Dialogue, collaboration, and sustainable development: key outcomes of the Recovery Forum

The Zaporizhzhia Recovery Forum, held on February 27, 2024, has become an important step towards open dialogue and cooperation among authorities, civil society, business, and international partners for the post-war recovery and development of the city.

The event brought together dozens of speakers from various sectors: regional and local governments, the expert and scientific community, project managers from the non-governmental sector, activists and volunteers, the Youth Council, etc. During the four panel discussions, experts discussed opportunities for the further development of Zaporizhzhia and territorial communities in the region. The forum participants shared their experience of cooperation with international partners and outlined local (regional) concerns to address while working on post-war reconstruction and integration with the European Union.

Viktoriia Agientaieva, Director of the City Development Institute of Zaporizhzhia, also joined this event. She moderated a panel discussion “Zaporizhzhia after the war: where are we heading and how?” focused on the key aspects of the city’s post-war development. The panelists discussed the following topics:

  • The high priority of Zaporizhzhia’s recovery, with an emphasis on active involvement in this process by both the authorities and the public.
  • The importance of international support, the visibility of assistance, and expressing public gratitude to our partners: twin cities Oberhausen, Magdeburg, and others, GIZ, USAID, and other technical assistance programs.
  • Restoration projects carried out by the city authorities, particularly with state funds, their progress, transparency, and accountability.
  • Green recovery as a priority, including the development of a municipal program to reduce emissions of harmful substances.
  • Promotion of large development projects and plans, including the presentation of the draft City Recovery and Development Plan 2027 at international events.

The event was organized by Ecosense NGO within the Recovery Council as a Tool for Engaging Civil Society in Green Recovery of Ukraine to Achieve Resilience and Democracy project, with the financial support of the UK Government.