Re: Building Ukraine For All: Inclusive Recovery, Resilient Ukraine - the Report

This policy brief has been prepared in the framework of the project "Re: Building Ukraine For All: Inclusive Recovery, Resilient Ukraine" funded by the Oxford Policy Engagement Network (OPEN)

To cite this Policy Brief: Baetens, F., Kopytsia, I., Dvornichenko, D. (2024). RE: BUILDING UKRAINE FOR ALL: Recommendations for Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025. University of Oxford.

Download the full report RE: BUILDING UKRAINE FOR ALL: Recommendations for Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025

As Ukraine faces unprecedented challenges in the wake of ongoing conflict, this policy brief provides crucial insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders involved in the nation's reconstruction.

In-Depth Challenge Assessment
From environmental degradation to demographic crises, the brief provides a detailed analysis of seven key challenges facing Ukraine's recovery efforts.

Inclusive Recovery Defined
The brief proposes a comprehensive definition of inclusive recovery, emphasizing equitable resource distribution and participatory decision-making.

Real-Time Policy Challenges
The brief critically examines existing policies, highlighting inconsistencies and gaps in Ukraine's current approach to recovery.  

Policy Recommendations
The upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025, to be hosted in Italy, marks a crucial milestone in Ukraine's journey towards recovery and reconstruction. This policy brief outlines key recommendations and strategies for Conference organizers and beyond to ensure an inclusive, sustainable, and effective recovery process.

Tri-Force Roadmap
Ukraine’s security, EU partnership track, and recovery efforts must be integrated into a unified plan as these elements are deeply interconnected. The scale of damage and required funding for recovery are tied to Ukraine’s defence capabilities, so recovery discussions should align with clear strategies for ensuring physical security. The EU accession process can serve as a guiding framework, offering benchmarks and best practices, but these need to be tailored to Ukraine’s unique post-conflict circumstances. The goal is a recovery roadmap that aligns Ukraine closer to the EU, backed by concrete security guarantees.

Dual-Track Planning
It is critical to design short-term and long-term recovery plans. Recovery perceptions vary across Ukrainian society, influenced by geography, proximity to conflict, and generational differences. Frontline areas prioritise safety and basic needs, while other regions focus on economic development. International stakeholders often emphasise longer-term macro-level recovery, while Ukrainians seek immediate improvements like infrastructure and jobs. Dual-track planning is essential to address these varied needs, balancing short-term and long-term strategies that reflect and address the actual situation on the ground. This will enable all parties to plan funding and interventions accordingly, avoiding the creation of unrealistic expectations.

Progress Pulse
Recovery plans must reflect the current security and political landscape to be realistic and actionable. Regular assessments of human capital and affected communities are critical for informed planning. Local stakeholders should be engaged to understand political dynamics, and flexible strategies must adapt to changing circumstances. Transparent progress tracking, leadership stability in key agencies, and prioritising immediate security concerns while planning long-term stability are vital to sustained recovery efforts.

Reconsidering Recovery Funding
A clear distinction between short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans is crucial for effective recovery. Current efforts, like the Ukraine Facility, focus on institutional support, but a shift toward a ‘people-first’ strategy is needed. Direct support for citizens and civil society will lead to a more resilient recovery. This requires reassessing funding mechanisms to ensure resources reach local communities, with transparent, accountable systems for fund allocation and impact measurement.

Investing in Energy Transition
Energy transition is central to Ukraine’s recovery. The next Ukraine Recovery Conference should prioritise attracting domestic and international investors by streamlining regulatory processes, offering incentives, and showcasing investment-ready projects. Workshops on green financing, capacity-building, and risk mitigation, along with investor dialogues, will help create a stable investment climate. The conference should conclude with a clear long-term energy transition roadmap, signalling Ukraine’s commitment to a sustainable future.

Elevating Gender, Education, and Health
Gender equality, education, and mental health deserve dedicated attention at URC 2025 through side events. These issues, often overshadowed by infrastructure needs, are crucial to long-term social resilience. Focused sessions can generate actionable recommendations that should be highlighted in the main conference agenda, emphasising their foundational role in Ukraine’s inclusive recovery.