“Nefco implements Green Recovery Programme for Ukraine, our projects comply with ESG principles," Yuliia Shevchuk, Chief Investment Advisor at Nefco

Interview of Yuliia Shevchuk, Chief Investment Advisor at Nefco, with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency

Text – Oksana Gryshyna

Which projects were completed when the war was already going on? Did it cause any difficulties? How were the projects adjusted when there was a lack of funding?

In November, we completed the main part of a large-scale project in Chernivtsi, within which 16 schools, 15 daycare centres, and two healthcare facilities underwent major renovation. The modernisation of one more public building will be completed next year.

Currently, we are actively working on the implementation of projects related to the repair of housing for internally displaced persons (IDPs), for example, in the cities of Kivertsi and Khmelnytskyi.

In the case of housing repair projects, there are problems of extended design timelines, the works becoming more complex than planned, and increased costs due to substantial modifications to the buildings. For example, a medical institution, which had not been used by the city before the war, was repurposed as housing for IDPs. Furthermore, the project implementation period may be longer due to the poor condition of dormitories and other buildings that are Soviet-type and old, with shared kitchens and showers. Under our projects, the facilities are rebuilt into modern housing, in most cases into separate apartments.

The completion of some projects has been postponed until the following year due to a shortage of human resources as mobilisation efforts are underway. Some cities are overwhelmed with reconstruction projects and other war-related issues, further contributing to the delay.

In such situations, having experienced consultants and flexible donor rules is crucial for making