UKRAINE: WOMEN DRIVING GENDER-RESPONSIVE RECOVERY

Ahead of the 5th Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), and amid the escalation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery for Ukraine convened a networking event in Gdańsk to underscore the importance of women’s leadership in Ukraine’s recovery.

Photo: UN Women

Gdańsk, 25 June 2026 – On the eve of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Poland, the Alliance for Gender Responsive and Inclusive Recovery gathered to highlight the critical role of women in Ukraine’s recovery and to exchange best practices for advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. The event brought together senior government officials, international representatives, civil society and private-sector leaders who reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that Ukraine’s recovery is inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all citizens.

The Alliance met against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukraine and a worsening humanitarian situation. Between January and May 2026, civilian casualties among women and girls increased by an estimated 34% compared with the same period in 2025, underscoring the disproportionate impact of the war on women and the urgency of gender-responsive recovery efforts.

At the same time, the recovery process continues across Ukraine. From rebuilding critical infrastructure and restoring livelihoods to advancing reforms on the path toward European Union membership, women are playing a leading role in shaping the country’s future. Recognizing this contribution, the Alliance remains committed to ensuring that recovery investments address women’s needs, reduce gender inequalities, and promote women’s participation in decision-making.

On the sidelines of the conference, Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, said: “Ukraine is entering a new stage of both recovery and European integration. The opening of Cluster 1 Fundamentals is an important step in advancing gender equality and strengthening fundamental rights as part of Ukraine’s transformation. As we move forward, progress should be measured by tangible changes in people’s everyday lives. Our goal is to ensure that gender-responsive approaches are integrated across all recovery policies and investments, in line with European standards and with practical impact at national and regional levels. We are proud that women are leading many of these efforts, and as Ukraine advances reforms on its path to EU membership, we remain committed to strengthening gender equality across all sectors.”

Launched by the governments of Ukraine and Germany with the support of UN Women during the URC2024 in Berlin, the multi-stakeholder Alliance brings together around 120 partners. Since the last year’s URC, 22 members representing state, private and public sectors, joined, including, the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation (AICS), the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI),  IFC – World Bank Group, and Epicentr K.

The meeting in Gdańsk opened with the arrival of the “She Drives to URC2026” bus: Ukrainian female bus driver drove all the way to Gdańsk to raise awareness for women’s growing leadership in Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, including in sectors where they have traditionally been underrepresented, such as in transportation, energy, construction and mine action. Participants then engaged in discussions on how to strengthen gender mainstreaming across all dimensions of recovery, in line with the key pillars of URC2026: local and regional development, EU accession and reforms, business, human capital, security and defense.

Opening remarks were delivered by Niels Annen, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, Kateryna Levchenko, Ukraine’s Government Commissioner for Gender Policy and Belén Sanz Luque, UN Women, Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, as well as by other Alliance members. 

A central focus of the evening was a series of five thematic roundtable discussions showcasing practical solutions and proven approaches to advance Alliance aims across critical recovery sectors. Participants explored practical examples of gender-responsive recovery presented by the Alliance members across the five URC pillars: Iryna Shynkarenko (Epicentr K) on business, Kateryna Datsko (“She Drives to URC2026”) on human capital, Sofia Burtak (Rural Women’s Business Network) on local and regional development, Kristina Mikulova (European Investment Bank) on EU accession and reforms, and Natalia Machalina (Gender in Detail) on security and defense.

Niels Annen, State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany: “Joining the forces of our members, we contribute to strengthening the role of women in Ukraine’s recovery. In the 5th year of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and in light of a geopolitical climate that increasingly questions the importance of gender equality and inclusion, our response must be clear and unwavering: Inclusive recovery is not optional but a prerequisite for Ukraine’s resilience, sustainable peace and post-war development.”

Kateryna Levchenko, Ukraine’s Government Commissioner for Gender Policy: “Over the past two years, Alliance has grown into something really special, something much bigger than a platform for discussion. It is now a real driving force, bringing together governments, international organizations, businesses, and civil society around one clear goal: making Ukraine’s recovery truly inclusive and equitable. We should emphasize the fact that defence, recovery, progress towards EU membership, accountability for international crimes and reparations for survivors are linked elements of Ukraine’s rebuilding. Because recovery is not just about bricks and windows. It is about women and men, girls and boys, about communication, justice, Ukrainian identity and opportunities for everyone.”

Belén Sanz Luque, Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia: “Women in Ukraine continue to demonstrate extraordinary strength and leadership. At a time of funding cuts and growing pushback against gender equality across the region, Ukraine stands out as a place where women are stepping into new roles, driving recovery efforts, sustaining communities, and contributing across all sectors. UN Women is proud to support the Alliance and efforts to make Ukraine’s recovery more gender-responsive, and hopes to see more women meaningfully represented at negotiation tables to help bring Ukraine closer to a just and sustainable peace.”

The event concluded with a clear call to action to continue to fund women’s rights organizations in Ukraine, to support programs that include women and their needs, and to ensure that women are fully participating in decision making on recovery to ensure Ukraine’s sustainable European future.

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