Cooperation between the cities of Zurich and Vinnytsia on water

The project was initiated during the ongoing war in Ukraine to support Vinnytsia’s resilience and recovery. It builds on past cooperation and Zurich’s commitment to international solidarity.

The cooperation between Zurich and Vinnytsia focuses on improving water supply services and urban water resilience in Vinnytsia. The partnership aims to foster institutional relationships, support strategic planning, and deliver tangible benefits through technical mentoring, peer exchange, and targeted project support.

SKAT facilitated exchanges for the estalishment of the cooperation, including the organisation and facilitation of several online exchanges and a visit of a delegation from Zurich to Vinnytsia in November 2024. As results of the preparation phase, SKAT developed the cooperation concept for the inception phase and the draft MoU between the two cities for the cooperation.

The proposed cooperation concept is grounded in peer-to-peer exchange as its central value, promoting mutual learning, solidarity, and practical support during wartime. Zurich will contribute primarily through technical mentoring, experience sharing, and advisory roles, with some financial input. The cooperation will focus on three pillars: (1) continuous exchange between city and utility staff; (2) support for major infrastructure projects, such as rehabilitating Vinnytsia’s water treatment plant; and (3) quick, visible actions to deliver early benefits and build momentum.