Ukraine's future is urban. The country's vision for transparent, inclusive, and sustainable recovery creates an opportunity to build resilient, liveable communities for all in Ukraine. Our vision is that Ukraine's urban future is sustainable, inclusive and safe, allowing for resilient—communities to not only recover from this crisis but emerge stronger.

Acknowledging the importance of multi-sectoral expertise, UN-Habitat has established the Ukraine Urban Lab. The Lab serves as a collaborative platform bringing together local authorities, civil society, academia, as well as national and international partners to co-create evidence-based solutions for urban recovery grounded in local needs and global best practices.

Our work focuses on addressing not only the physical reconstruction of structures but equally the strengthening of governance, institutions, and human capital. We promote integrated, area-based approaches based on participatory assessments and urban planning methodologies; working across sectors and mainstreaming climate resilience and gender responsiveness. Many of our projects directly improve the lives of women, youth, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and displaced populations.

UN-Habitat aims to improve the lives, living conditions, and opportunities for everyone in Ukraine.

UN-Habitat's mission is to support Ukraine's efforts towards inclusive and resilient urban recovery through sustainable, evidence-based approaches. In the current context, community participation in planning and implementation is crucial. UN-Habitat applies participatory approaches throughout the entire project cycle, placing Ukrainian people at the centre of attention, supporting democratization progress and ensuring recovery planning addresses local needs whilst advancing towards regional standards and global best practices.

UN-Habitat works closely with municipalities, civil society, academia, and communities across the country to:

• Link spatial analysis and recovery strategies to prioritise interventions and inform capital investment decisions
• Provide policy advice on housing, land, urban planning, and governance
• Strengthen capacities of local authorities and support educational programmes for urban recovery professionals
• Implement digital transformation and smart-city solutions for data-driven planning
• Design public spaces that support social cohesion and community resilience
• Strengthen urban service providers, including water and sanitation systems
• Produce knowledge and tools for better-informed interventions

Towards Inclusive and Resilient Urban Recovery in Ukraine (Donor: BMZ Germany) – advancing policy development, spatial planning, and capacity building in the Kyiv, Lviv, and Poltava regions. 

Just Transition: Digital Tools for Recovery (Donor: BMZ Germany) – developing digital solutions to support sustainable, people-centred recovery, data-driven planning, and smart city approaches. Implemented through UNITAC. 

Strengthening Water and Sanitation Service Providers (Donor: UNICEF) – establishing water operator partnerships in Zaporizhzhia city, Zaporizhzhia region, and Kryvyi Rih, with support from GWOPA.