NIRAS in Ukraine: Committed to rebuilding

Our commitment to rebuilding Ukraine continued since the full-scale invasion in February 2022. This year, it has been further strengthened. Currently, we implement 18 projects in Ukraine covering more than 20 cities.

As a sign of this commitment, Alyona Filipenko, Senior Project Manager, and Jane Bech Larsen, Senior Project Director, attended the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), held 10 to 11 July in Rome, Italy. The conference was aimed at mobilising international support for Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation. There was a focus on four thematic dimensions (Business, Human, Local & Regional and EU integration), as well as private-sector engagement.

Alyona and Jane participated in sessions and meetings with representatives, local authorities, IFIs, donors and others. “These discussions provided us with valuable insights on the different aspects of the reconstruction effort,” says Alyona. “All highly relevant to NIRAS and our ability to deliver first-class services to our Ukrainian counterparts, be they government bodies or utilities.”

Ukrainian government bodies, as well as IFIs and donors, pay a lot of attention to investments in not only restoring but also modernising critical infrastructure, such as district heating and water. “Modernisation is a word we heard several times,” Alyona mentions. “The reason being that Ukraine wants to comply with all kinds of EU standards and best practices; the sooner, the better.”   

Private-sector engagement was high on the agenda. The private sector, in and outside Ukraine, may contribute to the financing of the rebuilding while at the same time enabling the private sector to develop its business further. Many Ukrainian companies are very much interested in exploiting the possibilities of increasing exports to the EU and, in this connection, value-adding.  In the words of Jane: “In addition to complying with EU regulations, they want to develop their business in a way which ensures they move up the value chain.”

In the coming months, Alyona and Jane, assisted by their colleagues, will follow up on discussions and conversations at the conference. “There are meetings to come with regional and municipal leaders, potential new partners and others,” Alyona says. “Ideas are many. Together we may explore how to address these. Face-to-face in Ukraine or online.” Adding after a while: “In fact, we are open for dialogue with all parties seriously interested in contributing to rebuilding Ukraine.”

This Insight piece was co-written by Alyona Filipenko, Jane Bech Larsen and Jesper Karup Pedersen.