Building Forward Better
Review of sustainable recovery frameworks and lessons for Ukraine
This report summary reviews global sustainable recovery frameworks and draws lessons for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. It highlights the importance of embedding sustainability and resilience across governance, planning, and finance systems, aligning with European Union (EU) standards, strengthening local capacity, and integrating green certification and climate safeguards into infrastructure rebuilding efforts.
Policy Recommendations
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National policy-makers should develop a unified green recovery strategy that embeds sustainability, resilience, and climate neutrality across sectors, aligning with EU environmental standards and Ukraine's long-term reconstruction goals.
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Local governments should be supported to strengthen institutional capacity through staffing, training, and partnerships to integrate green principles into recovery planning and deliver sustainable infrastructure projects.
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Development partners and international financial institutions should better coordinate ESG safeguards, financing conditions, and technical assistance to reduce fragmentation and enable a coherent, country-led green recovery.
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The Government of Ukraine and DREAM administrators should expand DREAM's functionality by integrating environmental sustainability indicators, highlighting model projects, and incorporating an emissions calculator and other user-friendly tools to guide sustainable reconstruction approaches.
Ukraine's post-war recovery may become one of the most ambitious reconstruction efforts of the 21st century. As of late 2024, due to immense damages caused by Russia's invasion, Ukraine faces over USD 524 billion in long-term recovery needs. This presents not only a monumental challenge but also a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build forward better, embedding sustainability, resilience, and climate alignment at the core of reconstruction.
This report summary reviews global sustainable infrastructure recovery frameworks and identifies key lessons for Ukraine. It draws from international experiences—such as the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility, post-disaster efforts in Croatia and the United States, and local recovery in Trostianets—to highlight how coordinated, inclusive, and sustainability-focused planning can drive systemic transformation.
The analysis underscores the need for a unified national cross-sectoral green recovery strategy, aligned with EU standards and financing tools and supported by strong local capacities and clear implementation guidance. It highlights the role of international financial institutions in mainstreaming environmental, social, and governance (ESG) safeguards, the potential of green building and infrastructure certification schemes, and the importance of strengthening planning tools like the Digital Restoration Ecosystem for Accountable Management (DREAM) platform to track environmental and climate performance.
Ukraine's reconstruction will shape its long-term trajectory economically, socially, and environmentally. Ensuring that recovery efforts are aligned with green and resilient development pathways is essential for a more sustainable and inclusive future.
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