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. Considerations need to be directed towards the changing demographics (including rapid aging and 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 providing contextual analysis on urban related issues in Ukraine, to better inform decision makers, and enhance the knowledge and expertise of Ukrainian stakeholders engaged in urban 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 Partners will be responsible for the drafting of thematic papers that will contribute to the development of an enabling environment for urban recovery in Ukraine, paving the way for an Urban Recovery Framework.

These papers should provide insightful, well-researched, and contextually relevant analyses that can enhance understanding of Ukraine’s current situation, inform policy decisions and contribute to academic discourse on the country’s challenges and opportunities.

UN-Habitat requests that proposals align with one or more of the following themes, although there is flexibility for further discussion and adaptation within the proposals:

• Housing
• Land and Property
• Planning: How Does Planning Work in Ukraine?
• Municipal Infrastructure and Services (residential related infrastructure)
• Municipal Government
• Built Environment Professionals and Education
• EU Accession: Urban and Building
• Decentralization and Recovery: Local Recovery Planning
• Citizenship: Urban Future

Proposals for one, several or all thematic papers will be accepted.

Overall timeframe

The work outlined in this RFP is scheduled to commence by 1 February 2025 and completed by 31 March 2025.

Submission requirements and contact information

Proposals must be delivered by email no later than 17 January 2025 [EC1] 17:00 hrs (EET) to the e-mail address: unhabitat-ukraine@un.org.

An information session will be held via Teams during the week of January 6^th. Interested parties can confirm their interest in participating in the information session, by filling out this form: https://forms.office.com/e/C60HzfXKPe

Other

This call is specifically for organizations. Individuals interested in applying should refer to the separate request for proposals intended for individuals, published on UN-Habitat website (for more information, please contact unhabitat-ukraine@un.org).