WUF: Key Takeaways for Resilient and Effective Recovery
Last week, SALAR International participated in the thiteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan . The voices from Cities event "A place called home - recovery that lasts" invited a diverse range of actors to discuss national to local approaches towards a reslient and effective recovery.
From left: Ryan Knox, Serhii Reznik, Olena Shuliak, Grzegorz Gadja and Klas Groth.
Organised and moderated by SALAR International, the event explored the provision of housing and infrastructure in the Ukrainian recovery context. With at least 13% of the total housing stock being damaged or destroyed, affecting more than 2.5 million households, there is a need for effective instruments and frameworks for a targeted and sustainable recovery and reconstruction.
Ms Olena Shuliak (member of parliament) shared insights of Ukraine’s recovery agenda and priorities including perspectives of EU accession and digitalization. Mr Serhii Reznik, the mayor of Samar City, provided an overview of local efforts in establishing frameworks for recovery and development, and how the process engaged stakeholders and residents in the process. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Nordic Green Bank (Nefco) discussed the importance of linking planning to finance, shared insights on the priorities and mechanisms for financing, and the importance of leveraging financing towards a green transition. SALAR International provided an overview of the current Polaris Locally Led Recovery Programme and the importance of building upon the decentralisation gains to ensure transformative outcomes from recovery planning processes.
The discussions sparked a variety of perspectives and reflections, from which several key takeaways emerged:
- Recovery efforts must be locally anchored and inclusive to build ownership and sustainability
- Multi-level governance, including horizontal and vertical collaboration and coordination, makes recovery and development efforts more effective and transparent
- Evidence-driven and spatially-informed approaches to recovery planning is key for effective service delivery and for housing and infrastructure provision
- Holistic and integrated approaches in preparing strategies and plans for recovery should include action plans resulting in a pipeline of investment-ready and financially viable recovery projects
- Locally-led recovery planning can help prepare for a green transition and EU integration
Ultimately, recovery that lasts is built on more than infrastructure—it is grounded in people, institutions and shared vision. By strengthening local capacities and fostering collaboration across all levels, Ukraine’s recovery can become a catalyst for a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.