The Ukraine Recovery Support for Transparency, Outreach, Resilience and Empowerment (U-RESTORE) project is launching the selection of 12 target communities in Zhytomyr and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.

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The U-RESTORE is a six-year program implemented by a consortium of organizations led by Cowater International and funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The aims to strengthen the resilience of local communities by fostering collaborative, inclusive, fair and transparent local recovery processes.

The project presentation for communities on 18 December was attended by Michael Rymek, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Canada to Ukraine; Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine; and representatives of implementing civil society organizations, ISAR Ednannia and the Ukrainian Women’s Fund.

“The support Ukraine has received from the Government of Canada for many years is especially valuable today. It is important that the initiative implemented by U-RESTORE together with Cowater International and the Ukrainian Women’s Fund strengthens the capacity of communities, which is exactly what supports people. According to the European Charter of Local Self-Government, capacity means a community’s ability to provide quality services to its residents. Ukrainian communities have already demonstrated their resilience and capacity by delivering these services even during a full-scale war, and this experience is valuable for municipalities around the world,” said Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.

“We are proud to support Ukraine’s recovery. I thank the communities for their resilience and dedication in these challenging times. Your work inspires and lays the foundation for innovation,” said Michael Rymek, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Canada to Ukraine.

“U-RESTORE seeks not only to rebuild infrastructure, but also to strengthen the capacity of communities to plan effectively, manage resources, and engage their communities in decision-making. We aim to ensure that recovery is transparent, inclusive, and responsive to the communities, including IDPs, people with disabilities, women, veterans,” said Jonas Christensen, U-RESTORE Project Team Leader.

Objectives

• Strengthening the capacity of local communities and central executive authorities to coordinate and manage recovery processes. The project promotes open, gender-sensitive, environmentally sustainable recovery processes that are in line with the priorities of local communities.
• Ensuring accountability and inclusiveness of the recovery process by involving civil society organizations, women's rights organizations, women, and vulnerable groups in communities in planning, decision-making, and monitoring of reconstruction processes.
• Implementing infrastructure recovery projects in communities, considering the needs of different social groups.

U-RESTORE covers 12 communities in Dnipropetrovska and Zhytomyrska oblasts with populations estimated to be between 5,000 and 80,000 people. Priority is given to communities that have been most affected by destruction, have a significant number of IDPs, are characterized by low socio-economic indicators, and face complex recovery challenges.

What will communities gain from participation in the U-RESTORE Project?

• Reconstruction investments – financing the renovation, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of social infrastructure (schools, medical facilities, kindergartens, etc.), with priority given to projects that improve access to services for women, children, people with disabilities, IDPs, and veterans;
• management capacity building – training the community team in recovery planning, investment management, working with the DREAM platform, and implementing transparent, gender-sensitive solutions;
• advisory support – expert guidance on project management and donor fundraising;
• access to partnerships – participation in the national dialogue on reconstruction, exchange of experience with other communities, and cooperation with donors and government structures;
• building social cohesion – involving CSOs, youth, and women in decision-making, as well as open consultations and dialogues to build trust within the community.

The total fund for supporting infrastructure projects in target communities is CAD 4 million. This fund will support projects to rebuild social infrastructure and equipment, as well as strategic investments in the development of local services and economic opportunities for communities.

Call for Applications with detailed information about the project: https://cutt.ly/WtaxTd8A

Application form: https://cutt.ly/4tatpU12

About Cowater International

Cowater International is a leading international consulting firm founded in 1985. The company is headquartered in Ottawa (Canada) with corporate centers in Helsinki (Finland), Berlin (Germany), Brussels (Belgium), London (United Kingdom), and other cities. Cowater International has successfully implemented over 3,000 projects in more than 100 countries worldwide. The company works with governments, private sector representatives, non-governmental organizations, and communities to implement projects that promote socio-economic development, strengthen institutions, improve the environment, and ensure equal opportunities for all.