Ukraine: building back better

In May 2024, the Belgian council of ministers approved the ‘BE-Relieve Ukraine’ programme proposed by Enabel as part of Belgium’s contribution to the reconstruction of Ukraine. This ambitious initiative, taking place in Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, is backed by €150 million from taxes on profits from frozen Russian assets.

Enabel will focus on key areas such as energy and circular construction, health and social protection, as well as education and employment. More than rebuilding infrastructures, our actions aim to restore hope – supporting communities to return, recover, and thrive in a more resilient Ukraine. The opening of Enabel’s office in Kyiv in 2024 marks a significant milestone in these efforts.

Powering Ukraine’s reconstruction

As Ukrainians face frequent electricity outages due to missile and drone attacks on energy systems, it is crucial for the public sector to continue providing essential services, particularly in hospitals and schools.

One of the primary goals of the BE-Relieve Programme is to strengthen Ukraine’s energy and construction sectors by promoting sustainable reconstruction practices and the transition to a decarbonized, circular economy. Key activities include providing decentralised energy solutions, piloting green building practices, and fostering Belgian-Ukrainian public-private partnerships in green and circular construction. In 2024, Enabel delivered 49 generators, which were distributed to two utility companies in Chernihiv and to 35 schools in Kyiv. Overall, the programme is providing 16.5 Megawatts of reserve power supply and delivering critical infrastructure support to 44 towns in Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, as well as 50 educational facilities in Kyiv region.

In 2025, Enabel will deliver more than 250 generators to various locations throughout Ukraine, along with modular and mobile boilers that can be flexibly deployed in urban areas to heat public buildings where the needs are most urgent. These efforts are expected to provide significant backup heat and electricity to cover the energy Ukraine lost during three years of war. This means more reliable power for homes, schools, and hospitals, helping people stay warm and safe.

Health and social protection

The war has deeply affected the mental well-being of the population, making it crucial to address these needs through health and social protection initiatives. The BE-Relieve Programme aims to support a resilient, patient-centred health and social service system in Ukraine. This includes reconstructing infrastructure, enhancing local facilities providing direct healthcare services, and expanding access to inclusive social services for vulnerable groups such as internally displaced persons, veterans, and people with disabilities.

In line with this mission, Enabel has already begun supplying rehabilitation equipment to the Borodyanka Rehab Centre for veterans in the Kyiv region, helping to provide essential care and support to those in need.

Enabel and Patients of Ukraine will support access to healthcare services, focusing on the traumatic impact of the war on mental health and providing increased support to the most vulnerable groups.

Education, skills and decent employment

The war in Ukraine has severely disrupted the education of more than five million children, leaving a lasting impact on their learning and development. With schools damaged or destroyed, many children face significant barriers to education due to safety concerns and displacement.

To address this critical need, Enabel and the Ministry of Education are building shelters in schools to protect children from ongoing missile and drone attacks. In 2024, Enabel took significant steps by starting the construction of shelters in schools across Kyiv region and preparing tenders for shelter constructions for Chernihiv region – ensuring that education can continue uninterrupted.

In the spirit of the Team Europe approach, Enabel works in cooperation with Expertise France on the modernisation of two VET schools in Chernihiv, rehabilitating the infrastructure and enhancing the quality and relevance of skills training.

Access to quality education is essential for obtaining decent employment. Enabel collaborates with national authorities and civil society to offer professional training and support skills programmes tailored to the local context and labour market needs. Enabel also plans to work on the reconstruction of vocational education and training (VET) schools, further contributing to the resilience and future of Ukraine’s education system.

Team Belgium approach

The BE-Relieve Programme also aims to build relationships between Belgian and Ukrainian institutions. This will support Ukraine’s EU accession, create long-term linkages between Belgium and Ukraine. Enabel encourages Belgian business circles to be involved in the reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine, both in hard and soft components.