Germany supports resilience and recovery efforts in Ukraine

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Germany, through the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Regional Identity, have launched a new project to support rural communities in Dnipropetrovska oblast. The initiative will be implemented in one of the regions most affected by the war, where rural households continue to experience disruptions to their livelihoods, reduced production capacity and limited access to essential resources, making targeted agricultural support critical.

“Dnipropetrovska oblast has become both a place of refuge and a frontline region, facing ongoing insecurity and repeated displacement,” said Shakhnoza Muminova, Head of the FAO Office in Ukraine. “For many rural families, small-scale farming, livestock keeping and horticulture remain the only viable means of sustaining themselves. FAO, with support from Germany, helps households restore their productive capacity and reduce reliance on humanitarian assistance, even as uncertainty persists.”

The project will provide targeted assistance to the most vulnerable groups, including internally displaced people, older people, families with children, and those returning to their homes after evacuation. Support will focus on restoring both crop and livestock production through a flexible combination of vouchers and cash assistance, enabling households to access agricultural inputs, rehabilitate livestock shelters, and cover essential animal feed and veterinary services. This approach allows households to prioritise their most urgent requirements, strengthen existing production or initiate new livelihood activities.

This intervention contributes to FAO’s broader Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan in Ukraine (EERRP) for 2026–2028, aiming to maintain and restore food production, protect rural livelihoods and strengthen the resilience of agrifood systems amid the ongoing war. The EERRP and this intervention are fully aligned with the Ukraine Humanitarian Response Plan 2026. 

Promoting resilience and recovery in Berlin

FAO’s field-level assistance in Ukraine is closely linked to its broader work on resilience, innovation and sustainable recovery. These priorities were also discussed during a high-level dialogue convened by FAO and the German–Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Dialogue in Berlin, on the margins of the 2026 Global Forum for Food and Agriculture, organized by the German Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Regional Identity. The side event took place on 16 January and focused on how technology and innovation can support crisis-affected countries, drawing on the experiences of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

FAO highlighted how practical solutions being implemented in Ukraine – including the use of remote sensing to rehabilitate mine-contaminated agricultural land, Integrated Food–Energy Systems approaches, the establishment of WaPOR for water productivity monitoring, and efforts to safeguard plant genetic resources – complement direct support to farmers and rural communities and contribute to more resilient agrifood systems in the country.

“In Ukraine, advanced technologies are no longer a choice, a luxury, or a privilege. They are a necessity that keeps agriculture functioning during war,” said Shakhnoza Muminova, highlighting the importance of innovation for resilience and recovery.