I took the assignment at the Ukrainian Ministry for Restoration because I am convinced that the Ukrainian diaspora community can play an important role in the recovery of Ukraine. Over 20 million people of Ukrainian origin are currently living outside of the country. This poses a huge challenge for our country and its social cohesion, but it also holds a huge potential for mobilising international support and expertise – both of which are urgently needed to defend our country’s democracy and freedom.

Kateryna Pavlova

The Ukrainian Ministry for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development is at the forefront of coordinating recovery and rebuilding efforts in the country. With a team of about 400 dedicated individuals, the ministry addresses the extensive damage across various sectors, including housing, transport, commerce, industry, agriculture, and energy. The scale of destruction means that needs have to be prioritised and that international aid has to be efficiently coordinated to maximize the impact of the available resources.

Ukraine views the reconstruction process as an opportunity for significant reforms and modernization. This includes enhancing transparency, promoting citizen participation, strengthening regional capacities, and building more resilient communities to withstand future disasters and shocks.

Kateryna left Ukraine a decade ago to further her education. She is currently working with a non-governmental organisation in Germany dedicated to the peaceful transformation of societal conflicts. During her recent assignment in Ukraine, she supported the Ministry in developing a cohesive strategy for sustainable regional development. Her efforts ensured that international contributions were effectively aligned with Ukraine's priorities. Kateryna also played a key role in preparing for the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Berlin in 2024 and participated in several workshops focused on community recovery.

Undertaking such an assignment is anything but a one-way-transfer of knowledge and experience. I learned so much from my highly resilient home country and benefitted greatly working with devoted professionals. The contacts and communication channels that we established during my assignment are still active, and I will continue to use them to contribute to a better future for my home country.

Kateryna Pavlova