UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean Meets with Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine to Discuss Housing Policy and Urban Recovery Efforts

Kyiv, 4 June 2024 – Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), met with Ms. Natalia Kozlovska and Mr. Serhii Derkach, Deputy Ministers for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine to discuss ongoing efforts to support Ukraine's urban recovery and development of a new national housing policy framework.

As part of the UN4UkrainianCities project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, UNECE has been actively working with the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine to draft a new housing policy law. The draft law, which is expected to be submitted to parliament by July 2024, aims to establish a framework for a new housing policy in Ukraine, including the simplification of implementation procedures, digitalization of processes, and formation of housing policy based on transparency and sustainability. 

During the meeting, Ms. Molcean discussed the progress of the draft law and the extensive consultations held with local governments, experts, and citizens to gather input and build support for the proposed initiatives. UNECE also shared details on capacity building activities conducted in partnership with several countries in the ECE region, including Germany, Estonia, Spain, and Finland, to support the legislation exchange on topics of housing, construction demolition waste, civil defense shelter and urban cadaster.

“The UN4UkrainianCities project represents a significant step forward in Ukraine’s urban recovery and development efforts,” noted Ms Molcean. “By collaborating closely with the Ukrainian government on initiatives such as the new housing policy law, mobility strategies, and pilot projects in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv, we aim to create a strong foundation for sustainable, inclusive growth in the face of adversity.”

In addition to the housing policy work, Ms. Molcean highlighted UNECE ongoing support for the development of pilot projects and master plans for the cities of Kharkiv and Mykolaiv, as well as efforts to develop an online toolbox for city reconstruction and an investment tracker to monitor implementation and investments. Going beyond housing, UNECE is collaborating with Ukrainian authorities to develop and implement mobility and transport strategies to ensure sustainable urban development and recovery.

The meeting underscored the importance of continued collaboration between UNECE and the Ukrainian government in advancing critical urban recovery, housing, and mobility initiatives to "build back better" in the wake of the ongoing conflict.