Building back greener and better in Ukraine

During the Russian full-scale invasion, severe damage has been caused to people, infrastructure, and the environment in Ukraine. The new Nefco Green Recovery Programme for Ukraine will support green economy and transition in the recovery process. The aim is to enhance and finance projects focused on rebuilding infrastructure at the municipal level to ensure that Ukraine is built back greener and better.

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Green Recovery for Ukraine

Why green recovery in Ukraine matters?

WWF Ukraine: Nature is the silent victim

The war has caused tremendous damage on the environment. Measuring and verifying the extent of the damage will be challenging as long as the war is ongoing. It is, however, clear that both the Ukrainian society and nature are in desperate need of restoration. Bohdan Vykhor CEO at WWF Ukraine, shared his view with Nefco on why urgent green recovery matters.

Why Nefco?

Extensive network with municipalities in Ukraine

During the last decade, Nefco has partnered with over a hundred Ukrainian municipalities and successfully financed and implemented environmentally sound projects in energy efficiency, district heating and other municipal services.

Knowledge sharing and best practices

Nefco collaborates with municipalities to introduce transparent procurement practices and measures to fight corruption and misconduct. Projects also offer possibility to share know-how on Nordic technologies and European standards.

Green Recovery for Ukraine

The Nefco Green Recovery Programme for Ukraine aims to pave the way for a greener recovery for the war-damaged Ukraine. Through various initiatives, the programme will provide financial and technical assistance to municipalities to conduct repairs and rebuild in an environmentally sound way and support them in accommodating internally displaced people and designing Local Green Recovery Plans with Nordic support and competence.

Why is it needed?

During the illegal Russian invasion, severe damage has been caused to people, infrastructure and the environment in Ukraine. In addition to immediate basic humanitarian assistance, Ukraine needs significant reconstruction and financial development support over several years to overcome the destruction caused by the war. Local governments will need skills development support to be capable of planning environmentally sustainable recovery in a manner that catalyses reduced dependence on fossil fuels and cuts harmful pollution while appropriately harnessing opportunities for renewable energy, energy efficiency and modern, clean technology solutions.

The objective of the Nefco Green Recovery Programme for Ukraine is to support the green economy and transition in Ukraine’s recovery process. The aim is to enhance and finance projects focused on rebuilding infrastructure at the municipal level to ensure that Ukraine is built back greener and better.

What makes the programme green?

The reconstruction offers Ukraine an opportunity to leapfrog technologically. The most obvious possibility is to create a carbon-free economy, both as a way to coordinate on investments for the future, but also to show how to reduce reliance on fossil fuels as much as possible. Ukraine is prepared to reform the country, to focus on a green, circular economy, get rid of fossil fuel dependence and take European standards into use.

The programme will be fully aligned with the 1.5 degree-objective of the Paris Agreement. The recovery will be geared toward a green transition and transformation of economy and society, supporting cities to be rebuilt based on environmental assessment and impact, using modern solutions.

Activities will be subject to Nefco’s rules and policies, including Nefco’s Environmental and Sustainability Policy and Guidelines and requirements under the EU Pillar Assessment. To catalyse further sustainability impacts, municipalities will be able to receive technical support in developing environmental needs assessments.

How will the programme work?

The Nefco Green Recovery Programme for Ukraine aims to work long term towards a green recovery in Ukraine together with Nordic, European and multinational contributors and institutions. Nefco works directly with municipalities and help them to plan and finance sustainable recovery from the damage caused by the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. Municipalities are playing a significant role in building Ukraine back greener and better.

The programme may comprise individual initiatives from various contributors. Contributions for existing facilities and initiatives managed by Nefco can be repurposed towards the new programme given the urgent need for recovery and supplemented by new initiatives and contributions. The programme will be available on an ongoing basis and provide financial and technical assistance to municipalities for various repair and rebuilding projects to be executed in an environmentally sound way and support them in designing Local Green Recovery Plans.

The programme was launched in July 2022 and project preparations and implementations have already begun. The EU, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden are the programme’s initial contributors.

“The level of critical infrastructure damage caused by the military invasion is tremendous. There is an urgent need for support to small and medium-sized municipalities for rebuilding Ukraine. We believe Nefco has the necessary experience in reconstruction and modernisation and greatly appreciate its help.”

Mr Oleksiy Chernyshov, Minister for Communities and Territorial Development of Ukraine.