Bilateral development aid - 2024
In 2024, a total of 51 projects were implemented for Ukraine. Among them, 14 were implemented by the government administration, 2 by local government units, 10 by the Polish Embassy in Kyiv and Polish consulates general in Ukraine, 16 by non-governmental organisations, and 9 by the Solidarity Fund PL. The activities financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2024 were aimed at supporting both the functioning of Ukrainian institutions in wartime conditions and the reconstruction and modernisation of the state, as well as providing the most urgent humanitarian aid.
Enhancement of crisis management system
One of the key areas of development assistance was the expansion of national and local crisis management systems and increasing operational capacity of emergency response services. Poland mainly cooperated with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (DSNS).
In 2024, Polish Aid funds were allocated to the training of more than 600 DSNS rescuers in the oblasts of Kherson, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil, and Kyiv. The rescuers were also provided with specialist equipment. The development of a network of the Regional Rescue Training Centres was also concluded. Modern training facilities for the fire service and sappers were set up in Lviv, Vinnytsia, and Cherkasy.
The development of volunteer fire brigades in Ukraine, especially in the oblasts of Chernivtsi and Volhynia, was also continued by the Solidarity Fund PL. Simultaneously, MFA donated PLN 2.5 million to the UNDP. The donation was used to buy the MinesEye system to detect mines and unexploded bombs by means of drones and to survey 400 hectares of minefields.
Contribution to reconstruction and regional development
Poland is already actively supporting efforts to reconstruct Ukraine. The projects implemented by the public administration concerned, among other things, assistance in shaping regional policy, implementing the Ukraine Facility Plan in the area of regional development, developing Comprehensive Recovery Programmes, and enhancing the competitiveness of Ukraine’s regions.
Assistance for Ukraine in the reconstruction process is closely linked to investments in human capital. Solidarity Fund implemented the Skills4Recovery project, co-financed by the EU and supporting the development of the Ukrainian education and vocational training system. The Polish contribution to Skills4Recovery amounted to nearly PLN 1.2 million.
Health care and psychological support
In response to the heavy damage sustained by the health care sector and the most urgent needs of the population, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs financed projects by Polish non-governmental organisations, thanks to which over 40 medical and social assistance facilities and centres were reconstructed or equipped, including hospitals, local assistance centres, and mobile medical teams. Special attention was paid to psychological assistance.
In 2024, 1,200 people—doctors, therapists of various specialisations, and carers—participated in medical assistance courses, including on mental health. 11,300 individuals received direct psychological support.
Support for veterans and displaced persons
Supporting veterans and their families is an important part of Polish development cooperation with Ukraine. Polish Aid projects for them have been implemented by the Solidarity Fund, which has established Psychosocial Support Centres for Veterans in the Rivne oblast. These centres offer psychological, social, legal, and professional assistance within local governments, aimed not only at veterans and their families, but also at residents of hromadas and internally displaced persons.
