The parties discussed key areas of cooperation and possible mechanisms of assistance from the IMF, in particular in supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The team of the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development, headed by Oleksiy Kuleba, Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Minister of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, met with representatives of the International Monetary Fund. The parties discussed key areas of cooperation and possible mechanisms of assistance from the IMF, in particular in supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The meeting was attended by First Deputy Minister Alyona Shkrum, Deputy Minister Maryna Denysiuk, and Head of the State Agency for Reconstruction Serhiy Sukhomlyn.
IMF representatives were present: Gavin Gray, Head of the IMF Mission to Ukraine, Trevor Lesard, Deputy Head of Mission, Heiko Hesse, Senior Mission Economist, Priscilla Tofano, Resident Representative of the Fund in Ukraine, and Vladyslav Rashkovan, Executive Director of the IMF in Ukraine.
Oleksiy Kuleba presented the work of the Ministry of Economic Development in supporting internally displaced persons.
‘The Ministry of Development is working to build municipal housing in communities and develop a comprehensive support programme for IDPs.
Today, it is one of the most important tasks for us to offer people who have suffered the most from the war a clear and effective programme that will include housing, employment and social services,’ said Oleksiy Kuleba.
The Minister also noted that in February, the programme of compensation for destroyed housing for IDPs was launched, for which the Government has reallocated UAH 15 billion.
The first UAH 4.3 billion is allocated to 3.5 thousand families. As of the second week of the programme, 311 families have already used their certificates and purchased new homes.
At the same time, the Ministry of Development is working to expand the range of compensation so that as many Ukrainians as possible who need it can get a new home or rebuild their housing.
‘It is important to continue financial support for compensation projects for destroyed or damaged housing, because people need it.
As of today, the damage to Ukraine’s housing sector caused by Russia’s armed aggression is estimated at $57.6 billion. The Register of Damaged and Destroyed Property includes about 320,000 private houses, about 37,000 apartment buildings, and 700 dormitories. All this accounts for 13% of the housing stock,’ said Oleksiy Kuleba.
Serhii Sukhomlyn presented the priorities of the Recovery Agency, stressing the importance of supporting social housing development projects.
‘One of our important areas is the construction of social housing. We strive to provide those Ukrainians who need it with housing.
In particular, so that those who are now abroad can return and know that they will receive affordable housing at home. Therefore, of course, support for this project is also important for us,’ said the Head of the Recovery Agency.
The parties also discussed public investment projects and the importance of public investment management (PIM) reform for their implementation. Currently, the Government of Ukraine has made all the necessary decisions to implement a high-quality public financial management system.
The Strategic Investment Council, which is the main decision-making body for public investment, has already been established, a pilot single project pipeline has been approved, and an intergovernmental project preparation unit (PPU) has been set up.
In addition, in January this year, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine. Their purpose is to facilitate the implementation of the terms of cooperation with the IMF under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
These changes include updating the procedures for planning and implementing public investment projects and public investment programmes.
Concluding the meeting, Oleksiy Kuleba thanked the IMF for its openness to dialogue and expressed hope for further productive cooperation in supporting urgent projects in the areas of housing, development of checkpoints, energy independence of communities, transport programmes, and implementation of investment projects.
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