Ukraine Cities Partnership for Sustainable Local Recovery (UCP)
Inspired by the Marshall Plan and led by GMF, UCP is a coalition of transatlantic, cross-sector partners committed to advancing the sustainable and inclusive recovery of Ukrainian cities.The Ukraine Cities Partnership for Sustainable Local Recovery (UCP) was established in response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which has damaged many cities and destroyed others entirely. Despite the ongoing conflict, planning for reconstruction must begin now to support economic growth, encourage citizens to return, and align with European standards. Many Ukrainian cities see this as an opportunity not just to rebuild, but to modernize. However, they often lack the necessary capacity to implement forward-thinking strategies and planning.
Inspired by the Marshall Plan, UCP is a coalition of transatlantic, cross-sector partners committed to supporting the sustainable, resilient, and inclusive recovery of up to three smaller Ukrainian cities. By focusing on these smaller cities, or hromadas, UCP addresses a critical gap in international recovery assistance to Ukraine while reinforcing the country’s 2014 decentralization reform.
Led by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, UCP brings together businesses, research institutions, universities, NGOs, city associations, and local governments from Europe and the U.S. to pool ingenuity and resources and initiate actionable solutions in participating cities. UCP will focus on strengthening local capacity in key areas, including democratic governance and civic engagement, urban planning and development, engineering and infrastructure, and project finance.
By piloting innovative approaches, UCP-supported cities will serve as models for broader reconstruction efforts across Ukraine, demonstrating how cross-sector partnerships and informed local planning can drive meaningful transformation.
For more information, please contact UCP program staff at [email protected].
GMF extends its gratitude to the Office of Global Partnerships and the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs at the U.S. Department of State for their role in developing the UCP concept and for encouraging GMF to lead the initiative.
Korosten Becomes First City to Join UCP
The City of Korosten, located 150km west of Kyiv, has become the first city to join UCP. The partnership between GMF and Korosten was formalized with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the sidelines of the 2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. As a UCP pilot city, Korosten will pioneer innovative solutions and serve as a model for how smaller Ukrainian cities can adapt, transform, and thrive amid the ongoing challenges of war and reconstruction.
UCP Advisory Group
The UCP Advisory Group comprises distinguished experts with deep knowledge of Ukraine and its recovery. They provide strategic guidance and thought leadership to advance UCP’s mission.
Members include:
- Jack Banks, Head of Ukraine Reconstruction: Trade and Industry, Department for Business and Trade of the Government of the United Kingdom
- Melinda Haring, Senior Advisor, Razom for Ukraine
- Carol Lynn MacCurdy, Senior Foreign Service Officer, retired, US Department of State
- Svyatoslav Pavlyuk, Executive Director, Association of Energy Efficient Cities of Ukraine
- Iryna Stavchuk, Interim Director, Ukraine and Central & Eastern Europe Programme, European Climate Foundation
- Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General, European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA)
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Funders and Partners
We thank the following organizations for their commitment and support.
