The Ukrainian State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure presented its 2023 achievements and 2024 plans to international partners. The event featured the Head of the Restoration Agency, Mustafa-Masi Nayyem, alongside ambassadors and representatives from foreign embassies, international financial organizations, and global companies. Supported by the USAID/UKaid project “State-Owned Enterprise Reform Activity” (SOERA), the event highlighted Ukraine’s resilience and commitment to rebuilding its infrastructure.

Mustafa Nayyem, presenting the 2023 outcomes, stressed the Agency’s robust and capable nature, adept at implementing projects across housing, energy security, road infrastructure, and ensuring export, military, and humanitarian logistics. 

One of the Agency’s major 2023 initiatives was a three-tiered energy infrastructure protection system: using big bags and gabions to safeguard 103 facilities in 21 regions; drone and rocket defense for 22 substations, with 12 already secured; and a plan to protect additional substations by the end of 2024, contingent on continued funding. Mr Nayyem expressed gratitude to partners from the USA, Germany, the UK, and Japan for their cooperation in these endeavors.

Another significant project undertaken by the Agency is the construction of a main water pipeline to supply 1.5 million people with drinking water, following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Station by Russian forces. This project, which began in June 2023, spans 145 kilometers and involves the oversight of engineering consultants and independent technical supervision, supported by USAID ERA “Economic Support to Ukraine.” A comprehensive technical audit of project documentation will also be conducted with the assistance of USAID ERA, and all reports and audit results, along with estimates, will be made public after the assessment process.

The Restoration Agency places a significant focus on the reconstruction of social facilities. Currently, reconstruction efforts are underway in settlements affected by armed conflicts, including Borodyanka (Kyiv region), Yahidne (Chernihiv region), Trostianets (Sumy region), Tsyrkuny (Kharkiv region), and Posad-Pokrovske (Kherson region). In total, the Agency is reconstructing 352 facilities, including 292 residential buildings, 31 social infrastructure objects, 16 street and road infrastructure facilities, 8 administrative buildings, and 5 housing and communal services objects.

Between 2022 and 2023, the Agency successfully repaired 330 bridges, many of which are crucial for export logistics, transportation of military and humanitarian cargo, and the evacuation of the wounded.

Additionally, a significant aspect of the Agency’s work is the provision of military logistics and the reconstruction of territories that have been de-occupied. In 2023, over 1,200 kilometers of roads were cleared and 89 bridges that had been damaged due to combat actions were reconstructed. Czechia, the United States, France, Sweden, and Norway provided artificial bridges and structures.

Following the onset of full-scale warfare, 70% of exports are transported by road. To enhance export routes, the Agency has already taken control of 23 border-crossing checkpoints on the western and southern borders, with an additional 6 checkpoints in the process of transfer. Repair work has commenced on 11 of these checkpoints.

Nayyem highlighted reforms to reduce procurement abuses, increase transparency, and prevent corruption, including adopting unified civil construction procurement methodologies and CIPS certification. The Agency received the Prozorro Awards for transparent procurement approaches and signed a memorandum with NABU to combat criminal corruption.

The Agency administers nationwide digital systems developed with international support, like DREAM – Digital Restoration Ecosystem for Accountable Management, E-queue – an electronic border crossing system, and GIS RR – a regional development geoinformation system.

Mr Nayyem underscored the need to transform the Agency, including creating a centralized procurement organization (CPO) to increase efficiency, transparency, accountability, and public and international procurement expertise. The CPO will also centralize price monitoring and competitive salaries.

In conclusion, Mr. Nayyem thanked Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov, and international partners for their comprehensive support and looked forward to continued successful collaboration.

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