UNECE and partners renew commitment to Kharkiv reconstruction at Ukraine Recovery Conference, calling for greater support
Delegates from various international organizations and governments convene at the Ukraine Recovery Conference to discuss support for Kharkiv’s rebuilding efforts. © UN4UkrainianCities
Kharkiv, the second most populous city in Ukraine situated just 30 km from the Russian border, is among the urban areas most affected by the war and the target of renewed shelling over the last weeks.
According to its Mayor, Ihor Terekhov, 150,000 of the approximately 1.3 million people in the city are today without housing. Since the beginning of the war, approximately 9,000 houses have been destroyed, along with 110 kindergartens and 130 schools (half of all schools in the city), all thermal power plants and transformer substations, 88 medical institutions, and 185 buildings in the social sphere.
As governments, international, regional and local actors gather in Berlin for the Ukraine Recovery Conference, UNECE and partners convened high-level talks to renew commitment to supporting Kharkiv, bringing together the Ukrainian government, UN agencies, Mayors from cities including Nurnberg and Berlin, donors and international partners.
Recalling that UNECE was among the first partners to collaborate with the city on long-term reconstruction planning following the start of the war against Ukraine, Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean laid out plans to scale up work though the UN4UkrainianCities initiative.
These efforts will be reinforced by a Comprehensive Recovery Program and Recovery Plan for Kharkiv, coupled with an economic strategy developed with experts from Harvard and Oxford Universities. In addition, architecture competitions are mobilizing international and local talent for the redesigning of residential and public administration buildings in the city with a view to supporting reconstruction at scale once the war is over.
“UNECE is steadfast in its commitment to support the City of Kharkiv and the broader urban recovery efforts of the government of Ukraine, mobilizing the best international expertise in cooperation with Ukrainian and local stakeholders. But it is clear that much greater financial and technical support is needed to ensure the continuation of activities and to scale up assistance in line with the continuing devastation in urban areas of Ukraine.”
She further outlined ongoing efforts to showcase projects to donors and investors through the development of an investment tracker, which will enhance transparency and the fight against corruption in the recovery process.
According to Mayor Terekhov, approximately USD 10 billion will need to be mobilized for the future reconstruction of the city.
UNECE is extending support at the national level to draft a new housing policy law, expected to be submitted to parliament in July 2024, and to assist in the development of another two draft laws on housing stock management and rental housing. This cooperation also covers the development of Ukraine’s Urban Cadastre, mobilizing an international advisory expert group.
UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean outlines the plans for scaling up reconstruction efforts in Kharkiv during the Kharkiv Recovery networking event of the Ukraine Recovery Conference. © UN4UkrainianCities
Volker Oel, Director Eastern Europe at BMZ, highlighted the critical role of long-term planning and immediate pilot support in Kharkiv’s recovery. © UN4UkrainianCities
“UN4UkrainianCities, where BMZ cooperates with UNECE, is a programme that looks at Kharkiv recovery from different angles, that combines long-term planning with a very practical short-term pilot support.”
In Kharkiv and Mykolaiv, for which cooperation has also resulted in the development of a masterplan developed by the OneWorks Foundation, additional pilot projects will focus on transforming industrial sectors, reimagining river corridors, retrofitting housing, and designing new residential districts. Economic studies will identify post-conflict recovery opportunities, while capacity building for national and local representatives will enhance skills in sustainable urban development and project implementation. These efforts will be bolstered by the development of an online toolbox for city reconstruction. Support to Mykolaiv also includes the development of comprehensive demographic scenarios in partnership with Politecnico di Milano. During the Ukraine Recovery Conference, UNECE will also present the Mayor of Mykolaiv with the “Concept Masterplan: Vision and Strategic Proposal”, the second phase on the concept masterplan development.
The Kharkiv Recovery event was organized by the city of Kharkiv and with the support of UNECE, Housing Initiative for Eastern Europe and BMZ.