NEFCO Nordic Energy Efficiency and Humanitarian Support Initiative for Ukraine

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

The Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) is an international finance institution established in 1990 by the five Nordic countries. To date, NEFCO has financed a wide range of environmental projects in Central and Eastern European countries, including Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The Nordic Ministers of foreign affairs decided in their meeting in 2014 to establish a Nordic energy efficiency and humanitarian support initiative with NEFCO. The Initiative has so far been funded by Finland, Norway and Sweden. Finland has supported the initiative with 3 million euros. Part of the Finnish contribution (EUR 500,000) was used for the common Nordic initiative through untied funds.The aim of the fund is to address energy efficiency and energy savings in municipal services in vulnerable and affected areas in Eastern and Southern Ukraine. The support was focused on social infrastructure (schools, kindergartens and health services facilities). Another part (EUR 2,500,000) of the Finnish contribution will be used for the delivery and erection of a prefabricated school building for est. 240 children in Kherson region, that is overstressed due to a significant influx of Internally Displaced Persons. Due to funding gap 250 000 euros is allocated to replenish the Nordic Initiative. Additional 250 000 euro will be allocated for the procurement of necessary safety system as well as heating and cooling systems for the school.