The initiative "Strengthening Local Resilience. Support for Emergency Repairs in Communities" was launched within the framework of the U-LEAD with Europe project, co-funded by the EU and its member states in Germany, Sweden, Poland, Denmark, Estonia and Slovenia, in close cooperation with the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development. The goal is to help 100 communities that have been severely damaged by russian aggression by supporting emergency repairs.

"The role of communities in the recovery process is crucial, as they are the primary source of data and the driving force behind many processes. Strengthening the capacity of communities, supporting them on the ground now, before the war ends, is a basic condition for a quick and reasonable recovery in the future. Reconstruction can and should begin even before the victory, especially when it comes to facilities that need urgent restoration.

When planning the recovery, we as a Ministry laid down an approach in which each community could initiate projects on its own. After all, each community knows what they need to restore. This approach proved to be successful: 80% of all funded regional projects were submitted by local governments.

Thanks to U-LEAD with Europe, we will provide the necessary facilities for the fastest possible recovery in 100 more communities. Within the framework of the initiative "Strengthening Local Resilience. Support for Emergency Repairs in Communities" initiative, each community will have an opportunity to choose the assistance tools it needs, and, accordingly, to ensure the fulfillment of their urgent needs," said Oleksandra Azarkhina, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.

There are three areas in which support will be provided:

• Voucher Programme - the community chooses and receives the necessary construction materials in the store, the cost of which is reimbursed;
• Mobility package - the community receives a vehicle free of charge to help with local reconstruction;
• Toolkit package - the community receives a set of tools and equipment for repair and reconstruction.

"Strengthening local resilience. Support for Emergency Repairs in Communities" is being implemented, in part, thanks to the German government, which, through the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), has allocated additional funds to strengthen the resilience of Ukrainian communities and support their recovery efforts.