Community Administration Vitalii Karabanov said that thanks to the programme, the community team is already applying the knowledge and skills gained in developing the city’s Master Plan and updating the Unified State Address Register. 

“We have (created) orthophoto maps for 15 out of the 37 settlements in the community, which we actively use in our work,” Karabanov said. “The new equipment will enable our specialists to work more efficiently with spatial data and apply geoinformation technologies to support land management, urban planning, infrastructure development, and other key community tasks.”

The handover took place following a meeting of the Project Board, which brought together national and community-level partners to review progress and discuss the next phase of data-driven recovery efforts. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine and the State Service of Ukraine for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre, alongside representatives of pilot communities engaged in the project. A representative of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine also joined the discussion in an observer capacity.

The newly provided tools will enable local authorities and technical specialists to:

• Collect and analyse data directly in the field using geospatial imagery and GPS-based mapping.
• Integrate results with national databases and platforms.
• Participate actively in the Knowledge Hub’s network by sharing insights, methodologies and evidence from their territories with other communities and experts.

Background: The Strengthening Evidence-Based Recovery in Ukraine project supports national and local stakeholders in planning and implementing recovery measures based on reliable, quantifiable data. The project leverages comprehensive sources, including digital damage assessments, satellite imagery and orthophoto plans, and promotes inclusive digital skills development, geospatial analysis and evidence generation through the Knowledge Hub.

Media enquiries: 

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications and Advocacy, yuliia.samus@undp.org