On 25 February, the updated fourth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4) for Ukraine, prepared by the Government of Ukraine, the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Commission, was released. The report recognises the need for social housing in Ukraine and emphasises the need for a comprehensive approach to recovery and reconstruction.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has provoked an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. It has not only created new challenges for various groups of people in Ukraine, but has also exacerbated preexisting issues, especially for vulnerable groups. Tackling these issues requires both comprehensive national policies as well as local and regional interventions.”

The assessment highlights the importance of investing in a comprehensive social support infrastructure:

“Invest in social services, including infrastructure for social services provision. Beyond the support for cash benefits, there is a need to invest in the social services infrastructure, including community-led centers for social services provision, war veteran development centers, and other types of community centers that might cater to the population’s diverse needs. Beyond the investment in infrastructure and war veterans reskilling programs, there is a need to increase support for social workers and promote their professional development, in part to ensure they have the necessary equipment and are adequately remunerated for their work.”

According to the RDNA4, direct damage in Ukraine from 24 February 2022 to 31 December 2024 reached $176 billion. The housing sector is one of the most affected, with 13% of the total housing stock destroyed or damaged. The recovery and reconstruction needs of the housing sector amount to almost $84 billion. The assessment emphasises the importance of investing in social housing:

“Invest in social housing to ensure the well-being of various social groups. Access to adequate housing continues to pose a significant challenge for different vulnerable groups. Each group might have specific housing-related needs, including the need for housing suitable for assisted living or other types of social services; but most housing-related needs of most groups could be met through social housing aligned with the principles of adequate housing. Finally, the development of the social housing system could help meet the prewar backlog of housing needs. Developing such a system would require changes to the existing legislation and drafting of a National Housing Strategy.”

At the request of the World Bank, Cedos Director Anastasiia Bobrova and Cedos expert Yuliia Nazarenko contributed to the report. They worked on the ‘Human Impact Assessment’ section. This section highlights the impact of the war on different groups of the population, including IDPs, youth, people with disabilities, older people, and veterans and their families. The main theses and conclusions are based on the analysis of previous work by international and Ukrainian non-governmental, charitable and research organisations.

Last year, Cedos also prepared eight policy briefs for the World Bank on the social impacts of full-scale invasion, which were used to develop the RDNA3 population impact assessment.

We greatly appreciate the World Bank’s cooperation. The Rapid Assessment of Damage and Reconstruction Needs of Ukraine is a key analytical report on the impact of the war on the country. It is a great honour for Cedos to be involved in its preparation and to contribute to the restoration of justice and the resolution of war-related challenges.

Anastasiia Bobrova, Cedos Director

According to the RDNA4, restoring and reconstructing Ukraine on a “better than before” basis will be crucial for EU accession. Efforts should focus both on rebuilding infrastructure and the economy and on implementing reforms in line with EU standards. The RDNA4 findings complement the Ukraine Action Plan’s reform and investment programme for the next three years.

The full RDNA4 report is available here.

Photo: The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.