outcome XM-DAC-41146-UKR_O_3

Advancing business transformation

The UN Women Country Office (CO) in Ukraine has made remarkable progress in advancing business transformation in 2024, building on its commitment to deliver impact at scale through strategic planning and adaptive leadership. Amidst the complexities of operating in a conflict-affected region, the CO demonstrated resilience and foresight in transforming its operations to meet the growing needs of its workforce, partners, and beneficiaries. A significant element of this transformation was the enhancement of human resource capacity. The CO increased its staffing levels from 45 to 68 plus 25 consultants arriving around 100 personnel in total which is a critical expansion to support its growing portfolio and operational demands. This growth was coupled with a shift from Service Contracts completed phased out to more stable Temporary and Fixed-Term Appointments, providing staff with improved coverage, security provisions, and stability. The expansion of the CO’s geographic footprint in eastern Ukraine, specifically in the city of Dnipro, further underscored its ability to adapt to evolving needs. The Dnipro sub-office became a critical hub for addressing the pressing humanitarian and early recovery challenges faced by the region. By working closely with other UN agencies and local partners, the CO ensured a coordinated response to the crisis, demonstrating its capacity to bridge immediate relief efforts with sustainable recovery programs. The sub-office in Dnipro stands as a testament to the CO’s ability to operate effectively in high-pressure environments while maintaining its focus on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. In a region marked by uncertainty, the CO also prioritized the safety and security of its staff. Comprehensive security risk management measures were developed, tailored to address the specific challenges of both Eastern and Western/Central Ukraine. These measures, implemented in collaboration with the Security Cell and Security Management Team, ensured that staff were informed and equipped to manage risks effectively. This proactive approach extended to contingency planning, with emergency protocols and resources in place to address unforeseen scenarios, reinforcing the CO’s commitment to the well-being of its personnel. The business transformation achieved in 2024 was not simply a matter of operational adjustments but a reflection of the CO’s agility, ethical leadership, and culture of continuous improvement. By strategically aligning resources, strengthening its workforce, and expanding its presence at the regional level, the CO positioned itself to respond effectively to the complex challenges posed by the war. Looking ahead, the CO is well-prepared to continue its trajectory of impact in 2025 and beyond, building on the foundations established through its transformational efforts in 2024. The progress made highlights the organization’s capacity to lead in challenging contexts, delivering results that embody its mission to promote gender equality and empower women, even in the most testing circumstances.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-UKR_O_4

Nurturing an empowered workforce and advancing an inclusive UN-Women culture

The UN Women Country Office (CO) in Ukraine has made significant strides to nurture an empowered workforce and advance an inclusive organizational culture, embodying its commitment to gender equality, diversity, and high performance. Following the disruptions caused by the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the CO prioritized team building, duty of care, and creating a secure, balanced work environment for staff. Empowering the Workforce To equip staff with the tools and knowledge to thrive, the CO implemented robust professional development initiatives. These included in-house and external training, mentoring, and coaching programs, focusing on areas such as project management, Quantum, procurement, and financial management. By enhancing staff expertise and creating growth opportunities, the CO built a resilient, skilled workforce capable of addressing complex challenges. Recognizing the psychological impact of operating in a conflict zone, the CO engaged expert consultants to provide group therapy and team-building workshops. These sessions allowed staff to process trauma, strengthen connections, and rebuild morale. Such initiatives reinforced the CO’s commitment to holistic staff empowerment, addressing both professional and personal needs. Advancing Inclusivity The CO championed diversity and equality through a gender-balanced workforce and inclusive policies. National and international staff shared responsibilities equitably, supported by measures ensuring fair treatment for all. Regular staff engagement activities, including monthly all-staff meetings, program and operations reviews, and senior management discussions, promoted transparency and participatory decision-making, fostering trust and collaboration. Structural improvements also advanced inclusivity. To address humanitarian demands, service contracts were converted into more stable temporary and fixed-term appointments. Key roles were created to support security, resource mobilization, communications, and M&E, strengthening the CO’s capacity to respond to evolving needs. Fostering a Culture of Excellence By prioritizing empowerment and inclusivity, the CO created a dynamic environment where staff felt valued and equipped to deliver results. Initiatives such as team-building retreats, work-life balance measures, and psychological support underscored the office’s commitment to well-being. These efforts have positioned the Ukraine CO as an employer of choice, attracting and retaining a diverse and high-performing cadre of professionals. Through these actions, the CO not only strengthened its workforce but also reinforced its ability to deliver transformative outcomes amidst a challenging humanitarian context. UN Women’s efforts demonstrate its leadership in fostering a supportive, inclusive workplace culture that drives resilience and excellence.

outcome XM-DAC-41146-UKR_O_5

Effective normative, programmatic and coordination products, services and processes

As the Co-chair of the Gender in Humanitarian Action Sub Group (GiHA-SG) and the Chair of the Gender Theme Group (GTG), UN Women effectively coordinates the collective efforts of humanitarian and development actors, UN and non-UN organizations to make gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls central to the humanitarian action in Ukraine. In 2024, the CO contributed to the following: In 2024, UN Women led the process of re-establishing the Gender Theme Group (GTG), which had become dormant in 2022 following the full-scale invasion. In February 2024, 15 UN agencies became members of the revitalized GTG, choosing UN Women to serve as both Chair and Secretariat. As the GTG Chair, UN Women has focused on strengthening UN coordination on GEWE as well as on providing demand-driven capacity development for the GTG More than 60 staff members from the UN agencies in Ukraine strengthened their knowledge and practical skills on the Gender Equality Marker (GEM) and Human Rights Marker (HRM) in preparation for the UNSDCF 2025-2029 joint workplan process and the UNCT-SWAP Gender Scorecard exercise in 2025. The CO engaged an external consultant to the combined workshops on the GEM and HRM to provide the UNCT with a better foundation for gender mainstreaming commitments. The Rapid Disaster Needs Assessment 3 (RDNA3) report was finalized in January 2024 and marked the first time that the report included a sub-chapter dedicated to documenting the gender impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The RDNA3 gender sub-chapter includes data demonstrating the war’s negative impacts on Ukrainian women and the LGBTIQ+ community across multiple dimensions – labour participation, gender pay gap, unpaid care work, gender-based violence (GBV), conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), and women’s leadership. UN Women coordinated the UN agencies, INGOs’, CSOs’ and government entities’ gender contributions to the RDNA3 The overall reports are led by the World Bank, Government of Ukraine, and the EU. The RDNA4 report commenced in November 2024, with a finalized report expected by February 2025. Again, UN Women is coordinating inputs from all contributors. UN Women improved the gender responsiveness of humanitarian coordination in Ukraine through the strengthened effectiveness, capacities and influence of the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group (GiHA WG). Co-chaired by UN Women, CARE International and NGO Girls, the GiHA WG enhanced collaboration to advance gender equality through humanitarian response among stakeholders in the humanitarian coordination architecture, including UN agencies, donors, INGOs and NGOs. In addition, GIHA WG expert and coordination work led to integration of gender dimensions into the major plans and assessments including: the 2024 Rapid Gender Analysis; the 2024 Multi-Sector Needs Assessment; the 2024 MSNA Gender, Age, and Disability Brief; the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan and the 2024-2025 Ukraine Winter Response Plan.