The State Agency for Recovery and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the GMF (The German Marshall Fund of the United States).
In Rome, on the eve of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), an event was held with the support of GMF in partnership with the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), dedicated to Ukraine’s institutional capacity. The event aimed to ensure transparent, effective, and accountable management of efforts to strengthen recovery.
One of the key topics discussed was the strategy to enhance institutional capacity at the municipal level and build reliable public-private partnerships that can accelerate Ukraine’s recovery and stimulate local economic growth.
The Ukrainian side, together with international partners and donors, also discussed the urgent task of transforming Ukraine’s fragmented recovery system into a sustainable, institutionally capable management architecture that can efficiently coordinate the long-term recovery process.
During the event, Recovery Agency Head Serhiy Sukhomlyn and GMF Executive Director Josh Rudolph signed the memorandum of cooperation between the Recovery Agency and The German Marshall Fund of the United States.
“The memorandum is a step towards strengthening the institutional capacity of the Recovery Agency in terms of expertise and developing effective solutions for the comprehensive recovery of Ukraine. One of the challenges for the state is precisely the quality expertise and prioritization of areas and objects of reconstruction, as well as the effective implementation of new tools and mechanisms,” said Serhiy Sukhomlyn.
He explained that expert councils have already been established within the Recovery Agency, comprising leading Ukrainian institutes, international technical consultants, and various associations.
These councils analyze recovery projects for alignment with strategies (local, regional, national), seek effective solutions, and develop specific projects.
The head of the Recovery Agency added that partners assisting in damaged infrastructure restoration also provide technical consultants. However, after project implementation, all expertise remains with them. The priority task of the Recovery Agency is to concentrate expertise internally. The memorandum signing with the Marshall Fund foresees training local specialists and strengthening the capacity of the existing expert councils within the Agency.
“We clearly understand that the challenges for Ukraine and the Recovery Agency are massive. These are large and complex projects across the country. And reconstruction must begin now, under the conditions of a complex governance system in Ukraine. This requires leadership, including from the head of the Agency. The entire international community, all international partners, donors, the government, and civil society in Ukraine and abroad must work with the Recovery Agency, offering technical assistance and other forms of support,” emphasized GMF Executive Director Josh Rudolph.
