Kyiv, Ukraine, 20 September 2024 - As the war on Ukraine continues, early recovery support is playing a critical role in helping Ukrainians get back on their feet, said UNDP's Crisis Chief from Kyiv. Supporting small businesses, skills training for in-demand jobs, restoring energy supply, removing debris and clearing mines and other explosive remnants of war are key recovery efforts.
"In crisis, humanitarian support saves lives. But early recovery work is equally important - it enables people to restart their lives and support themselves. It is the foundation for a resilient Ukraine," said United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Crisis Bureau Director, Shoko Noda.
The full-scale Russian invasion has had a devastating impact on the country. Poverty rose from 5.5 percent before the war to 24.1 percent in 2022, pushing an additional 7.1 million people into poverty. A staggering 80 percent of Ukraine's thermal energy supply has been destroyed, and it is estimated that up to 25 percent of Ukraine is contaminated with mines - an area almost four times the size of Switzerland.
The damage has been profound: it is estimated that the total recovery and reconstruction needs for Ukraine amount to US$486 billion.
During her visit, ASG Noda met with senior officials in Kyiv, Odesa and Mykolaiv to discuss UNDP's support to local and national recovery efforts. She also visited local initiatives that are transforming lives. Discussions reconfirmed UNDP's strong partnership with the Government of Ukraine.
Restoring Ukraine's damaged energy infrastructure is a top priority - especially as Ukraine enters into another winter. This includes helping to import vital equipment such as energy transformers, while also repairing damaged energy systems.
"UNDP will continue to stay and deliver in Ukraine to boost energy, while also supporting economic and social recovery," said ASG Noda.
In Bucha, Noda visited Ukraine's first debris recycling station, which is helping to transform rubble into much needed infrastructure, such as roads and homes. By rebuilding communities, Bucha's Mayor said this initiative was helping to create the right conditions for those who fled to return home, while also accommodating people who have come to Bucha seeking safety.
In Kyiv Oblast, Noda also met with the female handlers of a team of 16 technical search dogs - dogs that are specially trained safely detect mines and other explosive remnants of war. One dog can clear up to 1,500 square metres of land per day, vastly outperforming the 50 square metres cleared by a human deminer using manual methods - between 30 to 75 times faster.
"It's incredible to see the strong bond between the handlers and their dogs, and to see how much of a difference they're making in terms of Ukraine's ability to clear contaminated land and return it safely to communities," said Noda.
This is part of a wider effort by UNDP to work with Ukrainian authorities to decontaminate mined land, which also includes the use of innovative technology including drones and artificial intelligence.
Noda also met with students at Higher Professional School 21, a vocational training centre in Mykolaiv, learning in-demand professions including electricians, web designers and systems administrators. This UNDP-supported centre is part of a wider effort to address the skills gap in Ukraine - it is estimated that Ukraine needs 4.5 million additional workers to grow the economy by 7 percent annually until 2030.
Each of these efforts lay the foundation for recovery for Ukrainians affected by almost three years of Russia's full-scale invasion.
"We're committed to working closely with our partners to restore Ukrainians' sense of security and confidence in the future, to create choices and opportunity," said ASG Noda.
