On February 2, 2024, the Zhytomyr City Council hosted a meeting between the city’s leadership and Daniel Busche, Director of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Ukraine. The purpose was to exchange information on the current situation in the city with regard to the implementation of projects supported by GIZ.

“I am grateful to Zhytomyr for the effective implementation of the Integrated Development Program, the implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directives, and the programs to support small and medium-sized businesses. The first area of work within the framework of European integration is what happened before February 2022. After all, with the outbreak of a full-scale war, new challenges and new needs have emerged in cities. And we would like to continue to be a reliable partner for you,” said Daniel Boucher.

Cooperation with GIZ began in 2014. Since then, the community has implemented many components and activities in all areas of life. With the support of partners, strategic documents were developed, the main one being the Concept of Integrated Development, which identifies 6 priority areas in which the city should become: safe, comfortable, inclusive, green, active and innovative. Planning based on this concept promotes sustainable development, social balance and social diversity.

“Today, I can say with confidence that the GIZ program is being implemented in all areas of our community’s life. And the main thing that this project has given is the formation of an effective team to implement all programs and strategies in real life. This provides opportunities for creating a sustainable infrastructure that allows us to manage international projects and build sustainable community management systems in the energy sector, strategic planning, and small and medium-sized enterprise development,” – says Svitlana Olshanska, First Deputy Mayor.

During the meeting, they also discussed the promotion of energy efficiency and the implementation of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive in Ukraine, a project that helps Ukraine make an energy transition to clean and efficient energy supply. The main goal of the city in the project is to build an effective energy policy management system and achieve energy independence. Cooperation under this component continues, and the project proposal will be implemented in 2024.

The project “Energy Efficiency Modernization of the Building of Zhytomyr Preschool No. 15” will be implemented with the support of GIZ.

Another area that is being successfully implemented in the Zhytomyr community is the support of local enterprises under the EU4Business initiative. As part of this project, a business school and an export school were organized for local entrepreneurs. It also created a local brand, DoBre, a platform for local Zhytomyr-based small and medium-sized businesses. Its main goal is to draw attention to the work of local producers, increase sales and popularize local brands.

“The city felt the support of GIZ even before the full-scale invasion. During the period of the full-scale invasion, Zhytomyr received more than 14 thousand IDPs from the occupied territories. Therefore, it was decided to repair one of the communal premises for internally displaced persons and equip it with everything necessary for life within the framework of the Integrated Urban Development in Ukraine II Project. Currently, large families and children deprived of parental care live there. We are planning to build another such shelter this year and new apartment buildings for IDPs,” – said Svitlana Olshanska.

GIZ representatives visited the facilities that became the product of cooperation. These include a shelter for IDPs, a local business that became a member of the export school and a participant in the DoBre project, and the aforementioned kindergarten #15. Many more joint projects between GIZ and the Zhytomyr community on sustainable urban development, energy efficiency, mobility, and spatial planning are planned in the future.

“Our task as authorities today is to ensure a balanced development of the city, despite the war, so that Zhytomyr residents want to stay here and displaced persons feel at home in our city,” – summarizes Svitlana Olshanska.