Kyiv, 8 August 2024 ­– The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, have joined forces to facilitate the rehabilitation and recovery of war-affected communities in Ukraine.

The project, called “Mine Action and IDP Return in Southern Ukraine,” aims to address critical challenges to internally displaced and other war-affected people’s ability to return, recover and rebuild their homes and lives in safety and dignity in communities that have been heavily impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion. Such challenges include the presence of mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), destroyed housing and social infrastructure  and loss of identity and civil documentation. As well as enabling displaced people to return to their homes, the joint project will focus on enhancing the capacity of public and civil society actors providing legal and protection services in the targeted areas of southern Ukraine – specifically in Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts.

The project will last for 12 months, from August 2024 to August 2025, and has a total budget of US $4.9 million from the MPTF Ukraine Community Recovery Fund, with the UNDP and UNHCR receiving roughly equal amounts.

In the project, UNDP will focus on debris removal, survey and spot clearance of explosive remnants of war (ERW), and building the capacities of providers of legal aid, physical and mental health, and vocational training.

UNHCR will focus on house and social infrastructure repairs and rehabilitations, legal assistance to help war-affected Ukrainians access their rights and restore vital documents such as birth certificates and property ownership s documents, and help strengthen access to protection services through teams of social workers and psychologists providing counselling and referrals to appropriate services.

UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Jaco Cilliers said the collaboration brings together the two agencies’ strengths – UNDP's expertise in mine action and capacity building, alongside UNHCR's commitment to protection and inclusion. 

“Together, we aim to deliver sustainable solutions that empower individuals and foster resilience, helping communities rebuild their lives after the devastation of conflict,” Cilliers said.

UNHCR Representative Karolina Lindholm Billing said that the partnership with UNDP marks a significant advancement in their collective efforts to tackle the complex challenges faced by war-affected people in Ukraine. 

“In UNHCR’s regular surveys, Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced people consistently highlight the importance of safety, including the absence of mines and UXOs, as well as access to a home, job and basic services as key enablers of their ability to return to their home communities. By employing an area-based approach, we tackle these challenges within specific regions and help create conditions for safe and sustainable returns and the recovery of war-affected communities” she said.

The new partnership aligns with the priorities of the Government of Ukraine and the United Nations transitional framework for early recovery. Emphasizing inclusive and participatory approaches, the project seeks to engage communities directly in their recovery processes to ensure that their specific needs and aspirations are addressed.

By leveraging their respective mandates and expertise, the UNDP and UNHCR are committed to supporting the Government of Ukraine and its regional and local authorities and communities in creating a prosperous and resilient future for those affected by the ongoing war and fostering an inclusive and sustainable recovery for all the people of Ukraine.

Media inquiries: Yulia Samus, Head of Communications, UNDP Ukraine, yuliia.samus@undp.org; Elisabeth Haslund, UNHCR Ukraine, haslund@unhcr.org