Investing in People and Community Resilience: Ukraine Launches the USD 880 Million SPIRIT Project

Ukraine has officially launched the implementation of the SPIRIT (Social Protection for Inclusion, Resilience, Innovation and Transformation) Project, a major initiative aimed at modernizing the country’s social protection system, strengthening support for vulnerable populations, and enhancing the resilience of communities across Ukraine.

Implemented by the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine with the support of the World Bank, SPIRIT is one of the largest international social sector initiatives launched during russia’s full-scale invasion.

The total financing package amounts to USD 880 million, including a USD 860 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), backed by guarantees from the Government of the United Kingdom and the ADVANCE Ukraine credit enhancement mechanism supported by the Government of Japan, as well as USD 20 million in grant co-financing provided by the United Kingdom and Germany through the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF).

Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Uliutin emphasized that SPIRIT represents both a coalition for Ukraine’s social recovery and a strong vote of confidence from international partners in Ukraine’s reform agenda.

“SPIRIT is an investment in human capital, resilient communities, and Ukraine’s future. We are building a new generation of social policy – more targeted, more integrated, and focused on delivering real outcomes for people. Successful recovery is measured not only by rebuilt infrastructure, but also by people’s ability to work, raise families, and look to the future with confidence,” said Minister Uliutin.

The project will support the implementation of a comprehensive package of social protection reforms, including:

• introducing Basic Social Assistance as a unified support mechanism for vulnerable households;

• developing an integrated case management system that connects social assistance, social services, and employment support;

• reforming the financing of social services based on the principle that funding follows the individual;
• expanding access to social services for families with children;
• introducing a modern system for assessing individual functioning in line with international standards;
• strengthening employment support and social inclusion opportunities for persons with disabilities.

SPIRIT will also contribute to strengthening the institutional capacity of public authorities and social service providers at both national and local levels.

Importantly, the implementation of SPIRIT will not increase Ukraine’s approved public borrowing limits or public debt ceiling, as the financing is being mobilized within the borrowing framework already envisaged in the State Budget of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine expresses its sincere gratitude to the World Bank, the Governments of Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany, as well as all international partners supporting reforms aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s human capital, social resilience, and long-term recovery.

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