New support to Ukrainian businesses will advance vital rehabilitation services to people injured by war

Achim Steiner, the head of the United Nations Development Programme was in Lviv today to inaugurate the opening of the new Centre for Relocated Businesses, a vital initiative aimed at supporting economic recovery while promoting the rehabilitation of war-affected individuals in Western Ukraine. 

The Centre for Relocated Businesses is located within the First Territorial Medical Association of Lviv, home to the renowned National Rehabilitation Center ‘Nezlamni’ (UNBROKEN), which has already provided invaluable assistance to 80,000 patients and conducted over 10,000 medical procedures and prostheses installations since the war started.

“People who run Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises are the lifeblood of Ukraine’s economy. They create jobs and drive economic growth, even in a time of war,” said Steiner. “This new centre, which will ultimately provide critical assistance to persons with disabilities, is part of our joint efforts to support an ecosystem for people and their businesses that must relocate, relaunch and adapt – based on our conviction that recovery efforts cannot wait.”

The state-of-the-art centre, supported by UNDP, will serve as the new headquarters for two small producers of prosthetics and rehabilitation equipment relocated from war-affected regions. Developed in collaboration with Esper Bionics and Otto Bock, a renowned German prosthetics manufacturer, the facilities will offer rapid adjustment services to meet patients' urgent needs. Previously, malfunctioning prostheses had to be sent back to the manufacturers, leaving patients without their essential devices. Henceforth, all procedures can be efficiently performed on-site in Lviv, reducing both time and costs for patients.

First Deputy Mayor of Lviv Andriy Moskalenko said that the city was grateful for the opportunity to implement this project in Lviv. “Although we’re far from the front line, there’s a lot we can do here to support recovery efforts and to help those who come seeking shelter,” he said. “From the first days of the war, Lviv City Council has been helping with relocating and supporting businesses affected by the war.”

Volodymyr Fedorov, Deputy CEO of Lviv First Medical Organization, thanked the representatives of the United Nations Development Programme and Lviv City Council for joining forces in implementing this project. “This is a wonderful initiative,” he said. “We are providing assistance to a business that has relocated and develops prosthetics. Consequently, they can support a greater number of patients, including internally displaced Ukrainians, and people who have been injured in war.”

Background: The total budget for this project is $250,000, with UNDP contributing $150,000. The city of Lviv has also co-financed the foundation building and the installation of engineering networks, demonstrating their commitment to the initiative's success. In addition to this project, UNDP implements various livelihood support initiatives, promotes the restoration and development of the labour market at national and regional levels, and fosters improved public-private dialogue for local economic recovery.