EU, Japan, and UNDP support a series of regional presentations on public investment management reform
The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, in partnership with the European Union (EU), the Government of Japan, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has concluded a series of regional presentations aimed at explaining public investment management (PIM) reform.
From late June to early August, the presentations took place in eight cities — Chernihiv, Dnipro, Kyiv, Lutsk, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Uzhhorod, and Vinnytsia — and reached participants from all 24 oblasts of Ukraine. More than 3,500 people joined the events both in-person and online — primarily representatives of local self-government bodies, oblast administrations, and regional development agencies, as well as subject-matter experts and the media.
The purpose of the presentation series was to provide detailed explanations of the key steps communities need to take in 2025 to implement PIM reform and secure funding from the state budget for reconstruction. Participants familiarized themselves with digital tools, including the DREAM ecosystem, and gained practical skills in strategic planning, project prioritization, the development of medium-term public investment plans, and the creation of a unified project portfolio. Active discussions with experts improved the participants’ understanding of the benefits of the reform and opportunities for accessing state funding.
Oleksii Riabykin, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of the reform for addressing regional development disparities: “This reform is the cornerstone of our future joint efforts to attract funding for the implementation of infrastructure projects that will improve people’s lives. Through this strategy, each community and region shape a vision for the comprehensive development of their territory. The Ministry is ready to help local authorities prepare and update strategies that consider people’s needs and demonstrate how those needs will be met. This reform opens access to funding from European structural funds in the future, as any strategy without financial resources is not viable; however, to obtain funding, clear strategic priorities are necessary.”
Henrik Huitfeldt, Acting Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, said: “The EU views public investment management reform as a vital step toward enhancing transparency and accountability across all levels of government. These regional presentations equipped local authorities with practical tools for planning and oversight, helping ensure effective use of public funds and higher-quality project implementation.”
Auke Lootsma, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, said: “This public investment management reform represents a fundamental shift toward evidence-based, community-driven development that will serve Ukraine both during reconstruction and beyond. By building local communities’ capacities to plan strategically and manage funds transparently, we’re not just helping with immediate recovery. We’re building institutional foundations that will allow Ukrainian communities to access funding and achieve sustainable development for decades. UNDP is committed to making sure this reform creates lasting systems that turn public investments into real improvements in people’s lives across all regions of Ukraine.”
Background
The series of events was organized jointly with the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, the DREAM Project Office, and the Open Contracting Partnership as part of the flagship “EU4Recovery — Empowering Communities in Ukraine” partnership between UNDP and the EU, as well as the “Inclusive Recovery Support for Resilience and Human Security in Ukraine” project, funded by the Government of Japan.
Media enquiries:
Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org