Japan provides $3.8 mln to Ukraine via UNESCO to support cultural heritage, education, access to information

UNESCO has announced a new contribution from Japan of $3.8 million to support Ukraine’s recovery in the areas of culture, education, and communication and information ahead of the anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion.

“The UNESCO project we are signing today, worth a total of $3.8 million, is a testament to Japan’s strong partnership with UNESCO and our unwavering support for Ukraine. Japan remains firmly committed to supporting the people of Ukraine. Together with UNESCO, we will make every effort to ensure the successful implementation of this important initiative,” said Masashi Nakagome, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine.

"The full-scale invasion has caused devastating damage to Ukraine’s cultural heritage: over 1,600 cultural sites have been damaged or destroyed, which threatens our historical memory and national identity. We are sincerely grateful to the Government of Japan for the support that allows us not only to document these crimes against culture, but also to take urgent measures to protect and restore cultural heritage. By protecting culture, we are affirming it as an integral part of Ukraine’s resilience and the basis for its future recovery," said Deputy Minister of Culture of Ukraine Anastasia Bondar.

As reported, thanks to this additional funding, UNESCO will continue and expand its support to Ukraine in three priority areas: culture, education, communication and information.

"UNESCO’s support will be aimed at strengthening regular monitoring and verification of war-related damage to cultural heritage sites using remote and satellite imagery and on-site inspections. This will allow for the prompt implementation of urgent measures to stabilize and repair damaged cultural sites and prevent their further destruction. In parallel, the initiative will contribute to the development of policies and recommendations, planning tools and regulatory frameworks so that cultural heritage and the cultural sector are properly integrated into national and local recovery and reconstruction plans," the statement said.

UNESCO will also continue its support for Ukraine’s education system with a focus on a safe, inclusive and sustainable educational environment, including training for education professionals and further supporting mental health and psychosocial well-being in the education sector.

UNESCO will also strengthen its work to support journalists and media professionals, promote access to reliable information, and develop media and information literacy. "These efforts are aimed at ensuring that citizens remain informed and have the necessary skills to counter disinformation in the context of the ongoing war," the organization said.

With this new financial contribution, the total amount of support from Japan will amount to $29.1 million, representing almost 40% of all funding mobilized by UNESCO for Ukraine.

To date, UNESCO has mobilized over $75 million to implement its mandate in Ukraine, contributing to the protection of cultural heritage, ensuring the continuity of education and maintaining access to accurate information for Ukrainian society in times of war.