Presentation of the six-monthly review of reconstruction and expert discussion “Reconstruction in Ukraine 2023-2024: conclusions and challenges” (post-release)

On January 25th, a presentation of the six-month review of reconstruction and an expert discussion on “Reconstruction in Ukraine 2023-2024: Conclusions and Challenges” took place. The event, initiated and organized by the Institute of Analytics and Advocacy, was attended by over 200 people, including representatives of civil organizations, international organizations, and government institutions.

The expert discussion included the participation of:

• Olexandra Azarkhina – Deputy Minister of Community Development, Territories, and Infrastructure of Ukraine;
• Valeriy Marchenko – Head of the Izium City Military Administration;
• Anastasiia Mazurok – Deputy Executive Director of Transparency International Ukraine;
• Valeriia Ovcharova – Program Specialist on Recovery and Reconstruction at USAID/ENGAGE.

The event began with the presentation of the six-month reconstruction review titled “Reconstruction in Wartime: Six-Month Review” by policy and data analyst Vyacheslav Kurylo. He discussed the assessment of damages inflicted by Russia, external financing in 2023, including the needs for reconstruction and the volumes of assistance from international partners. Kurylo also presented key recovery events that took place from May to October 2023 at the national and regional levels.

“Of course, international and national initiatives, of which there were many, play a significant role in reconstruction. However, in our opinion, the London Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine played a crucial role, marking a new stage in the reconstruction processes. The outcomes of this conference speak for themselves – the announcement of the Ukraine Facility, the presentation of the digital ecosystem DREAM, and, of course, the financial aid packages that significantly strengthened our positions,” noted Vyacheslav Kurylo.

The expert discussion was initiated by Olexandra Azarkhina, who discussed the updated State Strategy for Regional Development until 2027, the main priorities of the Ministry of Community Development, Territories, and Infrastructure of Ukraine for 2024, and the participation of civil society in the reconstruction processes.

“Reconstruction should become a new state policy aimed at infrastructure investments, taking into account regional aspects. Communities, precisely because we have already undergone the decentralization process, should play a leading role. This was the premise with which we started our work. It was clear to us that we needed to accomplish several things – community leadership in recovery and its empowerment. Firstly, this involves basic access to resources, and secondly, it is a matter of competence and responsibility.”

Valeriy Marchenko highlighted the main challenges currently faced by the communities of Izium and the ways to motivate, unite, and involve people in the reconstruction process.

“The motivation is very high, as the city was under occupation for almost half a year, and the majority of people had to leave. Currently, we have a population of 27,000, and people are returning. There is a significant amount of destruction – 80% of multi-story buildings are damaged, some completely ruined. There is no need to motivate people; they are willing to rebuild everything themselves. In 2023, we needed major repairs for 120 multi-story buildings and current repairs for 60 buildings. Over the year, we managed to complete major repairs on 35 buildings and current repairs on another 34. Currently, under the eRecovery program, 1,513 individuals have received compensation totaling 212 million hryvnias for damaged property, and for destroyed property, 108 certificates have been issued for 160 million hryvnias.”

Anastasiia Mazurok shared insights into the existing challenges, top concerns, and people’s perspectives in regions, communities, and cities based on a research study on the needs and views of Ukrainians.

“If previously people talked more about the need for centralized efforts, now we see a shift towards community-based initiatives. It is crucial to consider the need for modeling the deployment of military operations because, unlike before, people may now view forecasts more cautiously, understanding the risks both in terms of military actions and the return of hostilities to the territories with damage. People recognize that significant infrastructure decisions are important, but they may be postponed until the end of hostilities. However, the reconstruction of housing for those who lost it needs to happen now.”

Valeriia Ovcharova discussed the involvement of civil society in the reconstruction processes in Ukraine, particularly at the local level:

“We observe instances of miscommunication at the local level from the authorities regarding decisions about reconstruction and recovery. This includes questions such as why a particular residential building is being rebuilt instead of providing people with financial compensation to buy apartments. Of course, there are clear procedures that determine either compensation or reconstruction. However, not everyone is aware and understands these procedures, and this lack of communication about decisions leads to tension within the community. Due to lack of awareness, people start mythologizing the process and associating it with corruption.”

Analytical Review of Reconstruction “Reconstruction in Wartime”

The recording of the presentation of the analytical review of reconstruction “Reconstruction in Wartime,” (in Ukrainian).

This review is the first installment in a series aimed at assisting the public, observers, and media representatives in tracking and evaluating the activities related to the reconstruction of Ukraine.

The meeting took place within the framework of the “Engage!” Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Pact in Ukraine. The content of the analytical reconstruction review is solely the responsibility of Pact and its partners and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) or the U.S. government.