Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, and Tony Blair Institute for Global Change intensify cooperation on updating the Rural Development Strategy until 2030

On November 20, the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) held a meeting. The talks were attended by Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksii Sobolev, Deputy Minister Denys Bashlyk, and TBI Country Director in Ukraine, David Stephenson.

The participants of the event focused on issues of strengthening cooperation in strategic planning and reform of the agricultural sector, in particular with regards to updating the Strategy for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas in Ukraine until 2030.

The parties agreed that the updated Strategy should take into account the key challenges of wartime, the consequences of infrastructure degradation, climate change, land loss, and the need to modernize agricultural policy.

It was separately emphasized that the development of rural areas goes beyond agricultural production and encompasses comprehensive changes, in particular:

• job creation and support for local businesses;
• modernization of infrastructure, including irrigation systems;
• expanding farmers' access to finance, innovation, and modern technologies;
• developing processing and increasing the added value of products;
• land restoration and support for humanitarian demining;
• improving quality of life and sustainable community development.

It is these areas that will be key in the updated Strategy 2030, which will determine the long-term path for the recovery and modernization of Ukraine's agricultural sector after the war.

"The Rural Development Strategy until 2030 is a fundamental document. It will cover not only agricultural production, but also community development, infrastructure, processing, employment, energy sustainability, and innovation. Cooperation with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change will allow us to enhance the analytical base, attract international expertise, and transform the Strategy into a real tool for the transformation of the agricultural sector," said Oleksii Sobolev.

The meeting participants also discussed the possibility of creating a joint working group between the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, and TBI, which will be responsible for finalizing the 2030 Strategy. In particular, it will deal with the following:

• collecting information in the regions and conducting consultations with communities and farmers;
• preparing analytical materials and recommendations;
• coordinating with international partners to attract support.

TBI experts will participate in field trips, meetings with communities, and analysis of the needs of local producers, which will contribute to the formation of a practical, realistic, and effective strategy.

Cooperation with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change opens up new opportunities for modernizing agricultural policy, strengthens the strategic planning of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, and contributes to the formation of a modern, innovative, and sustainable model of development for Ukrainian rural areas.

Background information

The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that works with governments to develop and implement effective public policies. Since 2022, TBI has been supporting Ukraine by providing strategic, analytical, and technical assistance to central executive authorities.