Integrated Damage Assessment Training in Ukraine

With the generous support of the Ramboll Foundation, this project supports the safe return of displaced communities to their homes in Ukraine by building critical local capacity for housing assessment and repair.

A Strategic Approach to Shelter in Ukraine

In the face of considerable damage to residential infrastructure, focusing on repairing buildings is a cost-effective, dignified, and sustainable alternative to traditional humanitarian shelter responses. This approach, however, hinges on accurate damage assessments to ensure that homes are safe for families to return to. Ukraine currently faces a severe shortage of specialists with the expertise to conduct these critical evaluations of war-damaged buildings.

Addressing a Critical Skills Gap

Ukraine’s recovery is hampered by a critical skills gap. While national legislation requires certified experts to oversee damage assessments, the sheer scale of destruction has overwhelmed the capacity of these specialists. To move forward, the country needs a much larger pool of skilled personnel who can professionally evaluate damage and manage repairs. Many engineers and field staff currently supporting the humanitarian response lack the specific training to assess complex war-related damage, creating a bottleneck that slows the process of getting families back into safe homes.

Our Response

Responding directly to this critical need, and in coordination with the Shelter Cluster in Ukraine, we have developed a targeted, dual-stream training program in partnership with Arup. This program strengthens the country’s in-house resources by equipping two crucial groups:

1. Technical Responders: We deliver a specialised course for engineers and other technical staff, providing them with the essential competencies to conduct detailed structural damage assessments of blast and war-damaged buildings.
2. Non-Technical Responders: We provide a practical course for community-facing staff, equipping them with the core skills to manage small-scale repairs, assess broader humanitarian needs, and coordinate effectively between construction teams and community members.

This comprehensive approach ensures that both the structural integrity of buildings and the holistic needs of communities are addressed. By increasing the number of competent and effective teams on the ground, we are helping to ensure more homes can be safely assessed for repair, supporting Ukrainian communities as they rebuild their lives.