Eighty-year-old Halina welcomes Lilia from Repair Facilitation Ukraine. Halina Vasilevna and her family spent 20 days in the cellar before escaping from the village to other part of Ukraine. When she returned, the house was uninhabitable, all windows were smashed. Thanks to the Repair Facilitation Ukraine and the financial support of Helvetas, Halina's house will be soon repaired. | © Iva Zímová

RESTORED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DIGNIFIED LIVING

© Iva Zímová
  • Project Name
    REFAUK: Repair Facilitation Ukraine
  • Project Phase
    May 2022 to January 2025
  • Funding
    Swiss Solidarity
  • Thematic focus
    Humanitarian Response

Within the REFAUK project, Helvetas combines direct recovery support for affected households and communities with efforts to strengthen local recovery systems. While targeted repairs help thousands of families regain safe living conditions, the project also enhances the capacity of municipalities, local contractors, and civil society organizations to manage reconstruction more effectively.

This integrated approach links immediate recovery with long-term development, ensuring that every repaired home also contributes to a more resilient local system.

The «Repair Facilitation Ukraine» project  was implemented by Helvetas in 2022–2025 as part of Switzerland’s support for Ukraine, funded by Swiss Solidarity and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The project was carried out by a consortium of Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and the NGO «DESPRO».

Impact in Numbers

46

WASH systems have been restored

85

NGO were involved in implementing the project in communities

33

multi-apartment buildings have been repaired 

1130

people received heating materials for winter

2 871

Repaire Hub people supported via Repair Hub

138

heating points and shelters in educational institutions were equipped with materials and generators

19 000+

people used heating points as part of winterization efforts

492 262

people experienced an improvement in living conditions due to the restoration of water supply and sewage systems, energy supply

Restoring Housing and Social Infrastructure

Within REFAUK, Helvetas supported light and medium repairs to private houses, apartment buildings, and social facilities — schools, kindergartens, and outpatient clinics. It is not only about walls and roofs. It is about restoring access to water, heat, electricity, and to education and healthcare services.

A particular focus was restoring access to drinking water through repairs to water supply and wastewater systems. Rehabilitating these networks enabled tens of thousands of people to return home and regain basic comfort in daily life.

Helvetas provided grants to 85 local organisations for the repair of housing, public spaces, and infrastructure. This support helped create safe places for internally displaced persons, equip shelters and warming points, and respond quickly to urgent community needs.

The blast wave tore the roof off Ivan’s house. Thanks to Helvetas and DESPRO, his home has been restored, and he’s preparing to welcome his wife back from Poland.
1/5
Rebuilt roof in Borodianka: after the blast wave, it was completely dismantled and constructed anew with strong, high-quality materials.
2/5
Borodianka pumping station: with support from DESPRO and Helvetas, a set of pumps and filters was reinstalled and the building repaired after a direct missile strike.
3/5
Lyudmyla from Makariv received new windows thanks to financial support from Helvetas.
4/5
Helvetas piloted circular-construction projects: nothing goes to waste — used pallets are turned into benches and tables.
5/5

The project also piloted «circular construction» — the reuse of reclaimed building materials.
Helvetas awarded grants to civil society organizations to implement these eco-projects and supported research on circular practices in Ukraine.

Localization: Helvetas’ Global Best Practices for the Civil Society Sector

Another key step under REFAUK was supporting local initiatives. Together with partners, the Helvetas team developed Methodological Recommendations for civil society organizations to help them objectively assess communities’ recovery needs.

This methodology now used by partners across regions, ensures that reconstruction decisions are data-driven, inclusive, and aligned with national recovery frameworks.

UKRAINIAN
ENGLISH

Repair Hubs and Mobile Response

Through REFAUK, Helvetas launched — and continues to support a Repair Hub in Kharkiv, where volunteers can access tools, materials, and practical guidance for urgent repairs to shell-damaged homes and public facilities.

A rapid-repair mobile team also operates, deploying immediately after strikes to quickly seal damage and protect buildings from further destruction.