Minregion and the World Bank are expanding cooperation on housing

The ministry continues to develop cooperation with key international partners

Vitalii Bezghin, Minister for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons, met with Robert Saum, World Bank Regional Director for Eastern Europe.

The World Bank is one of Ukraine’s key partners in developing housing solutions. The partnership covers both support for people whose homes have been damaged by Russian aggression and systemic changes in housing policy.

“Today our task is to restore destroyed housing quickly despite continuing enemy attacks, while also building a housing system that will work for people after reconstruction is complete. That is why World Bank support is important to us, both for specific projects and for building a new comprehensive housing policy,” said Vitalii Bezghin, Minister for Communities, Territories and Internally Displaced Persons.

The meeting focused in detail on restoring damaged housing. The housing sector remains one of the hardest hit by Russian attacks, making it important to enable people to return to restored homes as soon as possible. Two key instruments are already operating: compensation under the eRecovery programme and comprehensive restoration of apartment buildings in communities. The World Bank is an important partner in both. This includes financing compensation payments under the HOPE project and major repairs to 204 apartment buildings in Bucha, Makariv, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia. Project documentation is currently at the final preparation stage. The next step is to begin restoration work, allowing thousands of families to return to normal life in their communities.

Another important area is the housing voucher programme for internally displaced persons from temporarily occupied territories, initially for veterans’ families. Implementing the programme remains a priority. They also discussed the importance of uninterrupted funding for housing vouchers and preparations for a new joint project with the World Bank that will mobilise additional resources.

Housing reform and the creation of a modern housing system received particular attention. As part of implementation of the Ukraine Facility Plan, the Law of Ukraine “On the Basic Principles of Housing Policy” has already been adopted, and two key draft laws on social housing and housing stock management, as well as the State Housing Policy Strategy, have been developed.

In parallel, work has begun on a unified housing information and analytical system. It is intended to combine data from state registers and form the basis for transparent housing records, administration of housing programmes, queue management and monitoring investment in reconstruction.

The outdated system of housing waiting lists should become a thing of the past. Ukraine should instead have a modern digital tool that makes it possible to see people’s actual housing needs and use available resources more effectively.

The meeting also addressed practical steps to develop social housing, including creating a coalition of international partners to help communities build social housing stocks. The World Bank was also invited to join such a coalition.

Another priority is strengthening community capacity, particularly in project management and recovery.