Introduction

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the built environment and critical infrastructure in Ukraine have been severely impacted also causing large humanitarian concerns for millions of civilians, including internally displaced persons and refugees.

The Ukrainian Government (GoU) has a strong ambition to ‘build back better’, making progress towards the SDGs with a specific focus on addressing climate change. This includes a desire for an overhaul of existing towns and neighbourhoods, which typically are mono-functional with inadequate provision of public space and access to public services and functions. Particular considerations need to be directed towards the changing demographics (including the increased number of people with disabilities) and economics in the country. National, regional and local economic development strategies need to be developed and implemented, including approaches for urban and territorial regeneration on local level. A sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine calls for the introduction of a systemic shift in the recovery planning and design of cities, towns and neighbourhoods in Ukraine, while also embedding measures to build capacity within the built environment professions, including urban planning.

The war has affected the availability of Ukrainian expertise within urban development, which was already scarce before the war, increasing the risk to jeopardise the ambition of Ukraine to Building Back Better. While several organisations have emerged to support the development of capacities in Ukraine on urban and territorial development and management, the access to knowledge and best practises on these issues is still limited.

The project aims at increasing access to global, regional and local cutting-edge knowledge, expertise as well as best practises that can inspire and enhance the capacities and expertise of Ukrainian stakeholders engaged in the recovery and reconstruction efforts.

Main activities to be carried out during the Assignment

Under the general supervision of UN-Habitat’s Head of Office in Ukraine, the selected Implementing Partner will be responsible for the development and broadcast of the following knowledge products:

1. Increased access to knowledge on urban issues, through the development of an online library or platform enhancing information sharing about the existing ecosystem for urban recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine. The information could include, but is not limited to key publications, articles, project reports, institutions/organisations, research papers, etc.
2. Short and online video series on specific knowledge topics related to recovery and reconstruction planning in Ukrainian areas. The videos should present approaches, lessons learned, recommendations, ideas in a short and concise format, similar to the Global Urban Lectures broadcasted by UN-Habitat (link: https://unhabitat.org/knowledge/global-urban-lectures). The videos should be made available on various online platform, to increase their visibility and accessibility, including UN-Habitat website, online video sharing platforms popular in Ukraine, etc.
3. Translation of relevant knowledge products into Ukrainian: publications, articles, research papers are often not accessible to a Ukrainian audience, due to language barriers. The project aims at making documents relevant for the Ukrainian context accessible to a Ukrainian audience, through online platforms.
4. Other products: Expressions of Interest can include proposals of additional knowledge products, in alignment with the above listed principles and within the available budget allocated to the project.

Overall timeframe

The work outlined in this EOI is scheduled to commence by 1 December 2024 and completed by 31 March 2025.

Submission requirements and contact information

Expression of Interest must be delivered by email no later than 8 November 2024 20:00 hrs (EET) to the e-mail address: unhabitat-ukraine@un.org.

Other

Please note that this EOI notice does not constitute a solicitation. UN-Habitat reserves the right to change or cancel this requirement at any time in the Expressions of Interest/or solicitation process. Submitting a reply to an EOI does not guarantee that a Cooperation Partner will be considered for receipt of the solicitation when issued and only Cooperation Partners who are deemed qualified by UN-Habitat upon completion of evaluation of submission, will receive the final solicitation document.