A Gender Responsive Recovery in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine led to immense damage: in March 2023, the World Bank estimated the reconstruction and recovery needs of the country after the full-scale invasion to amount to more than US$ 400 billion. The war has also exacerbated existing gender inequalities and led to increasing instances of gender-based violence. Women are, for instance, severely affected by displacement: According to UN women, 90 per cent of Ukrainian refugees and nearly 70 per cent of internally displaced people are women. At the same time, women have come to occupy key positions in the public and private sector in Ukraine and abroad during the ongoing war. In 2022, the Ukrainian government adopted a State Strategy for Gender Equality that recognises gender equality as a driver of economic growth and social development and committed to spend public funds following gender-responsive budgeting principles.

With international donors already committing funds to support Ukraine’s reconstruction, it is vital to ensure women and marginalised groups are included in the process in a meaningful way and progress on gender equality is maintained.

This panel will explore how reconstruction efforts can be planned and implemented during the ongoing war which contribute to long-term gender equality and social justice, and how international partners can support the Ukrainian government and civil society in this process. Our esteemed experts will discuss which hurdles women and marginalised groups are facing regarding their meaningful participation in decision-making and planning processes and how they can gain access to relevant fora.