UNDP partners with the governments of Ukraine and Spain to restore war-damaged schools

Kyiv, 3 February 2025 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, with financial support from the Government of Spain, has launched the “Re-Envisioning Educational Facilities in Ukraine: Rehabilitation and Repairs of War-Damaged Social Infrastructure” project. This initiative emphasises energy-efficient reconstruction and the incorporation of alternative power systems, adhering to the Build Back Better principle. 

Scheduled for completion by the end of December 2026, the project aims to deliver significant energy efficiency improvements, including high-quality thermal insulated facades, terrace envelope systems to minimize heat loss during winter and heat absorbed in summer, solar hot water collectors, photovoltaic systems, efficient LED lighting, and movement sensors in the corridors. The renovations also prioritize inclusivity and gender-responsive standards, ensuring a secure and conducive learning environment. 

One school will undergo major repairs and serve as a “pilot school,” modernized in line with the “New School Concept” developed in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and contributing to Ukraine’s EU accession efforts. 

Oksen Lisovyi, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, underscored the project’s significance, and specifically the pilot school as a way of envisioning the whole educational system. “The key goal of the project is to ensure equal access to education in Ukraine despite the ongoing war. As part of a joint initiative with UNDP and Spain, eight schools in Volyn, Kyiv, Lviv, and Sumy oblasts will be restored by December 2026. This will enable over 5,000 students and 450 staff members to continue teaching and learning in safe and suitable premises.” 

The full-scale invasion has taken a devastating toll on Ukraine’s educational sector, with approximately 4,000 educational facilities being reported as damaged or destroyed since February 2022 according to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. This destruction has severely disrupted the learning process, affecting millions of children and prompting the urgent need for comprehensive restoration efforts. Rebuilding these schools is critical for not only restoring access to education, but also fostering resilience in war-affected communities. 

D. Ricardo López-Aranda Jagu, Ambassador of Spain to Ukraine, emphasized the importance of the project in the context of the Fast Recovery Plan of Ukraine, commenting, “We continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to enhance the educational sphere in these very challenging times. By retrofitting and restoring schools according to the Build Back Better approach, we enhance capacity in local communities and promote green, just, and fair educational recovery nationwide.” 

Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, said that as a result of power outages and the security situation all over the country, many children have struggled to study remotely. “These factors resulted in educational losses and socialization gaps among schoolchildren,” Cilliers noted. “Hence, our top priority is to ensure a continuous learning process for those deprived of access to education. Thanks to this Spain-UNDP cooperation, we can not only provide children and teachers with such an opportunity, but also integrate energy efficiency measures to set up a new standard for all Ukrainian schools.” 

Background 

The Third Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA3) stated that 13 percent of Ukraine’s educational infrastructure was war-damaged. Partnering with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), UNDP aims to renovate eight war-affected educational facilities with a total budget of EUR 4 million. Restoration efforts will focus on light and medium repair work at schools with damage rates equal to or below 60 percent, including the installation of energy-efficient equipment and compliance with principles of accessibility. 

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org