Green Recovery for Ukraine:
From Source-to-Sea
2026-2027
This project focusses on social and ecological recovery through three focal points along the source-to-sea pathway: chemical pollution, rivers, and gender equality in waste management and organic agriculture. Together, they support the implementation of the
Green Recovery Plan for the Ukrainian part of the Baltic Sea Basin.
OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT
This project is funded through Swedish development assistance and run in collaboration with partners and CCB Member Organizations from Ukraine.
Together we are working towards Ukrainian ecological recovery by addressing (chemical) pollution and sustainable practices in the waste management and organic agriculture sectors, as well as the restoration of river habitats connecting land-based activities to the Baltic Sea.
At the same time, we are working on social recovery through awareness raising activities, nature-based psychological recovery, and promoting gender equality in employment.
To reach these goals, the project will involve stakeholders – from woman to employers and municipalities – and conduct quantitative and qualitative research work, methodology development, capacity building and implementation of pilot interventions.
THE PROJECT IN A NUTSHELL
What are the main goals of the Project?
Across the project’s three focal points, we aim to:
1. Raise awareness about the use of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) in Ukraine, in relation to the international Baltic market and its associated environmental and health risks.
2. Promote river habitat restoration and provide psychological recovery sessions to vulnerable groups such as veterans, women, and children affected by the war.
3. Reduce the gender gap in the waste management and organic agriculture sectors in Ukraine, through research and capacity building actions.
How the project is implemented?
Chemical Pollution by Agrochemicals
- Identify which chemicals should be registered as POPs and HHPs but currently are not, particularly those used as agrochemicals.
- Analyse the production, import and export markets, particularly from Baltic countries to Ukraine.
- Identify barriers to banning or phasing out these chemicals.
- Highlight the environmental and health concerns.
- Share the findings and recommendations to raise public awareness and encourage legislative changes.
Rivers Restoration & Psychological Recovery
- Identify water bodies suitable for restoration or recreational use, such as psychological recovery, in the basins of the Western Bug and the Sian. This includes water quality analysis and interviews with communities, veterans, and volunteers.
- Provide these findings and practical recommendations to local authorities on using aquatic ecosystems for recreation / psychological recover in an environmentally safe way.
- Raise public awareness about the role of rivers for psychological resilience and set up a platform for dialogue on long-term water resource management.
- Conduct pilot ‘eco-therapy’ activities for veterans, women and children affected by the war.
Gender Gap in Waste Management and Organic Agriculture
- Analyse the gender gap in waste management and organic agriculture in the Lviv and Volyn regions of Ukraine, with a comparison to Sweden and Poland. This involves interviews and surveys with companies, employers, and women intending to go into these sectors.
- Promote ways to reduce the gender gap through 16 pilot interventions addressing working conditions, capacity building, and recruitment strategies.
What do we aim to impact?
• Local communities actively involved in decision-making processes on environmental and water-related issues.
• Women empowered and equipped to pursue work in waste management and organic agriculture.
• Increased protection of rivers and water resources in the basins of Western Bug and Sian.
• Natural ecosystems used as safe spaces for recovery, contributing to the mental health and resilience of war-affected populations.
• Ukrainian NGOs and communities connected with international networks, sharing knowledge and advocating for sustainable and inclusive water management at regional and European levels.
• Increased phase out or ban of HHPs and POPs as agrochemicals.
• Ukraine better equipped for EU accession, regarding gender equality, waste management, agriculture and river restoration.
Learn more about the project from our project partners:
- Chemical Safety Agency – focussed on chemical pollution-related actions
- Vruna NGO – focussed on river-related actions
- Zero Waste Lviv – focussed on gender gap, particularly in waste management
- Ecoterra – focussed on gender gap, particularly in agriculture
- Fama – focussed on gender gap, particularly regarding sociological research
- Polish Ecological Club, Gliwice Chapter – focussed on gender gap and agricultural capacity building
Coalition Clean Baltic is the lead partner of the project, supporting our partners in delivering the project objectives and connecting it to Sweden and the Baltic Sea Region.
RELATED WORKS AND MATERIALS
Coming soon.
The "Green Recovery for Ukraine: From Source-to-Sea" has been financed by the Swedish development assistance. Responsibility for the content rests entirely with the creator and does not necessarily reflect the views and interpretations of the funder.
For more information:
CCB Secretariat: secretariat (at) ccb.se
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