Kyiv, 25 February 2026 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine conducted a one-day training session to strengthen the capacity of local government representatives to use data for recovery planning and evidence-based decision-making. 

The training was delivered as part of the “Relief, Employment and Vital Infrastructure for Vulnerable Populations in Emergency Situations (REVIVE)” project, which is being implemented by UNDP with financial support from the Government of the Republic of Korea. The initiative brought together representatives of eight territorial communities from across Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv oblasts. 

The participants explored practical approaches to data collection, processing, and visualisation – including the digitisation of paper-based materials and their integration into geographic information systems (GISs). The programme covered data structuring, the preparation of datasets for GIS platforms, the georeferencing of scanned maps, the development of address registries in line with national spatial data requirements, and the integration of field-collected data into spatial information systems.

According to the post‑training feedback, participants’ average self‑assessed knowledge levels increased twofold.  Knowledge of information management rose by 59%, while the share of participants reporting high-level expertise in geospatial data management increased from 0% to 62%. Several participants indicated their intention to apply their newly acquired skills in spatial data collection and community recovery planning. 

Svitlana Husak, a representative of Dubovyky community in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, highlighted the practical relevance of the training for local recovery planning. “These approaches will help us systematise damage recording and plan infrastructure recovery based on reliable digital data, ensuring transparent prioritisation of critical tasks,” Husak said. “Such systematic data analysis will serve as a foundation for informed management decisions and for attracting international support for community recovery.”

Nataliia Rozhkova, a representative of Pivdenne community in Kharkiv Oblast, emphasised the importance of women’s participation in local decision-making. “The active participation of women in planning community recovery and development is not merely a matter of equality,” she said. “Since the full-scale invasion, many responsibilities have shifted to women, who are leading and sustaining community life.”

Rana El-Houjeiri, Senior Advisor and Head of Policy and Programme Coherence at UNDP Ukraine, highlighted the role of data in supporting transparent and accountable recovery efforts. “Strengthening the ability of communities to collect, manage, and interpret their own data is central to transparent and effective recovery in Ukraine,” El-Houjeiri said. “When local authorities base their decisions on accurate and actionable information, recovery efforts become more focused, practical, and truly responsive to the needs of the people they serve.”

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