The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine is launching a new phase (Framework Loan – FL) of the Ukraine Recovery Programme, which is being implemented with the financing of the European Investment Bank. This phase will involve the allocation of EUR 100 million to restore critical infrastructure and develop communities.

The launch of the programme was announced by Oleksii Riabikin, Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development, during a briefing.

"For the first time in the history of Ukraine, a programme is being launched to implement projects to fulfil community strategies, regional development strategies and the State Regional Development Strategy. This programme is a new level of planning and development, when resources are directed to the implementation of community and regional development strategies. We form a vision, plan, and then receive resources to implement projects that bring this vision to life," said Oleksii Riabikin, Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development.

The briefing also featured Viktor Nestulia, head of the DREAM Project Office, and Maksym Nefiodov, co-founder of the NGO Technology of Progress.

The projects will be implemented using the innovative DREAM platform, which automates the project selection and monitoring processes. The platform will ensure transparency and efficiency in financial management and allow for prompt assessment of project progress, control over use of funds and their targeted use.

"The DREAM platform is an electronic solution that fully covers the entire cycle of public investment management, from project initiation and preparation of design and estimate documentation to allocation of funding and its implementation. The Ministry has decided to select such projects through the ecosystem. This means that all requirements will be structured in a single format that is understandable to all.

Today, 1,260 communities and 23 regional administrations are already working in the DREAM system. They automatically receive information that a new source of funding has emerged and understand what projects they can submit for this funding. The main thing is that an application can be formed in a few clicks and submitted to the regional administration and the Ministry for consideration," said Viktor Nestulia, Head of the DREAM Project Office.

As part of the Programme, an integrity group will be set up, consisting of experts with relevant reputation and experience, whose main task will be to assess projects for compliance with cost, implementation time and other reputational risks.

"We want to become a systemic assistant for the Ministry and other authorities, helping to systemise the problems and challenges that arise in the recovery process. This process does not always require only punishing those responsible or redesigning projects, sometimes it is necessary to change approaches to the formulation of technical specifications or architectural expertise," said Maksym Nefiodov.

Projects will be selected in the following areas:

Energy sustainability of communities.

Particular attention is paid to the diversification of heat supply and the development of distributed generation to ensure energy efficiency.

Housing construction.

The programme will create a housing stock in communal ownership to accommodate internally displaced persons, community workers and other categories of citizens in need of housing.

Modernisation of water supply and sewage infrastructure.

Given the technical deterioration of the networks, projects will be implemented in the communities to upgrade them.

Reconstruction of medical facilities.

Special attention will be paid to cluster hospitals and perinatal centres.

For more information please visit the official website of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development.