The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine have officially announced the launch of the second phase of the EU4Recovery initiative — a strategic partnership between the EU and UNDP aimed at supporting communities affected by the war and helping advance the country on its path toward European integration.
According to a UNDP press service statement, building on the strong results of the first phase—under which more than 100 communities received support between 2022 and 2025—the new stage will provide equipment, infrastructure modernization, capacity building, technical assistance, training, and targeted support to strengthen the ability of local self-government bodies to lead recovery processes and implement democratic reforms.
The total budget of the partnership for 2026–2028 amounts to EUR 50 million. Within the second phase of EU4Recovery, the plan includes strengthening decentralized social and healthcare services, supporting economic recovery, and reinforcing social cohesion, with a special focus on veterans, youth, and people returning to their communities.
The official launch of the second phase of EU4Recovery took place alongside a joint visit by EU and UNDP delegations to partner regions, where representatives of both organizations will meet with local authorities and residents to discuss the results of UNDP’s regional recovery approach in supporting planning, coordination, and the delivery of critical services during wartime.
Stefan Schleining, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, stated that the European Union remains firmly committed to supporting Ukraine’s recovery and its path toward EU membership even under the most difficult conditions.
“In the next phase of the flagship EU4Recovery partnership, we are expanding support to war-affected regions and communities to strengthen essential services, improve community safety, and promote economic recovery, job creation, and the reintegration of veterans. The EU will continue to stand side by side with Ukraine to ensure that today’s efforts lay the foundation for a free, modern, and European state,” he said.
UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Auke Lootsma emphasized the role of local institutions in ensuring recovery and resilience.
“The second phase of EU4Recovery is aimed at strengthening this foundation and enabling communities not only to respond to current challenges but also to shape their own future. This approach combines investments in transparent and inclusive services, social cohesion, and local democracy, creating conditions for a resilient and development-oriented future for communities,” he said.
The partnership is being implemented in priority regions most affected by the war, including Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Chernihiv regions. In addition, EU4Recovery provides targeted support in Poltava, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi, Odessa, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions, focusing on displaced communities and internally displaced persons.
