About

How it started

Photo: © UN4UkrainianCities

In April 2022, at the Second UNECE Forum of Mayors, the UN4Kharkiv and UN4Mykolaiv taskforces were established to support the reconstruction efforts in the cities of Kharkiv and Mykolaiv. The UN4Kharkiv taskforce was formed in response to the Mayor of Kharkiv’s invitation to the architect Norman Foster to lead the development of the reconstruction plan for the city’s future. Following this, in July 2022, the UN4Mykolaiv taskforce was formed to support the city of Mykolaiv in its reconstruction efforts, with the OneWorks Foundation joining the initiative to provide expertise and assistance in developing the city’s master plan. These taskforces, initially a small-budget UN collaboration, aimed to support both national and local governments in Ukraine in developing concept master plans for the cities of Kharkiv and Mykolaiv to “build back better”.
Photo: © UN4UkrainianCities

In June 2023, the taskforces evolved into a full-fledged project, UN4UkrainianCities, after receiving funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. With this support, the project set five specific objectives to guide its ongoing work in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv. Since then, the UN4UkrainianCities project has been working to create concept master plans, following a balanced, evidence-based, and participatory approach that links emergency and long-term strategic objectives.
Photo: © UN4UkrainianCities

As part of the UN4UkrainianCities project, two foundations have been actively involved in supporting the reconstruction efforts in Kharkiv and Mykolaiv. The Norman Foster Foundation brings its expertise to help create a concept master plan for Kharkiv, while the OneWorks Foundation focuses on supporting the rebuilding process in Mykolaiv. Both foundations collaborate closely with the respective city councils and local stakeholders to ensure that the concept master plans address each city’s unique challenges and opportunities while promoting sustainable and resilient urban development.

The master plan for Kharkiv is a pioneer for other Ukrainian cities. We are thinking of a future economic model for Kharkiv because besides beautiful architecture, we also need economic development for our citizens. It is a complex project that combines cultural & historical heritage, with green zones and scientific institutions.

- Ihor Terekhov, Mayor of Kharkiv, at a task force meeting on November 22, 2022
Nobody expects it to be easy to create a master plan for Mykolaiv, but I can see that local architects are taking into consideration all the requests of local inhabitants. I am sure that we will be able to rebuild a flourishing beautiful city that will attract tourists and economic partners.

-Mr. Dmytro Falko, Chairman, Mykolaiv City Council, Ukraine, at a task force meeting on November 22, 2022.

The Strategy

The UN4UkrainianCities project is committed to supporting Ukrainian cities in their journey towards sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban development. By working closely with national, regional, and local authorities, as well as engaging with civil society and local experts, the project aims to support the cities of Kharkiv and Mykolaiv rebuild and thrive in the face of adversity.

The project consists of five distinct components:

1
Revising national policy frameworks to create an enabling environment for housing
2
Conducting comprehensive assessments to understand the economic and demographic realities on the ground
3
Formulating pilot projects and attracting investment to translate vision into reality
4
Building capacity and promoting public participation to ensure the sustainability and legitimacy of the rebuilding process
5
Monitoring implementation and investments to track progress and ensure transparency

Impact

Since its inception, the UN4UkrainianCities project has made significant strides in supporting sustainable urban development in Ukraine:

Engaged local stakeholders in the planning process, ensuring inclusive and participatory decision-making

Trained local officials and experts in sustainable urban development practices, strengthening local capacity

Initiated 5 pilot projects focusing on affordable housing, sustainable mobility, green infrastructure, and inclusive public spaces

Established partnerships with international organizations, financial institutions, and private sector entities to support project implementation

Successfully advocated for the adoption of policy recommendations by national and local governments

Governance

The UN4UkrainianCities project is a collaborative effort, implemented by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, in close cooperation with the Ministry for Communities, Territories Development and Infrastructure of Ukraine and the city governments of Kharkiv and Mykolaiv.

UNECE also works closely with other UN agencies, international organizations, and local civil society groups to ensure a coordinated and effective response to the challenges facing Ukrainian cities.

Through this collaborative approach, UNECE aims to leverage the strengths and expertise of each partner to achieve the shared goal of sustainable, inclusive urban development in Ukraine.