Sweden and Ukraine Join Forces to Advance Local Recovery Efforts
Initiated within the framework of the Polaris Programme, SALAR International and the Recovery Agency of Ukraine discussed joint steps in supporting municipalities, or hromadas’, recovery. As part of a working visit to Ukraine, Ryan Knox, Managing Director of SALAR International met with Ivan Lukeria, Deputy Head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.
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The meeting was also attended by representatives of the WM4U: Strengthening Municipal Waste Management in Ukraine programme, implemented by SALAR International in partnership with the Swedish Waste Management and Recycling Association (Avfall Sverige). The participants discussed Sweden’s multilevel support for Ukrainian hromadas.
The parties reviewed the progress of Polaris partner hromadas’ projects under the “Locally-led Recovery” sphere within the Digital Restoration Ecosystem for Accountable Management (DREAM) system and discussed further areas for cooperation.
“Our Swedish–Ukrainian partnership is guided by the principle of Locally Led Recovery — ensuring that recovery efforts are driven by hromadas themselves, in close coordination with national institutions. The Agency plays a vital role in this process, and together we aim to strengthen cooperation and advance Ukraine’s sustainable recovery,” said Ryan Knox, Managing Director of SALAR International.
The discussion also focused on opportunities for continued collaboration between the Agency for Restoration and the programmes implemented by SALAR International in Ukraine, as well as on the leading role of the Agency and the DREAM system in ensuring effective local recovery and infrastructure development.
“The Agency for Restoration has extensive expertise in civil and social infrastructure, water supply, and energy efficiency. We are ready to be a reliable partner for hromadas in implementing these projects and to assist in the preparation and implementation of public investment initiatives,” emphasised Ivan Lukeria, Deputy Head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine.
