Researchers at Kyiv School of Economics and Södertörn University contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction – “We can build a better society”

A new research project aims to develop a knowledge base to support the sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine. ESBRI caught up with one of the key players.

– How can Ukraine be rebuilt after the war, and what is needed to create a sustainable society? These were questions that researchers at the Kyiv School of Economics asked themselves directly in connection with Russia’s invasion, says Malin Gawell, researcher at Södertörn University.

She is an associate professor of business administration and her main research interests are social entrepreneurship, social enterprise and civil society. Now, together with the Ukrainian researchers, she will investigate urban development during and after the war in the project “Reconstructing Cities”.

– Our aim is to contribute to a plan and structure for how Ukraine can be rebuilt in a knowledge-based way,” says Malin Gawell.

The important role of decentralization

An important part of the project is to analyse the decentralization reforms implemented in Ukraine about ten years ago. The reforms aimed to give local communities more autonomy by creating smaller units, comparable to district councils.

– These units have proven to be crucial during the war, as they act as resilience hubs in the community structure. They have become hubs for organizing humanitarian aid and mobilizing resources locally,” says Malin Gawell.

According to Gawell, there is now an opportunity to use these hubs as bases for community entrepreneurship. This could strengthen local communities and create new pathways for reconstruction.

The importance of social entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship is about combining social engagement with entrepreneurial action to create positive social change. It goes beyond financial gain and focuses on addressing both social and economic needs.

– It can be about starting social enterprises, non-profit organizations or projects that support local development. “The form is less important than the process, where someone identifies a problem and pushes for solutions,” explains Malin Gawell.

In Ukraine, civic entrepreneurship becomes particularly relevant, as it is crucial to build communities and create structures that promote social, cultural and economic sustainability. The resilience hubs created by decentralization can become platforms for such initiatives.

Research with practical benefits

The project has several sub-objectives, including collecting data on the damage caused by the war to cities and communities, examining how different actors interact, and developing strategies for future urban development. Malin Gawell points out that the research also has a practical dimension:

– It is not just about publishing academic papers, but also about informing policy decisions and practical action. We want to help local decision-makers and organizations gain the knowledge they need to act effectively.

A meaningful job

Despite the complexity and challenges of the project, such as the ongoing conflict and difficulties with data collection, Malin Gawell sees it as extremely meaningful work.

– What we do can actually help build a better society. Despite the difficult situation in Ukraine, it is inspiring to be part of this.

Contact malin.gawell@sh.se

The article is produced in collaboration with Södertörn University