PPP Agency Re-Discloses the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) Following Public Consultations

The PPP Agency, acting as the Project Implementing Entity for the “Preparation of Resilient Projects to Advance Recovery of Ukraine” (PREPARE Ukraine) Project, announces the re-disclosure of the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) following a series of public consultations held on 27–28 November 2025.

The consultations were jointly organized by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine (MoE) and the PPP Agency and conducted in accordance with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), in particular Environmental and Social Standard ESS10 on Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure.

Purpose of the Consultations

The purpose of the consultations was to:

• familiarize stakeholders with the PREPARE Ukraine Project’s approaches to identifying, assessing, and managing environmental and social (E&S) risks using the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF); 
• raise awareness among stakeholders of the processes for preparing public investment projects selected by the Government (“Government Selected Investments”) under the Ukraine Government Project Preparation Facility (Ukraine Government PPF) and the PREPARE Ukraine Project, in line with the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), the World Bank Group Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs), the World Bank Group Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines, Good International Industry Practice (GIIP), and in accordance with national requirements for the preparation of public investment projects.

Participants and Stakeholder Engagement

The consultations brought together a broad range of stakeholders from the public, private, and civil society sectorswhose activities relate to public investment management (PIM) and the preparation of public investment projects across various sectors.

Invitees included representatives of:

• central executive authorities and other state institutions;
• state-owned enterprises;
• local executive bodies and local self-government authorities;
• Development Agencies and Reform Support Offices;
• business support organizations (BSOs);
• Civil society organizations (CSOs);
• consulting companies involved in the preparation of high-quality public investment projects.

Participation in the consultations was voluntary and open to all interested stakeholders.

The consultations were designed to ensure inclusive participation and comprehensive consideration of the interests and perspectives of all relevant stakeholder groups.

Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)

The Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) has been developed to ensure the prevention, minimization, and mitigation of potential environmental and social impacts that may arise during the preparation and subsequent implementation of Government Selected Investments.

During the consultations, the ESMF was presented as the core environmental and social governance instrument of the PREPARE Ukraine Project. It was emphasized that the ESMF serves as the primary tool through which the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, acting through the PPP Agency and the Ukraine Government PPF, ensures compliance with the World Bank ESF and ESSs.

Participants were informed that adherence to these international standards is mandatory for all public investment projects selected by the Government and prepared under the Ukraine Government PPF with the support of the PREPARE Ukraine Project. Particular emphasis was placed on the strategic importance of compliance with international E&S standards as a prerequisite for attracting international financing for Ukraine’s recovery and infrastructure reconstruction.

Outcomes of the Consultations and Re-Disclosure of the ESMF

Following the consultations, the ESMF was updated in line with the comments and feedback received from stakeholders and aligned with the Project Operations Manual (POM), and includes the minutes of the public consultations.

The final version of the ESMF has been approved as mandatory for implementation within the PREPARE Ukraine Project and the Ukraine Government PPF and is hereby re-disclosed to reflect the outcomes of the stakeholder engagement process.

The re-disclosed ESMF reaffirms the commitment of the PPP Agency and the Government of Ukraine to transparency, inclusiveness, accountability, and full alignment with international best practices in environmental and social risk management throughout the preparation of public investment projects.