Paris, In a significant development for Ukraine’s recovery efforts, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and Ambassador Takehiro Kano, Permanent Delegate of Japan to UNESCO, have signed a financial agreement granting $14.6 million to support the revival of Ukraine’s culture, education, and media sectors. This contribution positions Japan as the leading donor in UNESCO’s initiatives aimed at Ukraine’s recovery, reinforcing its commitment to the country’s restoration.
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the newly acquired funds will be instrumental in expanding UNESCO’s on-ground actions within Ukraine, focusing on the restoration of cultural heritage, bolstering the education system, and enhancing media development. Director-General Azoulay expressed gratitude towards Japan for its steadfast support, emphasizing the impact of the new funds on UNESCO’s capacity to implement its projects more broadly and swiftly in Ukraine.
The projects set to be implemented in 2024 with this funding include emergency heritage preservation operations in cities like Lviv and Kharkiv, support for a Recovery Support Unit by the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture, and the development of an emergency preparedness and risk mitigation plan in Odesa. Additionally, UNESCO plans to improve the monitoring and assessment of cultural heritage damage and offer training for Ukrainian authorities and cultural professionals on data collection, vital for prioritizing reconstruction efforts.
In the education sector, UNESCO aims to train 20,000 additional actors, including psychologists and teachers, to provide mental health and psychosocial support services for Ukrainian learners, ensuring the recovery of future generations. Schools and Inclusive Resource Centers working with children with disabilities will receive support to create a safer and more inclusive learning environment.
For the safety of journalists and media development, UNESCO will focus on the protection, psychological support, and upskilling of journalists, alongside providing emergency financial and material aid to media workers for independent and conflict-sensitive coverage. A media and information literacy program will also be launched to combat disinformation and hate speech.
This contribution follows Japan’s $10 million support in 2023, which facilitated the training of over 200 cultural professionals, the distribution of “heritage first-aid kits” to site managers, and the training of 7,000 school psychologists in psychosocial support for Ukrainian schoolchildren. Furthermore, 230 journalists received training in safety measures, and 200 journalists were provided with financial grants.
To date, more than $66 million has been mobilized by UNESCO for its mandate in Ukraine, highlighting the ongoing international effort to support the country’s recovery and resilience building in the face of adversity.
Paris, In a significant financial commitment to Ukraine’s recovery efforts, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, and Takehiro Kano, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Japan to UNESCO, formalized a $14.6 million agreement today. This funding, aimed at reviving Ukraine’s cultural, educational, and media sectors, positions Japan as the foremost donor in these efforts under UNESCO’s stewardship.
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the newly pledged funds are set to amplify UNESCO’s on-the-ground initiatives in Ukraine. Director-General Azoulay expressed gratitude towards Japan for its unwavering support, emphasizing the critical impact of the contribution towards the restoration of cultural heritage, bolstering education, and enhancing media safety and development in Ukraine.
The projects earmarked for 2024 with the Japanese funds span across key areas Culture Initiatives include emergency preservation of heritage sites in cities like Lviv and Kharkiv, support for the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture’s Recovery Support Unit, and the formulation of an emergency preparedness plan for Odesa’s World Heritage site. Efforts will also focus on damage assessment training for Ukrainian cultural professionals.
Education an additional 20,000 education stakeholders will receive training to offer mental health and psychosocial support, aiming at the holistic recovery of Ukrainian learners. Schools and resource centers for children with disabilities will receive aid to foster a more inclusive learning environment.
Media Safety and Development UNESCO plans to safeguard journalists through psychological support and skill enhancement, alongside launching a media literacy program to counteract disinformation.
Reflecting on the achievements of 2023, Japan’s prior contribution of $10 million facilitated extensive training for cultural professionals, supported psychosocial training for school psychologists, and enhanced safety training for journalists, among other milestones. These initiatives underscore the ongoing commitment to preserving Ukraine’s cultural heritage, supporting its educational framework, and ensuring the safety and professionalism of its journalists amidst the challenges posed by conflict.
With over $66 million mobilized by UNESCO for its Ukraine mandate to date, the organization continues to play a pivotal role in the country’s recovery, leveraging international support to address the immediate and long-term needs of its people.