Estimates point to US $ 4.5 billion in damages to cultural assets in the past four years. To ensure the continuity of education, UNESCO has improved access to mental health and psychosocial support services to nearly 320,000 students, and improved capacity on mental health support of over 42,000 educators and school psychologists. Recovery and reconstruction for the fields of education, media and culture -over the next decade will require nearly US $52.13billion.
From the onset, UNESCO has been supporting the People of Ukraine, guided by concrete needs on the ground and backed by targeted international contributions, mobilizing over US$ 75 million, including new funding from Japan, with the conviction that education, culture, information and sciences are a lifeline for the resilience of the people of Ukraine.
UNESCO's priority is to ensure that while assisting in coping with the devastating impact of the war on the population, recovery and reconstruction are grounded in international standards, that it strengthens national systems and human rights, and that it places people - particularly women, children, teachers, scientists, communities and cultural professionals - at the heart of the recovery as key actors and beneficiaries.
Chiara Dezzi BardeschiHead of UNESCO's Antenna in Ukraine
To ensure the continuity of education, UNESCO has improved access to mental health and psychosocial support services to nearly 320,000 students and provided training on mental health for over 36,000 educators and school psychologists. 77,000 teachers were also trained on digital pedagogy, and 31 educational facilities were repaired. Going forward, UNESCO will continue to enhance inclusive and secure education services, upgrade digital and data systems, and provide largescale teacher training to help rebuild a resilient and modern education.
To rebuild the media sector, over 5,100 journalists have received support through grants, safety training, provision of equipment and psychological assistance. UNESCO has opened 7 centers around the country to support the work of journalists. Media and information literacy campaigns have reached over 13 million viewers.
To stabilize heritage and reconstruct culture, UNESCO trained over 2,500 cultural professionals along with partners, strengthening their skills for future reconstruction; supported rehabilitation in 20 cultural sites in six regions, and established the Lviv Culture Hub, which has hosted 3,500 participants and 130 events. UNESCO is also supporting the integration of Culture into national recovery efforts and the finalization of the 2025-2030 National Strategy for Culture.
To strengthen the resilience of the science sector, UNESCO assessed the mental health and psychosocial needs of Ukrainian scientists, launched the Remote Access to Lab Equipment initiative providing research opportunities in partnership with international laboratories, and addressing the long-term environmental impacts of the Kakhovka dam destruction through new monitoring and early warning systems for water resources. It is also advancing Ukraine's digital and scientific governance by supporting the development of the national Open Science policy.
UNESCO reaffirms the vital need for education, culture, sciences and information in times of crisis, as a foundation for future reconstruction and peace, and calls for the immediate protection of civilian infrastructures. Such spaces are protected under international law and must not be targeted.
UNESCO will continue to support Ukraine to consolidate the transition from emergency response to sustainable reconstruction - by assisting in the repair of educational infrastructure, the stabilization of damaged cultural sites, and the restoration of national capacities for heritage conservation and management. Preserving them is essential to safeguarding human life, dignity and the prospects for recovery.
