People at the Heart of Recovery: Rome's URC 2025 Discusses Social Cohesion, Inclusion, and Demographic Resilience

On July 10–11, Rome hosted the fourth International Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2025), bringing together representatives from over 100 countries, international organizations, businesses, municipalities, and experts to coordinate efforts for Ukraine’s recovery and development. The conference focused on four strategic dimensions reflecting a comprehensive approach to reconstruction: Business Dimension, Human Dimension, Local and Regional Dimension, and European Dimension.

Within the Human Dimension, panels were dedicated to human capital development, social cohesion, the integration of Ukrainians, and support for vulnerable groups. A key discussion was the panel organized by Ukraine’s Ministry of Social Policy, "Strengthening Society’s Fabric: Supporting Inclusion and Social Cohesion in Ukraine’s Recovery," which highlighted the importance of investing in demographic resilience policies and inclusive recovery.

"Ukraine’s recovery is first and foremost about people — about restoring dignity, rights, and trust. We are building a new social system based on equality, inclusion, and respect for every individual. We are creating an economy of growth centered on human capital, care, and justice. By reforming social protection, investing in the care economy, and expanding access to community services, we are strengthening the foundation of our society. Social recovery is the heart of our resilience. Because when we care for the most vulnerable, we strengthen the entire country.

Today, Ukraine is defending not only its borders but also its values — the vision of a society where every person is protected, has rights and opportunities, and feels valued. This is not just a Ukrainian perspective — it is a global vision capable of uniting us all and building a world founded on care, justice, and mutual support," said Iryna Postolovska, Deputy Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine for European Integration.

During the discussion, participants emphasized the importance of developing services for families with children, youth, veterans, people with disabilities, and older adults to build a human-centered social protection system. The role of the care economy in ensuring access to quality social services and expanding opportunities for informal caregivers, particularly women, was also highlighted.

Expanding access to inclusive and social housing for vulnerable groups is a crucial part of modern social policy. At the same time, there remains an urgent need to develop community-based services founded on principles of autonomy, participation, and dignified living, in line with international declarations and conventions on inclusion. Specifically, supporting independent living for persons with disabilities requires transitioning from institutional care to family- and community-based care, as well as a systemic approach to social protection — with a focus on individual needs assessments and socio-economic inclusion.

At the end of the discussion, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Italy’s Ministry for Disabilities to fund projects covering legal reforms, modernizing disability assessment systems, developing social services, supporting independent living, labor market inclusion, and protecting persons with disabilities in emergencies.

URC 2025 was not only a symbol of international solidarity but also a practical tool for mobilizing resources for Ukraine’s social recovery. The grant and loan agreements signed will scale up support for vulnerable groups, expand inclusive services, stabilize the economy, and strengthen the state’s institutional capacity. The social dimension of this conference reaffirmed that Ukraine’s recovery is impossible without a human-centered approach and investments in human capital.

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