The BE-Relieve Ukraine Programme (PROGR_UKR) is part of a broader Belgian effort to contribute to Ukraine’s recovery and resilience against Russian aggression. By leveraging Belgian and European expertise, Enabel aims to reinforce Ukraine’s progress toward a resilient and EU-aligned future.
The 4-year Programme reaffirms Belgium’s support in mitigating the impacts of the war and ensuring Ukraine’s sustainable development. The activities will address pressing reconstruction needs and contribute to long-term systemic change, strengthening the foundation for Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
Enabel’s efforts in Ukraine will focus mainly on the Kyiv region, Kyiv city and the Chernihiv region, areas with substantial physical damage to critical infrastructure, essential to the social and economic functioning of local communities. The objective is to accelerate the green reconstruction and recovery that allows the return, protection and development of target populations.
To implement the BE-Relieve Ukraine programme, Enabel will partner with:
- Government of Ukraine (Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Economy, Ministry for Communities and Territories Development)
- National agencies and services (National Qualifications Agency of Ukraine, National Health Service of Ukraine, State Employment Service)
- Decentralised authorities (Kyiv and Chernihiv regional state administrations, Kyiv City Administration and other local authorities)
- Service providers (health service providers, VET schools, training centres of the State Employment Service)
- Team Belgium actors and European partners.
During implementation, new partners will be identified based on opportunities for increased impact.
The Programme is designed with particular attention to three domains:
1. Energy and Circular Construction
Russia’s deliberate attacks on Ukraine have resulted in extensive destruction of energy production facilities and public infrastructure. BE-Relieve Ukraine aims to support the country’s energy and construction sectors by promoting the Build Back Better (BBB) approach and transition to a decarbonized, circular economy.
In this domain, the key pillars of the Programme are:
Constructing and renovating functional bomb and fallout shelters to enhance the resilience of public infrastructure.
Contribute to the efforts to reduce energy dependency and ensure continuous access to energy and heating for critical social infrastructure with the help of mobile and modular technologies (high-capacity generators, mobile boiler units, heat pumps).
- Green construction and energy efficiency
Conducting energy audits and implementing energy-efficient and green building practices in public spaces, piloting these innovations in Soviet-era schools and hospitals.
- Education and capacity-building
Incorporating new technologies and techniques into the curriculum to equip students in the construction sector with skills in energy efficiency and BBB practices.
- Collaboration between Belgium and Ukraine
Supporting joint ventures that pioneer innovative green and circular approaches and products in the construction sector.
2. Health and Social Protection
As the government spends most of its budget on the war effort, the health and social protection sectors face increased needs and diminished resources. For these sectors, BE-Relieve will focus on reconstruction and improvement of service delivery, with a focus on physical rehabilitation & mental health.
The core aspects of the Programme in the Health and Social protection domain are:
- Support in the policy adaptation to EU accession
Supporting the development of inclusive and barrier-free policies, regulations and standards and engaging in inputs to academic and educational reform.
- Inclusive and holistic approach to rehabilitation
Supporting the development and piloting of a patient pathway to rehabilitation, aspiring for a sustainable model of the evidence-based patient-centred ecosystem for trauma and physical rehabilitation.
Construction, rehabilitation and equipment of rehabilitation facilities following Build Back Better principles. The investments will be in regional cluster hospitals in Kyiv region, Kyiv city and Chernihiv, based on exchanges with local authorities, and validated with the national Ministry of Health.
- Skills development for rehabilitation services
Contributing to dedicated training for medical professionals specialising in rehabilitation therapies to tackle the shortage of skilled staff (short-term exchanges, targeted courses, and longer-term, curriculum-based interventions facilitated by collaboration between Ukraine-Belgium educational institutions).
Promoting advanced medical technologies such as advanced complex surgery with implants or
production of assistive technologies, combined with the development of training and mechanisms for sustainability, equitable access and standardization of the technology of regional blood transfusion center.
3. Education and Skills Development
Education and Vocational Training have been disrupted, with many learners relying on online learning due to safety concerns. The VET system faces challenges in funding and infrastructure, and the gap between labour market supply and demand is becoming more critical. By leveraging Belgian and European expertise, the BE-Relieve Ukraine Programme aims to ensure that vocational education and training serve as a cornerstone for sustainable recovery and prosperity.
Enabel’s key priorities in this domain are:
- Decent access to education
Addressing urgent repairs and rebuilding efforts to create inclusive educational environments in the target regions, Kyiv and Chernihiv.
Supporting joint PPP initiatives to decrease skills mismatch and introduce modern vocational skills development programs.
Covering capacity-building programs both for VET principals and VET teachers on advances in management and pedagogical technologies aligned with the VET sector.
- Partnership and cohesion with labour markets
Addressing skills mismatches and unemployment through upskilling, work-readiness programs, career guidance, entrepreneurship support, and job placement.
Focusing our activities on building and equipping the Centers of Inclusive Vocational Excellence specifically in the construction sector.
- Journey to inclusive excellence
Development or updating of curricula and training materials, provision of upskilling and reskilling training programs with specific attention for women, vulnerable youth, veterans.
Support of twinning projects; bringing Belgian/EU expertise; applying specific instruments/tools (preparing people to absorb EU Social Fund; support of cooperation between Ukrainian and Belgian private sector; shared management approach (PPP).