Restoration projects funded by the EIB underway: Ministry for Communities and Territories Development

At the request of communities, the construction of food factories has been added to the list of areas of support as a necessity for providing for IDPs and local residents, as well as for saving resources.

In Ukraine, 335 recovery projects worth almost EUR 585 million are being implemented under financial agreements with the European Investment Bank. Communities are implementing their initiatives thanks to the Ukraine Early Recovery Programme, the Ukraine Recovery Programme, and the Ukraine Recovery III Programme.

These programs provide funding for important social infrastructure:

• repair and construction of schools and medical facilities;
• restoration of water supply and sanitation systems;
• insulation and modernization of public buildings;
• construction of social housing;
• creation of conditions for internally displaced persons and host communities.

Communities participate in financing their projects and cover at least 20% of their cost.

Since 2024, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development has been conducting an open competition for projects in the DREAM system. Communities submit applications, receive assessment, and a commission — with the participation of representatives of ministries and the public — reviews them online in a transparent manner. All information about the competition is open.

Following consultations with the EIB during the URC 2025 conference in Rome, another area of support was added to the list: the construction of factory kitchens in communities.

This decision will enable communities to obtain modern, energy-efficient facilities for centralized food preparation, reduce the cost of maintaining food service facilities, and improve the quality and safety of food for children and other population groups.

As a result, the new area of support is a response to the growing need to expand the support program for communities facing additional challenges during the war, such as the need to provide food for large groups of internally displaced persons, maintain the stable operation of social institutions, and optimize resources in conditions of limited funding.

"We are grateful to the European Investment Bank for supporting important infrastructure projects. This year, together with the EIB, we are implementing another initiative — the construction of five factory kitchens. This model of school nutrition has already proven its effectiveness: it saves money and provides children with high-quality and safe food. Factory kitchens can also help other categories of the population, in particular internally displaced persons," said Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine — Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba.

This year, it is recommended to build kitchen factories in five communities:

• Zaporizhzhia and Lebedyn — frontline territories with special requirements for food transportation and storage;
• Vyshneve and Vinnytsia — communities that host large numbers of internally displaced persons;
• Sheptytskyi in the west of the country — to provide displaced persons with quality food and support community stability.

In accordance with procedures, all recommended projects will be submitted to the European Investment Bank for approval. This is also one of the guarantees of transparent, targeted, and accountable use of funds from donors and international partners.

In 2023, the first food factory kitchen was opened in Bucha with financial support from The Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The enterprise prepares about 7,500 meals daily for 16 local schools.

Kitchen factories are modern enterprises that centrally prepare and deliver food to schools in one or more communities. They operate using Cook&Chill technology: meals are prepared, quickly cooled to +3°C, stored in safe conditions, and reheated in school kitchens before serving. The entire process, from preparation to serving, takes no more than 24 hours, which meets sanitary safety requirements. This reduces water and electricity costs and ensures food safety and stable supply.

The launch of such enterprises is being implemented through interdepartmental cooperation between the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Health, and other agencies. The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development coordinates the implementation of these projects through the DREAM digital platform, which ensures transparent planning, management, and monitoring at all stages.