On February 20, 2025 U_CAN was honoured to participate in the UNITAC Hamburg and Kyiv School of Economics conference, a pivotal event focusing on data-driven and digitally supported urban recovery in Ukraine. The conference underscored the importance of inclusive recovery, balancing digital tools with societal values such as agency, identity, equality, and democracy.
U_CAN’s involvement in the Panel Discussion on Localisation provided an opportunity to present its approach to modernisation, standardisation, and twinning activities in Ukraine’s recovery process. Project coordinator representative Shanmathi Rajkumar engaged with key stakeholders on the challenges of integrating international expertise with local needs, ensuring effective and sustainable reconstruction efforts.
Key Themes Discussed at the Conference:
The role of various stakeholders—government, businesses, NGOs, and communities—in shaping Ukraine’s recovery.
The concept of spatial recovery, emphasising people-centred approaches and sustainable urban planning.
The role of international support and digital solutions in aligning recovery strategies with Ukrainian-led initiatives.
Presentation Highlights:
Adapting international experience to the Ukrainian recovery context through flexible and participatory strategies.
Challenges in localisation, including policy alignment, governance barriers, and stakeholder engagement.
Utilisation of data and digital tools for democratic, participatory recovery, addressing both their potential and limitations.
Engagement strategies for integrating Ukrainian stakeholders in the recovery process.
Impact evaluation methodologies to measure the effectiveness of international contributions.
The panel discussion shed light on the evolving twinning models between Ukrainian and European cities, emphasising:
The need for climate-neutral recovery frameworks, ensuring environmental sustainability alongside urban development.
Collaboration with other initiatives to maximise impact and avoid duplication of efforts.
Strengthening the Network of External Partners to enhance knowledge exchange and best practices.
Development of interactive maps and databases to support localisation efforts.
Next Steps for U_CAN: Moving forward, U_CAN will focus on expanding collaboration with UNITAC Hamburg to integrate more digital tools for participatory urban planning, enhancing climate-neutrality initiatives through data-driven decision-making, and developing a framework for measuring localisation impact in Ukraine’s recovery efforts. These initiatives aim to ensure a sustainable, inclusive, and community-driven approach to reconstruction.
Participation in the conference marked a significant step towards fostering international collaboration and ensuring that Ukraine’s recovery remains community-driven, democratic, and sustainable.
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