Ukraine launches project to support gender-responsive and inclusive recovery and European integration

The European Union Delegation to Ukraine and UN Women in Ukraine have signed an agreement to launch the Gender Equality Facility project. The signing ceremony took place with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka, EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women Kirsi Madi, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Matthias Schmale.

The project is a technical assistance initiative aimed at accelerating gender-responsive reforms on Ukraine’s path to EU membership. Funded by the EU, the project will provide the Government of Ukraine with essential expert knowledge and tools to integrate gender equality principles across all areas of state policy, recovery planning, and legislation development.

“In building a systematic and technically sound process of European integration, gender equality and consideration of the needs of different population groups must be cross-cutting elements,” noted Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka. “The project is extremely important to ensure that Ukraine’s recovery is not only rapid but also inclusive and aligned with European Union standards. We are grateful to our partners for their support.”

Key objectives of the project:

• Harmonisation with the EU: Strengthening the capacity of national institutions to implement the EU acquis in the field of gender equality.
• Technical support: Providing tools for mainstreaming the gender approach at central and local levels.
• Data-driven policy: Expanding the use of sex-disaggregated data for shaping national recovery strategies and reporting.
• Institutional strengthening: Supporting the Government Commissioner for Gender Policy and executive authorities in implementing the State Strategy for Ensuring Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men until 2030.

Deputy Executive Director of UN Women Kirsi Madi remarked that the Together for Gender Equality: Ukraine and the EU project reflects the unique value that UN Women brings to Ukraine’s development and its path to EU accession. She stressed that gender equality is not an additional element in the European integration process but a key requirement. Through the project, UN Women provides specialised expert support that combines EU standards with national reform processes, ensuring the integration of gender equality principles into policies, institutions, and practical implementation, as well as alignment with international gender equality commitments. According to her, UN Women is proud to be part of this important work alongside its partners in the Government of Ukraine and the European Union, especially at this critical time when Ukraine is developing its third National Action Plan on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution “Women, Peace and Security” for 2026–2030 amid the ongoing war.

EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová noted that even in times of war, Ukraine continues to advance gender equality, which is a core value of the European Union and a fundamental component of the accession process. According to her, through the Together for Gender Equality: Ukraine and the EU project, the European Union is supporting Ukraine in aligning its legal framework with the EU acquis and integrating gender equality into recovery and reconstruction processes, thereby bringing Ukraine closer to the EU in legislative, practical, and value-based terms.

UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Matthias Schmale emphasised that the project will help accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals in Ukraine.