Enabel at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025: stronger partnerships for a resilient future

Rome, 9-11 July 2025 – During the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) taking place in Rome on 10-11 July, Enabel, the Belgian agency for international cooperation, reaffirms its commitment to Ukraine’s recovery through strategic engagement in high-level panels, the signing of key partnerships, and deepened cooperation with Ukrainian, European and international partners.

“Ukraine’s recovery is a collective commitment that impacts not only the security and well-being of Ukrainians, but of the whole of Europe and beyond. I am proud to be here in Rome together with our Ukrainian and European partners to strengthen our efforts for a resilient future for all,” said Jean Van Wetter, CEO of Enabel.

Signing of 5 MoUs with Ukrainian Ministries

At URC, Enabel formalised its collaboration with five Ukrainian ministries, reinforcing sectoral collaboration aligned with Ukraine’s recovery priorities and EU integration. These Memoranda of Understanding are part of the BE-Relieve programme, funded by Belgium, and reflect shared commitment to the Lugano Principles.

Key focus areas include:

• Ministry of Health. Rehabilitation of healthcare infrastructure, improved accessibility and promotion of innovation aligned with EU standards.
• Ministry of Education and Science. Modernisation of vocational education and training (VET), development of Centres of Excellence, and inclusive access to education for youth, women, veterans and persons with disabilities.
• Ministry of Energy. Restoration of critical energy infrastructure, improvement of energy efficiency in public buildings, and support for regulatory reforms aligned with EU policies.
• Ministry for Communities and Territories Development (Reconstruction). Support for green and inclusive reconstruction in regions like Chernihiv and Kyiv, and advancement of accessibility and vocational training reforms.
• Ministry of Economy. Strengthening of employment services, modernisation of the State Employment Service, and implementation of pilot initiatives for formal and inclusive labour markets.

“These agreements reflect a strong and shared ambition – to move beyond emergency support and build resilient systems that empower communities and support inclusive growth,” added Jean Van Wetter.

Strategic participation in high-level panels

Jean Van Wetter took part in the URC’s Education panel, highlighting Enabel’s impactful work in rebuilding Ukraine’s education infrastructure through the BE-Relieve programme. This includes:

• Rehabilitation war-damaged schools;
• Construction bomb shelters to ensure safe learning spaces;
• Delivering 319 generators to schools across Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, ensuring continuity of offline education during energy shortages.

Co-Presidency of the Practitioners’ Network (PN)

As Co-President of the Practitioners’ Network for European Development Cooperation, Enabel co-hosted a high-level Pre-URC event in partnership with the Belgian Embassy in Italy. The event brought together:

• Members of the Practitioners’ Network;
• Senior Ukrainian officials;
• Belgian business representatives;
• International stakeholders.

Enabel together with Sida, also represented the PN in the B2B Energy Networking, organised by the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, showcasing the contribution of PN members in supporting Ukraine’s energy resilience.

In the margins of URC, Enabel signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Expertise France, deepening their joint commitment to vocational education reform and European cooperation for recovery.

Strategic engagements with UN agencies

While in Rome, Jean Van Wetter met with senior representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP) to explore opportunities for enhanced collaboration in food systems, climate resilience and rural development.

Key discussion areas included:

• Climate-smart agriculture and agroecology;
• Innovative finance for food system transformation;
• Local procurement and value chain development;
• Youth and women inclusion, and private sector engagement.

These meetings underscored the importance of deepened partnerships with Rome-based UN agencies to combine global expertise with local impact.