UNESCO has received a new US$3.8 million contribution from Japan to support Ukraine’s recovery in culture, education, and communication and information, as the war in Ukraine approaches its fifth year. This funding will allow UNESCO to scale up its actions on the ground, demonstrating Japan’s continued role as a key partner in supporting the Ukrainian people and institutions. Ambassador Masashi Nakagome emphasized that the project reflects Japan’s strong commitment to Ukraine and to ensuring the success of initiatives aimed at recovery and resilience.
The conflict has caused devastating damage to Ukraine’s cultural heritage, with over 1,600 sites affected, threatening the nation’s historical memory and identity. Anastasiia Bondar, Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine, highlighted that Japan’s support enables UNESCO to document war-related cultural crimes and take urgent measures to protect and restore cultural heritage. This work reinforces culture as a vital pillar of Ukraine’s resilience and future recovery. Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, Head of UNESCO Antenna in Ukraine, noted that Japan’s sustained contribution is making a tangible difference in strengthening the country’s resilience and supporting its people.
The funding will support UNESCO’s work across three priority areas. In the field of culture, it will enhance tracking and verification of war-related damage using satellite imagery and on-the-ground assessments, enabling rapid emergency stabilization of damaged sites. The project will also support the development of policy guidance, planning tools, and regulatory frameworks to integrate cultural heritage into national and local recovery plans.
In education, UNESCO will continue to support safe, inclusive, and resilient learning environments, providing training for educators and promoting mental health and psychosocial well-being for learners and education professionals. In communication and information, UNESCO will strengthen support for journalists and media professionals, improve access to reliable information, and enhance media and information literacy, helping citizens navigate disinformation during the ongoing conflict.
Japan has been a key UNESCO partner in Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, providing consistent support across culture, education, and media development. Previous Japanese funding enabled UNESCO to deliver large-scale emergency assistance, including training and institutional support for educators, journalists, and cultural professionals. Nearly 320,000 vulnerable learners have received improved mental health and psychosocial support, over 36,000 educators and school psychologists gained access to professional development and inclusive education courses, and more than 5,100 journalists have benefited from training and psychological assistance. In culture, 514 damaged heritage sites were verified, 17 received emergency stabilization, and over 720 cultural professionals were trained in emergency protection. Support has also extended to environmental monitoring across biodiversity reserves and natural parks.
With this new contribution, Japan’s total support to UNESCO in Ukraine reaches US$29.1 million, representing nearly 40% of all UNESCO funding for the country. Overall, UNESCO has mobilized over US$75 million to protect cultural heritage, ensure continuity of education, and safeguard access to reliable information for Ukrainian society amid the ongoing war.
