UNECE Executive Secretary Participates in High-Level Conference on the Development of Ukraine’s State Housing Policy Strategy
© Press Service of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine
On 17 June, a high-level conference titled “Towards the Development of the State Housing Policy Strategy” was held in Kyiv. The event was organized by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine in cooperation with the World Bank Group and international partners.
Opening the event, Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine – Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, Mr. Oleksii Kuleba, thanked international partners for their continued support in advancing housing reform. He emphasized that housing policy is one of the Ministry’s key priorities. In particular, he highlighted that a central element of the upcoming Strategy will be a compensation programme for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from temporarily occupied territories who have lost their homes.
Deputy Minister Ms. Nataliia Kozlovska presented the draft framework of the Strategy, developed in close cooperation with international partners and representatives of the Government of Ukraine. During the panel discussion, she underscored the strong support by United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), which has been instrumental to align Ukraine’s housing policy with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly regarding access to adequate and affordable housing.
“The foundations of this reform have already been laid through the draft Law of Ukraine ‘On the Fundamental Principles of State Housing Policy’, developed as part of the Ukraine Facility Plan. The Strategy must now define clear priorities for the strategic planning period: Who are the target beneficiaries? How will support be provided? What funding sources will be used? We understand that streamlining affordable housing programmes will require systemic regulatory and financial reforms. We must work together to expand access to mortgage lending with minimal budget impact, by leveraging private capital and the support of international partners. Our goal is to develop a reliable, secure model for housing finance and investment. While the Ministry has already made progress in this area, it is vital that we coordinate our actions with key national institutions and our international partners.”
In her remarks, UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean emphasized the organization’s expertise in promoting best practices for inclusive and sustainable housing policy.
“We are committed to helping Ukraine build a modern and effective housing policy rooted in the principles of the Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The conference also featured a presentation of the UN4UkrainianCities project, which was established to support the Government of Ukraine and local authorities during this critical period of recovery, reform, and transformation.
Under the first phase of the project, UNECE provided expert and technical assistance to the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine in convening the Working Group that developed the draft Law “On the Fundamental Principles of State Housing Policy”, and delivered a set of recommendations for amending related legislation.
Capacity-building activities strengthened the institutional readiness of both national ministries and local governments.
The second phase of the project, which is already underway, focuses on providing systematic support for the development of Ukraine’s National Housing Strategy and the preparation of a new law “On Social Rental Housing”.
Mission to Ukraine
On 18 June, the UNECE concluded a successful mission to Ukraine, reaffirming its strong commitment to supporting the country’s sustainable recovery and legislative development.
The mission, led by UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean, began on 16 June and included a series of high-level meetings with key stakeholders from the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada), Ukraine Ministries, UN partners, and Embassies. The visit focused on strengthening cooperation in the areas of housing, urban development, public-private partnerships, environment, energy and legislative reform.
Ahead of the official event on 17 June, the delegation held in-depth discussions with the heads of the Verkhovna Rada Committees on Energy and Housing and Communal Services, on the Organization of State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning, and on Environmental Policy. This meeting centered on the draft Law “On the Fundamental Principles of State Housing Policy,” and Ukraine’s broader legislative agenda, exploring how UNECE can contribute its expertise and tools in support of the country’s recovery and policy transformation.
The Executive Secretary also met with UN Resident Coordinator Matthias Schmale to better understand the landscape of UN activities in Ukraine and to identify opportunities for synergy. These efforts were further reinforced during a UN Country Team meeting, where more than ten UN entities engaged in discussions on enhanced collaboration and coordinated efforts for the upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference.
Discussions with the Head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Economic Development highlighted the importance of advancing the draft law on Public-Private Partnerships, an essential step toward mobilizing investment and innovation in Ukraine’s recovery. The mission concluded with a meeting with Ms. Olena Kondratyuk, Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada, who underscored the significance of international support, while the Executive Secretary reiterated UNECE’s readiness to assist in shaping Ukraine’s legislative and recovery agenda.
In parallel, the UN4UkrainianCities team held meetings with UN-Habitat, UNOPS, and UNDP to explore expanded collaboration within the project’s framework, particularly in housing and urban planning areas that remain critical for building back better, fairer, and more resilient cities across Ukraine.
This mission marks a pivotal step in reinforcing UNECE’s partnership with Ukraine at a time when recovery efforts demand strategic coordination and inclusive policy frameworks. Through continued engagement, UNECE stands ready to support Ukraine in translating its recovery vision into tangible results for communities and cities nationwide.
