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Investing in people and community resilience: Ukraine launches the USD 880 million SPIRIT project

Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, posted 09 June 2026 09:54

Ukraine is officially launching the SPIRIT (Social Protection for Inclusion, Resilience, Innovation and Transformation) project, aimed at modernising the social protection system, supporting the most vulnerable groups of the population, and strengthening the capacity of local communities.

Implemented by the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine with support from the World Bank, SPIRIT is one of the largest international social-sector projects launched since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion.

The project’s total financing amounts to USD 880 million, including a USD 860 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, backed by guarantees from the UK Government and the ADVANCE Ukraine mechanism supported by the Government of Japan. An additional USD 20 million in grant co-financing is being provided by the United Kingdom and Germany through the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF).

Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Uliutin said SPIRIT represents a coalition for social recovery and a sign of international partners’ confidence in Ukraine’s reform agenda.

“SPIRIT is an investment in human capital, community resilience and Ukraine’s future. We are building a new generation of social policy that is more targeted, integrated and focused on delivering results for people. Successful recovery is measured not only by rebuilt infrastructure, but also by people’s ability to live, work, raise children and look to the future with confidence,” the Minister said.

The project will support a broad package of social protection reforms, including:

  • introducing a Basic Social Assistance scheme as a single support instrument for vulnerable families;
  • developing an integrated case-management system combining social assistance, social services and employment support;
  • reforming social service financing based on the principle that funding follows the individual;
  • expanding access to social services for families with children;
  • introducing a modern system for assessing functional capacity in line with international standards;
  • strengthening employment support and social integration for persons with disabilities.

The project will also help build the institutional capacity of public authorities and social service providers at both national and local levels.

Importantly, implementation of SPIRIT will not increase Ukraine’s statutory public debt ceiling. The project’s financing is being provided within the borrowing limits already envisaged in the state budget framework.

The Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity expressed its gratitude to the World Bank, the governments of Japan, the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as all international partners supporting reforms aimed at strengthening human capital, social resilience and Ukraine’s long-term recovery.

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