On 13 March 2024, a coordination meeting "Government Action Plan: Cooperation Opportunities" gathered together representatives of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and international partners.

The event marked the start of a new phase of cooperation aimed at joining forces to implement the Government's priorities for 2024.

The meeting was attended by State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleksandr Yarema, Deputy State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleh Voitovych, as well as representatives of international institutions and organisations, as well as international technical assistance projects.

"The key to the effective work of the state is coordinated and thorough planning, taking into account all priorities, needs, opportunities and responsibilities. The main tool for such planning is the Government's Annual Priority Action Plan. It covers all spheres of society, all areas of government policy, and all vectors of our country's development. This document helps the Government to organise its work and, even in difficult times, to activate the bureaucracy to achieve its goals. The Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers annually ensures the drafting of such a plan based on proposals from ministries and other central executive authorities, in particular, conducts coordination and methodological work on the preparation of the document, as well as monitors its implementation," said State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers Oleksandr Yarema.

This year's Government Action Plan has been developed based on the current needs of our society, international obligations, and the provisions of laws and decrees of the President of Ukraine. As in previous years, the Action Plan is synchronised with the Verkhovna Rada's legislative work plan for this year.

"In addition to coordinating the work within, it is also critical to achieve the expected results to work in a coordinated manner from the exterior, because by combining all efforts and accumulating all opportunities, we can all be stronger, more efficient and more sustainable. Today, there are more than 500 material and technical assistance projects in effect. The volume of assistance has increased many times in recent years, and we are grateful to our international partners for this. We are working actively not only to attract new international assistance, but also to increase the use of the potential of existing logistical assistance projects, contributing to their effectiveness by focusing on key tasks for the Government," said the State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

Deputy State Secretary Oleh Voitovych stressed the importance of involving certain initiatives and projects of international organisations in the specific tasks of the Government's Priority Action Plan for 2024, as well as continuing to work together in planning activities for 2025.

Representatives of international organisations and international assistance projects actively participated in the discussion of cooperation mechanisms with the Government, expressed their proposals and ideas for improving the effectiveness of such cooperation.

Concluding the meeting, UNDP Ukraine Deputy Resident Representative Christoforos Politis emphasised the critical importance of the Government's Priority Action Plan as a strategic tool that ensures more effective coordination and coherence between national authorities and international partners. Christoforos Politis also stressed that the plan would allow for greater focus and better alignment of international assistance with the country's recovery priorities and ensure effective targeting of support. He highlighted the importance of establishing benchmarks and key performance indicators that will ensure effective monitoring of progress in implementing the Plan.

According to the results of the War and People's Impact Assessment (a joint initiative of UNDP Ukraine and the United Nations, implemented at the request of the Government of Ukraine), the war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on human capital, living conditions, health, access to education, livelihoods, food security, social status, gender equality and women's empowerment.

Rebuilding a country is not only about rebuilding its infrastructure and institutions, but above all about healing and strengthening its greatest asset - its people. We need to understand that every investment in human capital has a far-reaching impact, transforming individual lives into a powerful catalyst for social and economic transformation," added Christoforos Politis.

Photo by Yaroslava Nemesh