Strengthening administration, promoting health care and social services in the Ukrainian border regions

Project description

Title: Special assistance programme for Eastern Ukraine
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Co-funded by: European Union (EU4Resilient Regions Programme)
Country: Ukraine
Lead executing agency: Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine
Overall term: 2019 to 2024

Context

Armed conflict has been ongoing in Eastern Ukraine since 2014. Due to the social consequences of the conflict, it is necessary to improve the provision of health care and social services both in Eastern Ukraine and in bordering areas. As a result of the conflict, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, municipalities in many parts of the country lack financial and material resources. They are therefore unable to provide all citizens with adequate administrative services, health care and social services. Moreover, municipalities suffer from a lack of experts and also a lack of systems to implement the health reform. The people most affected are vulnerable citizens without access to adequate social support and protection.

Objective

Access to medical, social, and administrative services has improved for citizens in the partner communities. The services are of higher quality and their economic viability is ensured.

Approach

Since 2019, the project has been strengthening partner communities in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which are controlled by the Ukrainian Government. Specifically, the programme works with local social and health care institutions to help them to improve the access and quality of their services. Since 2021, the project has been expanded in eight further regions and includes improvements of administrative services. These efforts include advising partners on developing plans for improved and gender-sensitive local services and on reducing any obstacles to access.

Moreover, the project organises training courses for medical and social staff on subjects such as dementia or outpatient care. As a result, the quality of medical and social care is improving. At the same time, technical and organisational advisory services are empowering the administrative staff of hospitals to implement the health reform and decentralisation of the health system.

Last update: October 2021